Primary Country (Mandatory)

United States

Other Country (Optional)

Set News Language for United States

Primary Language (Mandatory)
English
Other Language[s] (Optional)
No other language available

Set News Language for World

Primary Language (Mandatory)
English
Other Language(s) (Optional)

Set News Source for United States

Primary Source (Mandatory)
CNN
Other Source[s] (Optional)

Set News Source for World

Primary Source (Mandatory)
AajTak
Other Source(s) (Optional)
  • Countries
    • India
    • United States
    • Qatar
    • Germany
    • China
    • Canada
    • World
  • Categories
    • National
    • International
    • Business
    • Entertainment
    • Sports
    • Special
    • All Categories
  • Available Languages for United States
    • English
  • All Languages
    • English
    • Hindi
    • Arabic
    • German
    • Chinese
    • French
  • Sources
    • India
      • AajTak
      • NDTV India
      • The Hindu
      • India Today
      • Zee News
      • NDTV
      • BBC
      • The Wire
      • News18
      • News 24
      • The Quint
      • ABP News
      • Zee News
      • News 24
    • United States
      • CNN
      • Fox News
      • Al Jazeera
      • CBSN
      • NY Post
      • Voice of America
      • The New York Times
      • HuffPost
      • ABC News
      • Newsy
    • Qatar
      • Al Jazeera
      • Al Arab
      • The Peninsula
      • Gulf Times
      • Al Sharq
      • Qatar Tribune
      • Al Raya
      • Lusail
    • Germany
      • DW
      • ZDF
      • ProSieben
      • RTL
      • n-tv
      • Die Welt
      • Süddeutsche Zeitung
      • Frankfurter Rundschau
    • China
      • China Daily
      • BBC
      • The New York Times
      • Voice of America
      • Beijing Daily
      • The Epoch Times
      • Ta Kung Pao
      • Xinmin Evening News
    • Canada
      • CBC
      • Radio-Canada
      • CTV
      • TVA Nouvelles
      • Le Journal de Montréal
      • Global News
      • BNN Bloomberg
      • Métro
Rimless Rectangle Sunglasses for Men Buy Now
Beard Trimming Catcher Bib Buy Now
Legendary Whitetails Flannel Button-Down Shirt Buy Now
Men's Straight-Fit Pant Buy Now
Men's Slim Fit Dress Pant Buy Now
Classic Quartz Resin Casual Watch Buy Now
Men's Softshell Hooded Jacket Buy Now
Luxury Big Face Watches for Men Buy Now
4K Vlogging Camera with 3" Flip Screen Buy Now
Men's Straight-Fit Jean Buy Now
Carhartt Odessa Cap Buy Now
Water Proof Digital Timer Shower Clock for Bathroom Kitchen Buy Now
Ginasy Faux Leather Leggings for Women Buy Now
Women's Floral Print Cardigan Buy Now
Tracksuits Sweatsuits for Men Buy Now
Levi's Women's Mid Length Shorts Buy Now
Basics Household Tool Kit With Storage Case Buy Now
Full-Zip Fleece Lined Hoodie Sports Sweatshirts Buy Now
CQR Mens Polo Shirt Buy Now
Columbia Steens Mountain 2.0 Full Zip Buy Now
Rimless Rectangle Sunglasses for Men Buy Now
Beard Trimming Catcher Bib Buy Now
Legendary Whitetails Flannel Button-Down Shirt Buy Now
Men's Straight-Fit Pant Buy Now
Men's Slim Fit Dress Pant Buy Now
Classic Quartz Resin Casual Watch Buy Now
Men's Softshell Hooded Jacket Buy Now
Luxury Big Face Watches for Men Buy Now
4K Vlogging Camera with 3" Flip Screen Buy Now
Men's Straight-Fit Jean Buy Now
MoreBack to News Headlines
London councillors furious after $104K spent to hire PR firm to sell police budget

London councillors furious after $104K spent to hire PR firm to sell police budget

CBC
Tuesday, September 17, 2024 7:54 AM GMT

Organizations seeking city dollars shouldn't be allowed to use taxpayer money to hire public relations firms to help sell requests for new money to the community, city politicians say. 

The London Police Services Board paid the high-profile PR firm Navigator $104,000 to make the unprecedented $672-million budget more palatable to the public and, ultimately, politicians. The information was revealed through heavily-redacted documents obtained by The London Free Press. 

The revelation came as a surprised to councillors who express anger that the controversial decision to award the police their budget ask may have been influenced by a marketing campaign.   

"I am worried that now that the police have done it, every agency will feel the need to hire crisis communications people every time there's a budget ask, and spend tons of taxpayer money on consultants," said Ward 11 Coun. Skylar Franke. "I want to make sure there there's way to enshrine this in policy to make sure it doesn't happen again." 

Ward. 6 Coun. Sam Trosow said he supports Franke's idea to prohibit such hires in the future, saying paying Navigator was an inappropriate way to spend tax dollars and "an attempt to influence a decision of a sitting council." 

"I am upset that there are members of council who presumably knew about this and didn't tell us about it," Trosow said. 

Mayor Josh Morgan, Ward Ward 8 Coun. Steve Lehman and Ward 4 Coun. Susan Stevenson sit on the police services board. The rest of the board is made up of chairperson Ali Chahbar, a London lawyer who works for the Thames Valley District School Board, and vice chair Megan Walker, who used to run the London Abused Women's Centre. It has two appointed members — former city councillor Nancy Branscombe and Liberal staffer Ryan Gauss.

"I supported the position of the board in hiring Navigator for the initial contract to not only prepare a communications campaign, but also to prepare materials for the public to review and provide feedback on so that we could consider and make any adjustments along the way," said Morgan.

Morgan said the board doesn't have the staff to run a communications campaign.

"When you don't have the expertise in house, you have other people help you, and that can be more cost effective in the long run than a full-time staff person who does it," he said.

Ward 4 Coun. Susan Stevenson, who voted in favour of hiring Navigator to create a budget website, email address, and other marketing material, said she stands by the move. 

"For me, as a city councillor, public safety has been the No. 1 issue and the police chief said that our city isn't safe, and this is what is needed to make or city safe," Stevenson said, speaking as a city councillor and not on behalf of the police services board. 

"Fiscal prudence isn't just about not spending money. It's about spending money wisely and ensuring that you get the results you want." Lehman didn't return calls for comment on Monday. 

Read full story on CBC
Share this story on:-
Run 3 Space | Play Space Running GamePlay Run 3, the ultimate space tunnel running game with 300+ challenging levels!Adv.
Traffic Jam 3D | Online Racing GameTraffic Jam 3D is a game where you’ll be driving through heavy traffic.Adv.
Duck Hunt | Play Old Classic GamePlay the classic 1984 light gun shooter game Duck Hunt on your browser.Adv.
More Related News
Johnson 'has absolutely no insight' into his voyeurism crimes, judge says while jailing him

Warning: This story contains details some may find disturbing.

Food processing company pleads guilty to charge in death of Edmonton man

A commercial food processing company has pleaded guilty to a workplace safety charge after an Edmonton worker became trapped in a smokehouse and died.

The friend, the family, their aunt and her lover: Court fight looms over $1M estate left to male escort

The will of a deceased B.C. woman will be contested by an old friend, her closest living relatives and a male escort approximately 54 years her junior following a decision by a provincial Supreme Court judge.

Quebec police find important witness in search for missing toddler

In the search for three-year-old Claire Bell, Quebec provincial police have located an important witness they say spoke to her mother on Sunday — just hours before she reported her child missing. 

Toronto cop gets suspended sentence, probation for assault over fake watch sale where man later died

An off-duty Toronto police officer has received a suspended sentence and a year of probation after being found guilty of assault for forcing a Brampton man to the ground in 2021 over a fake Apple watch in a Kijiji deal gone bad.

P.E.I. Fishermen's Association monitoring after entangled right whale prompts fishing restriction

The P.E.I. Fishermen's Association says it is closely monitoring the situation after Fisheries and Oceans Canada restricted a fishing area off P.E.I. waters due to the detection of an entangled North Atlantic right whale very close to the Island's coast.

Calgary startup tackles referee abuse with microphones and machine learning

Abuse of referees in amateur sport has been an issue for decades and all sorts of attempts have been made to curb the problem, from sternly worded signs that remind fans to be respectful to green armbands that identify novice officials to body-worn cameras that record footage from the refs' perspectives.

4 years after vanishing, painting at heart of $11M lawsuit re-emerges — but mystery far from over

When his lawyer's name flashed on his phone early last month, Michael Murray ducked out to answer the call — the physician was in the middle of seeing patients at his medical clinic in Hawaii, but this call from Toronto felt important. 

Receiver moves to put Yukon's Eagle mine up for sale

Victoria Gold's receiver wants to put the Eagle mine in Yukon up for sale.

In Kananaskis, the G7 held together, but showed signs of strain

After Prime Minister Mark Carney and President Donald Trump met one-on-one for 30 minutes on Monday morning, but before their respective teams joined to continue the discussion, the two leaders invited reporters and television cameras into a meeting room in Kananaskis, Alta. to witness them exchanging formal pleasantries.

Protesters hold 'people's forum' in Calgary ahead of G7, prepare for Sunday march

On the final day before G7 leaders gather in Kananaskis, Alta., activists and community groups met in downtown Calgary on Saturday afternoon for a "people's forum" that took aim at the priorities of G7 leaders.

P.E.I. optometrist goes mobile to serve care homes in Prince County

An Island optometrist has gone mobile, providing on-site eye exams at long-term and community care homes across western P.E.I..

Funeral held for 3 children killed in alleged impaired driving crash

The Laviña-Galve family held a joint funeral in Scarborough on Saturday for three children killed last month in an alleged impaired driving crash on Highway 401. 

Parking Slot | Free Parking GamePlay Parking Slot, the best online 3D car driving and parking game.Adv.
Slope Ball Run - Play OnlineSlope Game takes you on an exciting journey of a ball on special paths.Adv.
No new fireworks bylaw in Cambridge for now as council opts to wait for more information

There will be no changes to Cambridge's fireworks bylaw — for now.

In rural Alaska, a village turns to solar and biomass energies to cut diesel and save money

Eric Huntington built his dream cabin nestled in the wilderness of central Alaska, eventually raising two daughters there. But over the years, he learned that living in this quiet, remote village came with a hefty cost.

A Canada-Israel rift is widening over UN votes and sanctions

Israel's war with Iran has temporarily delayed a reckoning with some of its main Western allies, but seems unlikely to close what has become a yawning gap between them over its conduct in Gaza and the West Bank.

Grizzly bears, cougars, sheep and deer met without incident during G7, officials say

As the G7 summit concludes in the popular wilderness destination of Kananaskis, Alta., officials say provincial teams managed frequent animal encounters without serious incident.

Man, 21, charged with armed carjacking after fall from Gardiner Expressway, police say

Toronto police say a 21-year-old man has been charged in an armed carjacking, after he fell from the Gardiner Expressway on Monday night while allegedly fleeing from officers.

A fugitive landlord is at large. Where does that leave dozens of his Ontario tenants?

Tenants of buildings owned by a wanted fugitive could be safe from eviction if the bank or a new landlord take over, a legal expert says. 

Badger residents flee as wildfire approaches community, infrastructure

Residents of Badger, N.L. are fleeing the community as smoke from a nearby wildfire clouds the air, and waterbombers pass overhead every few minutes.

Adam Drake guilty of murder in fatal stabbing of battle rapper Pat Stay

A Nova Scotia jury has found a 34-year-old man guilty of second-degree murder in the killing of battle rapper Pat Stay, a 36-year-old father of two who was fatally stabbed 2½ years ago at a downtown Halifax nightclub.

Saint Andrews property owners speak out against wharf refurbishment plan

Some property owners in Saint Andrews are speaking out against a plan to refurbish the Market Wharf, although the design was chosen by the public in a community vote.

Family wants justice after lone survivor of 2023 West Broadway mass shooting dies in hospital

The lone survivor of a mass shooting in a West Broadway rooming house is being mourned by his family after he died in a Winnipeg hospital earlier this month, more than a year and a half after the shooting that left four others dead.

Still waiting: Handful of Sask. communities remain under evacuation orders

The mayor of Creighton says residents will have to remain patient, as the northeastern Saskatchewan town waits for health-care services to restart in the neighbouring city of Flin Flon, Man.

'Desperate for rainfall': Farmers, ranchers in southwest Sask. reeling from another dry year

A rural municipality in southwest Saskatchewan is sounding the alarm as the worst dry conditions in almost a decade push crops and livestock to the brink.

© 2008 - 2025 Webjosh  |  News Archive  |  Privacy Policy  |  Contact Us