Newspaper criticized for conflict of interest

Out-going councillor Margaret McCarthy is questioning the relationship between city council and the Hamilton Spectator. Speaking against the Pan Am stadium spending, the Waterdown councillor pointed to an incident during the city’s unsuccessful efforts to obtain the Commonwealth Games when the publisher of the newspaper was apparently included in a closed door council session.

“Jagoda Pike went in camera with council to deal with the past games bid and then reported on it afterwards,” revealed McCarthy at last week’s council meeting. “I mean, where’s the independent, non-partisan objective analysis of that, when councillors are reported on by the press that have a vested interest in ensuring that the games go forward?”

She argued “that kind of collusion” is dangerous, and suggested that there’s been “very little independent non-partisan objective analysis and coverage” on the Pan Am Games process as well. McCarthy was one of six councillors who opposed last week’s decision on the stadium and velodrome site for Hamilton’s portion of the Toronto-centred 2015 Pan American Games.

While she was publisher of the Spectator from 2001 to 2006, Pike chaired Hamilton’s bids for the 2010 and 2014 Commonwealth Games. She went on to be publisher of the Toronto Star, a position she resigned from in September 2008 when she was chosen as president and CEO of the Pan Am Games bid.