Brampton Mayor Susan Fennell says she’s taking legal action against The Toronto Star and some of her fellow councilors in the wake of reports about improper spending.
At a news conference Wednesday, Fennell said she is launching the suit because of all “the lies, the innuendos and the smears.”
In her announcement she referred to 10 allegations against her that she said were wrong, including an allegation that she downloaded an IQ test using taxpayer money.
In August a forensic audit found that Fennell broke city rules by spending $7,316 on business class air tickets and premium hotel rooms. Last week, the city’s integrity commissioner found that Fennell violated the city’s code of conduct by “knowingly” overspending on more than $190,000 in airfare.
On Wednesday, Fennell said she has also retained council to take action against auditing firm Deloitte’s as well as the city’s integrity commissioner. She said both had exceeded their mandate.
She suggested the allegations against her are an attempt by one reporter to “win some awards” and by political competitors to beat her “at all costs.”
Fennell said she took the decision after several sleepless nights and lots of reflection. She also conceded that “the last few months have been tough.”
However she said she plans to continue on with her re-election campaign.
“I believe one of the greatest prime ministers of all time, Winston Churchill, said it best; He said ‘when you’re going through hell, keep going’ and that is what I intend to do, that is what I must do,” Fennel said. “To quit now would be to say I agree with the garbage flying around Brampton politics this day is the truth. It isn’t the truth.”
Fennell admitted that she has made mistakes, but did not go into specifics.
“I know I’m not perfect, far from it,” Fennell said. “In fact I’ve made my share of mistakes, I’ve not always made the right choices.”
However she pointed out that she pushed for her expenses to be included in the forensic audit and pushed for the results to come out before the election and said that serves as evidence that she has nothing to hide.
In a tweet, she said she plans to pay the legal cost for the lawsuits out of her own pocket.
Fennell has been mayor of Brampton since 2000. Nine people are currently registered to run against her, including Coun. John Sanderson and former MPP Linda Jeffrey.
