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CTV News
6 days ago
- Business
- CTV News
Durham Region chair pushes back against councillor who questioned purchase of refrigerators
Region of Durham Chair John Henry pictured in this screengrab from a video posted on the region's website on Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2025. The chair of the Region of Durham is pushing back after a councillor questioned the purchase of refrigerators, which he claimed were each worth $4,000, for the region's headquarters. 'Enough is enough,' John Henry, the regional chair and CEO, said in a video statement posted on Wednesday afternoon. 'Regionally, we're committed to using public funds responsibly, making decisions that support long-term value.' The statement came hours after Regional Councillor Chris Leahy issued a news release claiming that 'whistleblowers' sent him evidence regarding the refrigerators the regional government bought as part of the kitchen renovations at its headquarters. Leahy said he received messages in the wake of the controversy over the Durham Region headquarters' new revolving doors. READ MORE | 'I guess we have money to blow': More fallout in Durham Region over pricey new front doors 'Two people sent me photographs of the refrigerators, including the make and model number label posted prominently on the inside. A quick internet search revealed that this model of refrigerator currently retails for $4,000,' Leahy said in the news release. CTV News has not seen the photos of the refrigerators. He added that the four renovated kitchens each have four refrigerators, inferring that the regional government may have spent as much as $64,000 for the appliances. 'We do not yet know how much Durham Region actually spent. But even people with a little knowledge of the industry practice will tell you, it's likely taxpayers paid for extended warranties which could quickly push the costs up by 10 per cent,' Leahy claimed in his statement. 'On the other hand, I am hopeful taxpayers received a volume discount.' The regional councillor for Whitby revealed that he plans to introduce a motion to the Committee of the Whole next month asking for the cost of the renovations. Leahy noted that the renovations to the headquarters and other facilities had an approved budget of $53.8 million. 'This most recent revelation makes my motions for full disclosure of the renovation costs even more relevant,' he said. In the video responding to Leahy's claims, Henry pointed out that the councillor is a member of the finance committee and thus he has looked at the cost and 'knows that everything went and goes through the proper channels with oversight and transparency.' 'While some councillors may choose to focus on generating headlines, our focus remains on the work that matters, delivering services and solutions that improve the lives of Durham residents every day,' Henry said. The chair did not disclose in his statement how much the region spent on the refrigerators but urged residents to reach out if they have questions.
CTV News
06-08-2025
- Business
- CTV News
‘I guess we have money to blow': More fallout in Durham Region over pricey new front doors
Costs for new energy-saving revolving doors at the Regional Municipality of Durham Headquarters have ballooned. (CTV News Toronto) They're not in use yet, but the new energy-saving revolving doors at the Regional Municipality of Durham Headquarters are already generating a lot of heat. 'When I first heard about the final cost of the revolving door system, I was shocked,' says Regional Councillor Chris Leahy. 'It's just under a million dollars.' Leahy says the project for new entryway doors was supposed to cost about $740,000, but costs have since ballooned. 'I've got numbers from $901 to $912,000, plus I have staff time, you have different things, you got HST, you have all these costs.' Since the regional councillor started expressing his worries about ballooning costs, area residents have followed suit. 'I guess we have money to blow just for the city,' one resident told CTV News Toronto. Since the issue was first raised, CTV News has learned the region's 311 operators have been inundated with angry, frustrated calls. So many, in fact, that Amber Lemieux, the manager of Service Durham, issued an email to staff. 'I know that some callers have expressed their frustrations in ways that are inappropriate, and at times, even verbally abusive,' the email read. 'Please know that I see the effort, professionalism and grace you continue to demonstrate in the face of this.' Her letter goes on to urge operators to take breaks and to seek support from counsellors at the Employee Assistance program when needed. Regional Chair John Henry says city staff, including councillors, are used to fielding complaints. But in this case, he says the anger is misplaced. 'It wasn't just about two doors being replaced. This was about a reconstruction to the entrance into the building.' Henry says a water pipe above the doors burst a few years ago, and given the existing sliding door system was reaching the end of its 20-year life expectancy, a decision was made to revamp the entire entryway. He says the extensive project has involved six months of construction. 'The entire base inside the doors was excavated down to take on a new concrete path that was put in place to support the door,' he said. 'That was part of the remodelling of the entrance way that came in. There's two accessible doors as you come into the building, plus the revolving door.' Nonetheless, Councillor Leahy says he wants the region to undertake a value for money audit of the entire upgrade project, to make sure taxpayers are getting their money's worth. 'Taxpayers want to get to the bottom of this. I agree with them.' In the meantime, however, Leahy asks that people not take their frustrations on 311 operators who are not involved in decision-making. Instead, he's urging residents to register to speak at the Durham Regional Council Committee of the Whole meeting next month. 'If you are upset about how much was spent on the revolving doors, come through (council chamber) doors on September 10 and speak to council.'
