Belated comment on Kovach's FCM turfing

Posted by Phil Andrews

As if we didn't have enough political mysteries with strings attached to Gloria Kovach.

Now this, out of the blue, the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, has released an enigmatic statement on why Kovach was dumped as its president in March. In short it says, she was replaced after she did a brilliant job from her first days in the post. No, um, reason for the sacking was offered.What to make of this:

COMMUNICATION BY THE FEDERATION OF CANADIAN MUNICIPALITIES AND FORMER PRESIDENT GLORIA KOVACH

Ottawa, November 12, 2007 - In March of 2007, the Federation of Canadian Municipalities’ National Board of Directors appointed Winnipeg Councillor Gord Steeves as Acting President, replacing Councillor Gloria Kovach of Guelph, Ontario. 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.

Councillor Gloria Kovach became President of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities in the month of December, 2005, and was then acclaimed as President at the Federation’s 69th Annual Conference.

She began her term with a call to all federal party leaders to support a long term commitment and plan to erase Canada’s municipal infrastructure deficit. For the next sixteen months, Councillor Kovach served as Federation of Canadian Municipalities’ chief spokesperson, meeting news media, federal and provincial ministers and attending dozens of events, both in Canada and around the world as the organization’s chief representative.

Councillor Kovach served on the Federation of Canadian Municipalities’ Board for some 12 years. Her keen interest in international development was reflected in her work with the Federation of Canadian Municipalities’ International Centre for Municipal Development. She spent time in Jinja, Uganda, working on a program to encourage community development. She also developed an exchange program between Guelph and cities in the Czech Republic and has worked on an international program in El Salvador.

The Federation of Canadian Municipalities wishes to thank Councillor Kovach for her leadership during the 16 months she served as FCM President and Chair of the National Board of Directors.

Comments

[Municipal Man]

What if Gloria pulled some strings with whatever remaining contacts she has with the FCM? This press release can be used as a sort of character witness in her trial in the court of public opinion. Also, "having her name cleared" makes her a more suitable candidate to replace Brent. And, what about the headline glancers? You know the people, those who just look at the headline and move on. They read "Kovach satisfied, says name cleared" quickly enough, they just might think Gloria's been cleared in the Barr bouncing. There is no way the timing of the FCM's press release is coincidental

[You Must Be Joking]

Les, get over yourself.

[GetInvolved]

Can I have some of what Municipal Man is smoking?

[Municipal Man]

I'm not Les, but keep guessing.

Getinvolved: It doesn't surprise me that you're advocating smoking drugs. You must have been on something when you thought eliminating Brent was in the best interests of the party.

[I know stuff]

Way to go Municipal Man... I think you just libeled Ms. Kovach, by claiming she had something to do with the Barr "bouncing".

A court of law can verify that she didn't, if that's the route you want to take.

[Hot stuff]

Why do we need a court of law? Why don't you just come out with the stuff you know? While you're at it, maybe we can get some more answers than what we're being fed now?

[observation]

As these posts and news items keep unfolding, it seems to me that the backers of Brent Barr, the # "people" who were involved in "ousting him, gets larger and larger - Pretty soon the whole world will have been the problem while Brent was not. Did it ever occur to you that some of the people you are accusing have more important things to do than to worry about one very small man. I would think that working full time and being a councillor for the City would leave Gloria Kovach little or no time to worry about Brent Barr.

[Hot stuff]

Observation: Working full-time? Did she not take a leave from her job to "be a councillor and head the FCM" (see: political aspirations)

[On the edge]

The press release, at this time, is just a coincidence. She has been after FCM since the coup d’etat removed her. It has taken this long to “resolve” the matter. Has the thought that her removal was the result of a political action?

Strange, the runner up to the Guelph’s PC nomination was placed under a cloud. Now the nomination winner is also under a cloud. There just might be forces that are in play that both are not fully aware of.

Is the way now clear for someone else? We will have to wait and see.

[I know stuff]

"Why do we need a court of law? Why don't you just come out with the stuff you know? While you're at it, maybe we can get some more answers than what we're being fed now?"

I agree Hot Stuff, the people in the know should talk... oops, forgot, they can't... http://www.guelphtribune.ca/trib/news/news_927519.html

The real question people need to be asking is why Mr. Barr is trying to silence all other voices... that's not what I'd call being open and transparent, as Mr. Barr claims to be.

On the Edge, you might be on to something... I've been hearing that Burke is serious about running, and has been talking to Doug Finley...

[Rubber-necker]

Hmmmmmm... very interesting. Maybe Marty Burke isn't such an outlandish proposition after all. According to that last point, the top two red tories are now tarnished and their camps viciously polarized. Maybe, he dropped out of the race early to distance himself from all this hoopla, knowing full well his time would come. Just a thought.

[Hot stuff]

I.K.S.: Nobody is saying that the people in the know can't talk. They're just not allowed to spread misleading and false information. That's not asking a lot.

[I know stuff]

Hot Stuff, every word that's being said is being labled as being "misleading and false". How on earth can anyone say anything under that kind of cloud?

My point will be proven based on who gets "the letters".

[Hot stuff]

I.K.S.: Simple, don't say misleading or false information. If action comes against those who speak the truth, they have nothing to fear. Vice versa applies to those who are spreading lies.

[On the edge]

From today's paper.

"He said there's some likelihood party officials were surprised and unhappy when Barr beat Guelph city councillor Gloria Kovach for the nomination, and he would not be surprised if she returned to vie for the nomination. Neither Kovach nor the party's Guelph Electoral District Association president, Ken Morgan, responded to interview requests."

Am I mistaken with my interpretation of the above but does it look like Brent is pointing his finger at Gloria?

[Bookworm]

I think he is. Funny thing is, his accusation of being "too progressive" for the Party falls appart by pointing at Gloria.

If he suspects an orchatrated ouster, he should be looking at Burke... he's got the connections at the top for it, and he's certainly not "progressive"

[Barr Bring-backer]

www.bringbackbarr.ca