Peel Region chair’s ceremonial bling cost taxpayers over $4,500
New Chain of Office bought in 2015

BramptonGuardian.com
July 20, 2017
Roger Belgrave

The shiny symbol of office that sits on Peel Region chair Frank Dale’s shoulders as he presides over council meetings cost taxpayers more than $4,500, say documents released through Freedom of Information.

Taxpayers paid $4,559 in 2015 for the new chain of office Dale wears for official meetings and ceremonies.

The original chain was first placed on Dale’s shoulders in December 2014 when regional councillors appointed him chair. At the time, he was a newly re-elected Mississauga member of council.

He cast the tiebreaking vote for his own appointment — opting to leave that Mississauga council seat for the regional chair’s office, which came with $188,157 in salary and benefits last year and a $753,390 budget for 2017.

“When I assumed the position of chair, my staff and I were struck by the condition of the existing Chain of Office,” Dale said in an email. “That ornament of the office had been in use for over four decades and was demonstrating noticeable signs of wear.”

Initially, he considered having the chain refurbished.

Opinions sought from two specialists indicated restoration would not be cost effective, said Dale.

“With the benefit of that due diligence, we elected to commission the creation of a new chain,” explained Dale, who added an effort was made to secure the best value relative to cost.

The chain was purchased from Kingston-based Swyrich Corporation International Coats of Arms, says a December 2015 invoice.

Dale said the old chain was being stored in his office waiting to be picked up by the Peel Art Gallery, Museum and Archives (PAMA).

Each March a superficial financial statement of how Peel Region council members spent personal expense accounts during the previous year is posted online.

Through Freedom of Information requests, Metroland Media obtained almost 2,000 pages of expense claims, receipts, invoices, cheques and emails that provide greater insight of spending.

A series of ongoing articles will give readers a more revealing picture of how these taxpayer-funded spending allowances for councillors are being used and approved.