Last Friday morning, judgment day for Joe Fontana, The Big Show on 98.1 Free-FM had a bit of fun with the Mayor’s plight. Actually, our verdict wheel was a lot of fun and it even got us some ink in The National Post. Everyone who spun got a can of Italian Wedding soup and I believe the result was “guilty”. Â
Our antics caught the attention of the National Post’ Christie Blatchford who was in the city for the verdict. You can read her take HERE.
The day the story of Fontana’s reimbursement for his son’s wedding reception broke in the London Free Press, a reporter asked him if he had ever taken government money for a personal matter. Fontana replied, “I don’t know, I’ll have to look into it”. My jaw dropped. The proper answer is, “No! Never. Not under any circumstances. That would be illegal.”
I have the good fortune to know several people who’ve known Fontana socially and professionally for decades and they describe him as a man who suddenly takes a phone call when the bill arrives from dinner with friends. He’s known to be exceptionally stingy and it’s completely within his character to expense a personal receipt and take government money for it. I’m sure he justified it in his head. Late nights at long caucus meetings. Only six weeks off at Christmas! And it doesn’t matter a whit that the one that tripped him up was a $1700 cheque. He likely got away with a lot more.
The only conclusion the judge could come to was guilty on all counts. As soon as Fontana’s lie, concocted with an old crony, was refuted by another witness, his fate was sealed. If he spends even one night in jail he cannot run for Mayor again. If he has an ounce of sense, he will finally resign. There is a move afoot to strip him of his golden MP pension.
When I was a kid, I thought we lived in a country run by honest, well-meaning people who were full of integrity. They may not be building gold-plated castles while their constituents starve, but you don’t have to look very far to find corrupt politicians. If only it would eventually catch up with all of them, like it did with Fontana. Credit goes to an unnamed whistle-blower at The Marconi Club and former London Free Press journalist Chip Martin who was the first to unearth the story. Chip retired just before the trial. Pity.
Yes, as usual I agree with you. I just heard that Joe is going to resign on Thursday. Never trusted him. Never voted for him. Good riddance.