Brampton Mayor Susan Fennell says there was “no impropriety” associated with the city’s decision to award contracts to one of her personal friends.
A report released by the Toronto Star earlier this week claims that event planning firm Meri-Mac has received more than $1-million in city contracts since 2001 and Fennell has admitted that the owner of the company, Scott Ching, is a family friend.
“Yes, Mr. Ching lives in the home of my late father. There is nothing to hide there. We are very grateful that he looks after the property,” Fennell told CP24 Thursday.
Fennell added that she is “not involved in the city’s procurement processes in any departments.”
Brampton city councillors have now voted for an internal probe into the contracts.
“There is no impropriety,” she said.
“This is very, very unfortunate for a very well-respected small business that has been doing business in the City of Brampton for years and years and years.”
Fennell said she is not letting the investigation distract her from the job at hand.
“I’m not letting the silly season get in the way of securing a university for Brampton. In fact, our plan is to secure two universities for Brampton with the conversion of Sheridan College to a university,” she said.
“People work hard to distract the mayor and I have to remain focused.”
