Taxpayers bought Case Ootes a Toronto Sun reprint extolling his frugality

Tucked deep in the 2010 city councillors' office expenses is this: Councillor Case Ootes charged $113 to his council budget, under "office equipment and supplies", for a reprint of a Jan. 6, 2010 column in the Toronto Sun.

The Jan. 6, 2010 column, by City Hall waste-watcher Sue Ann Levy, is titled: Case closed: Ootes retires.

Levy gives Ootes a deserved pat on the back for 21 years of service, lauding him as "a voice for fiscal restraint."

But we can't note that without looking at the expense above -- $339.72 for a subscription renewal for the Toronto Star.

Ootes is now, of course, Mayor Rob Ford's non-elected point man, first helming his transition team and now, temporarily, Toronto Community Housing Corp. Ford, of course, has railed against councillors charging taxpayers for non-essentials.

A curious case indeed.

 

 

Comments

[CharlieSierra24]

There's a point at which this scrutiny is really beyond usefulness.

Those of us in the private sector are rewarded for a job-well-done on a regular basis, if we're lucky (or good) enough, it's a welcome thing. The thing is that being in public service is NOT like the private sector when a gesture or reward such as this, a Christmas party, or some other perk, one we would welcome in the private sector, is scrutinized and frowned upon.

Isn't his somewhat unfair? These people have dedicated their lives to public service. While being a public service employee has the reputation of a "job for life" and there are certainly people in any organisation that don't pull their weight, but there's NOTHING that suggests there are not people in the Public Service that should be rewarded for hard work and great results.

A $113 charge for an end-of-career reward should NOT be a concern...

Nor should an iPad, if used practically, or any thing that is meant to actually help these people do their jobs. Even a moral boosting event is something that we in the private sector is frowned upon, but really is it that much of a problem?

We need to start treating the public service employee with the same respect we have.

[Ed]

Would have been a lot cheaper just to clip the article!

[Captain Awesome]

Ouch $339.72, no one told him The Star is free to read online?

[dilbert]

private use of public money? that is just wrong... i am quite sure that he intends on keeping this reprint so it should have come from his own pocket. the fact that it is still viewable online more than a year later makes it even worse. as for newspaper subscriptions, as long as others in the office can peruse it as well, it is a reasonable expense.

[Randal Oulton]

Would we be even seeing the story above by Anonymous if the newspaper name were changed to Toronto Star, prolly not, LOL!

[Robert Marshall]

Probably peanuts compaired to the other types of expenses that other councillors more within the Star's political landscape would be expensing. Personally think that having a councillor playing daily attention to what newspapers are writing up on a day to day basis is a good thing. The amount isn't a big deal because he really doesn't spend a lot compaired to others.