What did Peter Kelly know and when did he know it? That question will determine if the Halifax mayor will survive the Common concert funding scandal.
Kelly’s story seems to change as time goes on, but as I understand his line is basically that he knew that Power Promotions was being advanced loans somehow through Trade Centre Limited. As you’ll hear on the recording below, he says that he was told that the arrangement was appropriate, and he left it at that.
But did he know the money was going specifically through the Metro Centre? If so, he should have realized the loans were improper, and should have brought the loan program to city council’s attention.
It’s a simple question: Did Kelly know the loan money was being funnelled through the Metro Centre?
Listen to his answer to that question here.
For The Coast’s complete coverage of the Common concert financing scandal, click here.
This article appears in Mar 17-23, 2011.
If a mayor falls in the forest does anybody care?
That’s got to be the worst audio I’ve ever heard in my life… Before you give the mayor a hard time (and I agree he should be given one) perhaps you should figure out how to use the microphone…
I’ve got a better-quality one if you want it…. good mic, good recorder, etc. Tweet me your email, Ghost, if you wanna.
People, I’ve got a 90 buck digital recorder made in some sweat shop in China and operated by a moron.
For dog’s sake, I don’t want people mistaking me for a radio reporter.
Clear as mud.
What would a jury think of a witness who answered questions in that manner ?
He refuses to give a chronology of events as he knows them.
He’s killing himself softly. Dying a slow death. He has crap advisors or is not listening to them .
Would you trust him with your money ?
Better-quality clip, I mean…
This is devastating. Holy shit. The guy is just spinning and spinning and hoping he baffles everyone with his BS. Elusive, deceptive, disingenuous… pick any adjective you like. He’s doing everything he can to not give a straight answer. This is what we want for our mayor? For god’s sake man, get out.
Who cares about the quality of the recording. It’s the content that matters.
That’s an embarrassing Q&A session. OK, pretty light on the “A”. It’s painful to listen to the guy trying to avoid using the dreaded “NO” and “YES” words.
The problem with Kelly – and he’s certainly not the only politician or bureaucrat with this problem – is that he thinks that he only “knows” what he’s been *officially* made aware of. He honestly believes that if people did not communicate a fact to him in a witnessed verbal statement, or on official letterhead, or in an official email, to him in the capacity of mayor, during work hours, that he doesn’t know it – as the *mayor*. I’ve worked with or around people that have this schizophrenia happening, it’s not uncommon in careerists. The hell of it is, they don’t even understand there’s anything wrong.
If the mayor ends up resigning over this, the 359,000 was the best money HRM has spent since amalgamation. If he doesn’t resign, it was a waste of money although watching him squirm is priceless.
If the mayor resigns over this than it was the best money HRM has spent since amalgamation. If he doesn’t resign, it was a waste of money however watching him squirm is priceless
If the mayor resigns over this than it was the best money HRM has spent since amalgamation. If he doesn’t resign it was a waste of money but watching him squirm is priceless
Holy crap that was embarrassing!!! Does Kelly really think we will buy that sh*t??? It’s insulting and an affront to the electorate.