In the spirit of honest politician week (fittingly, there isn’t one; we just made it up) here are some of our favourite government-type quotes from last year. For sake of clarity, we list what they said and a tongue-in-cheek guess at what they might have meant when they said it.
What he said:
“The trip was a highly successful venture that will hopefully pay big dividends in time for the municipality.” – Chatham Kent Mayor Randy Hope.
What he really meant:
“Something’s got to happen soon or people will realize I’m just racking up air miles to China to buy a new Corvette.”
What he said:
“I’m just following the rules like all of the others. But it didn’t work. I was ordered by the prime minister: Pay the money back, end of discussion. Nigel Wright was present throughout, just the three of us.” – Senator Mike Duffy.
What he really meant:
“I didn’t do anything wrong and even if I did, I’m not responsible. Nobody told me I had to know where I lived to be a Senator.”
What he said:
“I think if you read the affidavit it makes very clear that the decision to pay money to Mr. Duffy out of Mr. Wright’s personal funds was made solely by Mr. Wright and was his responsibility. Obviously, had I known about this earlier I would never have allowed this to take place.” – Prime Minister Stephen Harper.
What he really meant:
“Everyone knows I’m a control freak who orders everyone in the party what to say and think but on this one I need the public to believe I don’t have a clue what’s going on in my own office.”
What they wrote:
“We conclude that the corn mural was removed and disposed of without authorization to have it de-accessioned from the museum collection. In addition, even if it had been properly de-accessioned it should have been offered back to the donor rather than destroyed.” – Chatham Kent staffers John Norton and Cathy Hoffman in a report to council.
What they really meant:
“Maybe council will get stuck on “de-accessioned” and the whole issue will go away.”
What they said:
“We need to get everyone at the table. We love our trees.”
Mayor Randy Hope and councilors Joe Faas, Jim Brown, Karen Herman, Brian King, Bryon Fluker, Leon Leclair, Steve Pinsonneault, Frank Vercouteren on voting down a six month clear-cutting moratorium to allow the municipality just to study the issue.
What they really meant:
“Will you (landowners) hurry up and cut down everything as soon as you can? We can’t hold off common sense forever, you know.”
What he said:
“Bring on the lawsuits. I don’t mind at all, in fact I’m looking forward to my day in court.” – Ian McLarty, facing lawsuits after losing his conflict of interest case against mayor Randy Hope.
What he really meant:
“Did anyone get the license number of that truck full of lawyers that just ran me down?”
What he said:
“We can’t afford to fix roads and bridges and yet we can give $1.3 million away to St. Clair College for a bakery. C’mon, something’s not right here.” – Chatham Coun. Michael Bondy
What he really meant:
“What the fudge is going on around here?”
What he said:
“Where is he getting his information from? I think he’s misleading the public. No one in government has told me that an additional 400 turbines are slated for Chatham-Kent.” – Mayor Randy Hope on MPP Rick Nicholls’ assertion that more wind turbines are on their way.
What he really meant:
“These guys remember I was a New Democrat and don’t tell me squat. I feel like Rodney Dangerfield sometimes.”
What he said:
“We as councillors swore an oath to maintain confidentiality on those items that fall under the Municipal Act of the closed-session discussion. When these leaks occur, we all look unprofessional. We all look like we can’t keep our mouths quiet.” – Coun. Art Sitrling on the leak of confidential information about a possible Ontario Hockey League franchise for the area.
What he really meant:
“They’re on to us.”
What he said:
“I do not use crack cocaine, nor am I an addict of crack cocaine.” – Toronto Mayor Rob Ford.
What he really meant:
“I only do crack when I’m hammered out of my brain on alcohol.”
What she said:
The people of Ontario need to hear that I’m sorry because I am, I am sorry. I’m sorry that we didn’t have a better process up front. I’m sorry that we didn’t site those gas plants better and that’s why a new protocol needs to be in place.” – Premier Kathleen Wynne on the $1 billion gas plant scandal.
What she really meant:
“I’m really, really, really sorry – that we got caught.”
Cant help but wonder if we all have been sold out..Never asked to live in a middle of a wind farm,makes me very nervous how they have been placed along our lake and ridges..imagine the pressure on the earth in these areas..pressure cracks, how much can it really take.. those driven spikes in her crest before something has to give.{.did they consult with any one as far as stability to with stand these towers, our planet is a rock after all with moving plates beneath the surface}…Never asked for the tax hikes..Never asked to be number one in cancer in Canada..never asked for all of our forests to be eliminated to the point of extinction…never asked that our factories be shut down and moved to mexico or just eliminated all together for corporate gain in other countries, seems like living here we have no choices.. am I the only person that sees a pattern of destruction..some of the ones who were put in place don t seem to care..as long as they can use the money that we as tax payers have given them to seek new investors from other countries..planes fly both ways don t they? If they are truly interested wouldn t they come a knocking of C K's door? Do they really want to hear what we think?..NO cause they will never ask..cant wait for election day..clean slate..now to pick the lambs out of the wolf suits..someone has to care other than just for the ole mighty dollar..but who??