Did Dion order FCM ouster?

The Guelph Mercury's editors are now asking the question... "Why did the FCM drop Kovach?" Good question... time to start digging.

This is the third or fourth time I've heard this allegation... did Mr. Dion have something to do with Ms. Kovach's removal from the FCM?

The problem with anonymous comments is just that... they're anonymous, and you can't trace the source, or ask questions of the source. However, the good thing about anonymous comments is that they can sometimes point you in the right direction as to who to ask questions of, and what questions to ask.

An anonymous poster on the Guelph Mercury blog made this statement regarding Gloria Kovach's removal from the Presidency of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities...

"The good thing about these blogs is that the truth can come out, even if there are legal agreements in place that block the truth. The trouble is, that you can't tell if it's for real if someone (as I am) signs anonymously. All that I can hope to do is to point you in the right direction and let you newspaper folks get the facts for yourselves.

As someone on the inside of the FCM, I can spell it out for you.

Kovach was dumped because she sought the Conservative nomination in Guelph. At first she was asked to take a leave of absence during the nomination period (which she agreed to), but then, after direct pressure was applied by the leader of the Liberal party, she was forced out.

She initiated a legal action to clear her name, and this announcement is the culmination of that action. Because the FCM cannot be seen as being partisan, they needed to ensure Kovach's silence as a condition of the deal. Hence, the confidentiality agreement.

I hope this helps

Posted by: Good Hunting | November 18, 2007 at 10:00 AM"

This allegation was originally made by Ms. Kovach herself back in the spring, but no one has looked into it in any depth. Problem is, with an confidentiality agreement now in place between her and the FCM, she can't talk about it anymore. However, the question has never been answered, so I'll ask it again... as intoned by the initial allegation in the spring, and repeated now by this anonymous person who claims to be inside the FCM, did Mr. Dion have anything to do with Ms. Kovach's removal?

The media release from the FCM is fairly cryptic, but this part raises many questions, and leaves the door wide open for this theory... "The Board reached this decision for reasons totally unrelated to either Gloria Kovach’s conduct or performance as President of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities or as Chair of its National Board of Directors. The Federation acknowledges that Gloria Kovach carried out her duties in a responsible manner consistent with her commitment to municipal government."

Read that again... "The Board reached this decision for reasons totally unrelated to either Gloria Kovach’s conduct or performance". So, let me get this straight... there was nothing in her conduct or performance that led to her removal. Did I get that right? Problem is, some people have said that she was removed because she sought the Conservative nomination in Guelph. Folks, read the press release again... it clearly states that her removal had nothing to do with her conduct. Translation, she wasn't removed because of anything she did. Therefore, this ambiguous press release leaves us with one very big and real possibility... was she removed because someone else, perhaps even Mr. Dion, requested that she be removed?

There are several versions of the rumour that are swirling around... that Mr. Dion himself said something to the FCM, or that he made his wishes known and his staff relayed the message, or that word slowly filtered down through various channels that Dion was displeased with Ms. Kovach, and that the FCM moved quickly to appease him. In each of these versions though, all fingers point back directly at Mr. Dion as the instigator of the removal.

If Mr. Dion did request her removal, then that's political interference in what is supposed to be a non-partisan body. If true, the fact that the FCM "jumped" when Dion gave the word brings their organization into ill repute... it means that the FCM is operating under the direct control of the Liberal Party of Canada. As such, they cannot be trusted to honestly speak for Canadian cities in a non-partisan fashion.

Folks, this is a major issue... can we trust the various "non-partisan" organizations that claim to serve us, or are they nothing more than political pawns of the Liberal Party of Canada? The question of whether Dion gave them FCM their marching orders is a serious one, one that needs to be further probed. Don't let this issue die, start asking questions. If Mr. Dion had nothing to do with it, then let the FCM come out and acknowledge as much... on the record. If he did make his wishes known, and the FCM blindly obeyed, then the current Board of the FCM must be held accountable... and in my opinion, removed, to ensure that their reputation of non-partisanship is maintained.

Until this allegation is acknowledged and sufficiently dealt with, a cloud will remain over the FCM and their current dealings with the government... the the important issues relating to our cities risk going unheard. I call on everyone, right and left, to start asking questions. This one goes beyond party lines, and by working together, we can ensure that the facts come out, and the air is cleared once and for all.


UPDATE: I guess that shows that the blogosphere can accomplish something... the Guelph Mercury has posted a new entry on their blog, indicating that they're trying to follow-up on this lead. (in reality, there's nothing new here folks, everything has been out in the public record for some time now...) They're indicating that some bloggers are suggesting a National inquiry over it... I think that's a little overboard. Since nothing illegal has occured, I think the press can handle it.

Oh, and did I mention that some of the oher members of the MSM seem to be poking around?