A public inquiry continues Tuesday in Collingwood as lawyers examine alleged backroom deals involving the town's former mayor and a former MP.
Consulting work by former Liberal MP for Simcoe-Grey Paul Bonwick is under scrutiny in the hearing, in which he made $1 million in fees involving public money while his sister, Sandra Cooper, was the mayor.
Collingwood council called for the probe after Ontario Provincial Police began investigating the multi-million dollar sell-off of part of Collingwood's power utility, Collus.
Bonwick has denied the allegations made against both himself and his sister. He was MP for Simcoe-Grey from 1997-2004.
Current Collingwood Mayor Brian Saunderson said other small-and-medium-sized municipalities across Canada can learn from the inquiry, as local governments take on more responsibility and face less scrutiny in an age of shrinking media.
The public inquiry will hold hearings through June and will deliver its findings in the fall.
Here is a link to a live stream of the hearings: https://www.rogerstv.com/show?lid=12&rid=72&sid=3792&sch=1540818000
