By Staff
November 5th, 2024
BURLINGTON, ON
UPDATED
Are the current Robo Calls being asked by a reliable organization?
Did you get a Robo Call?
They are being made and we are aware of at least three people who got such a call.
The call had to do with the forthcoming Virtual Town Hall on the budget.
Our readers will report later today on the questions that were asked – and being Gazette readers they have a view which leads to a comment.
Let’s learn what the community has to say.
Did you receive a robocall from Mayor Marianne Meed Ward yesterday inviting you to attend her virtual town hall on the Budget, occurring on the evening of November 7th.
Oh, did you think that it was a personal invitation ?
Sorry to disappoint but the automatic calls (aka robocalls) would appear to have been conducted by a Markham company called Iristel. Several of the people contacted were reached at numbers that are not part of any general or public listing. So how did the Robo Caller get the telephone or cell numbers?
A conundrum of sorts.
This is Iristels’ webpage:
The Mayor conducted a similar virtual town hall last year as she got ready to pass her first Strong Mayor budget. One individual who participated called it “a waste of time and something of a sham”.
People who had questions were prescreened; one caller had a difficult question. Although he was told that he was next in line at 7:15, he never got to pose his question by the time the town hall finished about 90 minutes later.
Will questions be pre-screened this time? Will the Mayor be allowed to “rag the clock” and take much of the time on questions or comments that support her agenda? It will be interesting to see. A final question or two – “how much is this town hall costing and is this virtual trip really necessary”?
The following links are also very interesting. It would appear that the City of Burlington has a contract with Iristel. Are they aware that the company has some controversy surrounding it?
https://www.iphoneincanada.ca/2024/07/03/cra-iristel-deal-tax-sham/
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/iris-technologies-tax-deal-1.7249817
The allegations have not been proven in court. Are there no capable firms closer to home that have no cloud around them?
Was due diligence done?
Was this another of the City’s sole source contracts?
I got one too. Hung up as soon as she said her name.
Had a call Tuesday night about7:30 while on a scope call. Answered , said it was the mayor, hung up to get back to you Skype call.
Received my “invite” call last evening , for the town hall meeting this Thursday November 7th.
Burlington Taxpayers of course! Whether we like it or not!!
One more thing that can be removed from the 2025 Property Tax Budget.
The Mayor identified herself as the source of the call.
And your point is?
Town Hall Virtual call is scheduled for Thursday at 7pm
I had one last night, just hung up. From the mayor