Brampton Mayor Susan Fennell says she's done nothing wrong
CBC News | Posted: August 7, 2014 2:16 PM | Last Updated: August 7, 2014
Police to review mayor's office expenses in audit, but she tells CBC, 'Have anyone you want have a look'
The mayor of Brampton, Ont., says she has nothing to fear from a police review of spending by her office, which according to a recent forensic audit broke the city’s rules to the tune of more than $131,000.
"I know there's nothing I need to fear by seeing this reviewed by police," Susan Fennell said Thursday on CBC's Metro Morning. "I say let's have the police have a look. Have anyone you want have a look.
"There is nothing done wrong here."
The 96-page audit, released Tuesday after a four-month investigation, found Fennell and her staff breached spending rules 265 times, amounting to more than $131,000 in expenses. It also said another 79 expenses totalling more than $150,000 may have also broken the rules.
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The audit also found improper expenses filed by city councillors. Council voted on Wednesday to forward the audit to police.
Some of Fennell's expenses include non-economy flight passes and premium hotel rooms.
There is nothing done wrong here. - Susan Fennell, mayor of Brampton, Ont.
Fennell said the airline tickets were thought to be the "most economical" option available at the time, and to fall within the rules.
"Had [we] been advised that that was not in compliance, obviously we would have taken a different path." Fennell said.
The report cleared Fennell of wrongdoing on other matters, including a trip to Florida for a sister-city agreement. It also cleared her of using city staffers for organizing private fundraisers.
Fennell said her expenses, unlike those of unnamed rivals on city council, are legitimate.
"These are not the expenses we see with the councillors … who have consistently claimed the moral high ground. Those councillors need to accept responsibility too," she said.