The Sudbury controversy just won't go away...

Sudbury council scolded over Elton John tickets

The Canadian Press

April 25, 2008 at 1:21 PM EDT

TORONTO — A private meeting by city council in Sudbury, Ont., to discuss a scandal involving Elton John concert tickets did not violate a law banning most closed-door meetings of elected officials, but it came "darn close," Ombudsman Andre Marin said Friday.

Mr. Marin used one of the musician's song titles — Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me — for his special report, which scolded councillors for meeting privately to discuss returning some of the 120 concert tickets they were able to purchase ahead of the general public.

Mr. Marin said the Feb. 20 meeting of 11 of the 13 Sudbury councillors "did not appear to be above board," and was "close to the legal line," but did not technically count as a council meeting under the law because it wasn't about city policy.

"Their behaviour may have passed the legal test, but it didn't pass the smell test, and if they continue with this kind of hanky-panky they're going to eventually transgress and cross the line," Mr. Marin said.

"This is not a case where vindication should be claimed."

A public outcry erupted in the northern Ontario city over the sold-out March 2 show by the pop music legend — one of only two Canadian stops on his recent tour — after people learned the 13 councillors were each able to purchase eight tickets ahead of the general public, who were limited to six tickets each.

"It's given Sudbury a black eye," Mr. Marin said, noting the scandal received international attention.

There was also a similar controversy involving tickets and city council in Kitchener, Ont. — the other Canadian stop on the tour — but there were no complaints about closed-door meetings, so Mr. Marin was never asked to investigate.

Mr. Marin called private meetings of elected officials "dangerous" because they fuel public suspicion.

"Local politicians should think long and hard before closing the doors and letting the sun go down," which usually violates the law, he said.

"Members of the public are very interested whenever public officials discuss issues of salaries and perks and privileges that mere city mortals don't get."

Mr. Marin noted the Sudbury council has since voted to end the practice of councillors getting advance access to events at the municipal arena.

But the vote was close, with Mayor John Rodriguez casting the tiebreaker after councillors deadlocked 6-6 on giving up the perk of preferential access to events at Sudbury Arena. The council also voted to no longer allow Sudbury Arena employees to make advance purchases of two tickets each.