Embattled Vaughan Mayor Linda Jackson is hoping the new year -- and her new plan to crack down on city spending -- will bring a culture of "conciliation and co-operation" back to council chambers.

Speaking from the Vellore Village Community Centre in Vaughan on Sunday, Jackson launched the "Working Together for Vaughan Campaign."

Jackson, who refused calls from eight of her peers to step down as mayor last month, said any progress made by council in recent months has been "overshadowed by myriad of problems."

Her political rivals called her "an absent mayor" in December. Despite an audit clearing her of any misspending, council accused Jackson of wasting taxpayers' dollars. Councillors have also accused the mayor of violating election bylaws.

"I admit that with respect to my expenses, administrative processes were not followed in all cases," Jackson told reporters gathered outside the community centre.

Issues such as compliance audits and office expenses have created an "atmosphere of acrimony and mistrust," she said.

"No one person is to blame for the recent political difficulties."

Jackson said she's committed to set aside her personal differences to improve accountability and transparency at city hall.

The key component of her campaign is to strengthen the city's expenditure policy.

"Alcohol will no longer be expensed by anyone in my office," Jackson said.

Jackson's other recommendations include:

  • requiring three signatures to verify expense claims
  • mandating new cellphone and blackberry use standards
  • implementing new standards for the mayor's and management vehicles
  • restricting business meal expense claims to food only (no alcohol)
  • standardizing the use of corporate credit cards
  • new rules for campaign-related city expenses

Jackson also plans to hire a third party to oversee the existing and proposed spending policies. There has also been a proposal to post all expenses on a city website, though Jackson didn't say whether she would stand by that motion.

Earlier last month, council compiled their own 10-point plan to restore integrity within the chambers, which Jackson said she stands by.

That plans calls for:

  • a master transportation plan
  • a new hospital
  • replacement of the Integrity Commissioner
  • plans for a corporate downtown city-centre
  • a new budget and long-term plan to deal with economic realities

Jackson has had a tough tenure since she was elected in November, 2006. Her election was challenged by Vaughan's previous mayor Michael Di Biase, after Jackson won by a slim margin of just 90 votes.