Thompson and McClure are under attack again

August 26, 2015 · 0 Comments

By Bill Rea
The Toronto Star has lashed out at Mayor Allan Thompson and Councillor Gord McClure over conflict of interest allegations, and both still maintain they have done nothing wrong.
Monday’s Star contained a story by Urban Affairs Reporter San Grewal, under the headline “Caledon mayor lands in hot water,” stating that both Thompson and McClure were apparently involved in separate land deals in the southwest portion of town. These transactions were said to be worth at least $24 million.
These facts reportedly came to light as part of conflict on interest complaints against the two politicians, launched by long-time Caledon resident Kelly Darnley.
The Star reported late last month that Darnley had brought these charges. The allegations are both Thompson and McClure voted on development matters that came before council when they both had interests in them.
“I’m very confident I don’t have a conflict,” Thompson told the Citizen Tuesday night, adding he was only served with the court papers last Thursday afternoon (he actually said they were handed to his wife Anne). He observed that prior to that, they had just been dealing with accusations and hearsay.
“At least now we can go forward and deal with it,” he remarked. “My attitude is let’s get this cleared off the docket and move on.”
Things have not progressed that far yet, as far as McClure is concerned, as he called the Star story “an embarrassment.”
“I haven’t been served with papers,” he declared Tuesday. “I don’t know what’s going on here.
He also maintained he’s not been in conflict either.
“I’ve been very particular,” he declared. “I don’t think there’s a crime in owning land.”