This morning, CBC's Tom Ayers revealed that CBRM Mayor Cecil Clarke and Council discussed the pay raise they gave themselves this week in a private session. In so doing, CBU professor Tom Urbaniak and a representative of the Department of Municipal Affairs say they violated the Municipal Government Act. Side note: For a full insight into the pay raise, see here.

There's a stark contrast in leadership style being demonstrated today.

In Ayers' article, mayor Clarke defended the move as what they've always done at the CBRM. He was unrepentant despite being informed it's an MGA violation.

Earlier this month, integrity and rules were seemingly much more important to the mayor. He attacked then PC leadership candidate, Tim Houston, for his campaign practices (think: ice cream social and "who paid for the band?"). Houston would go on to win by a landslide, and the mayor would then come home to declare that he's now actually interested in the CBRM mayoral role again.

Compare Clarke's hypocrisy with the response from progressive CBRM councillors Kendra Coombes and Amanda McDougall.

Coombes expressed regret to me via a Twitter comment, stating that she disagreed with having the meetings in private, and regretted not acknowledging the same in the public council session when the motion for increasing their salaries was approved.

Joe, I'm not defending the incamera. I spoke with Tom Ayers yesterday. I told him I didnt agree with the meetings but stayed in order to have full knowledge of what occurred on previous advice from MA . I regret not stating it publicly.

— Kendra Coombes (@kendrachristin3) November 8, 2018

Councillor McDougall, whom many consider being among the frontrunners to become the next CBRM mayor (should she decide to offer), apologized, stating:

"We did wrong and you all deserve an apology"

Owning it in this manner is a big part of why she's risen so rapidly in approval within the CBRM and is often discussed to be in line for the mayor's chair in 2020.

McDougall says that she's communicated the same with her Council colleagues this morning, and is proposing that the minutes of the private, in-camera meeting be published for all to see.

While it's uncertain what the outcome will be, a few things are clear.

Mayor Clarke continues to push for secrecy and is unrepentant about it. The progressive councillors, who certainly err at times, are demonstrating that they are committed to embracing the new era of transparency and accountability, instead of fighting hard against it.

They messed up. Coombes and McDougall are owning it. The mayor continues full-throttle on his downward slope.

Let's now hope they don't experience the wrath of the ole boys for doing what is right and not trying to just ignore it until public attention moves on with the news cycle.

NOTE: The views expressed above are my own and do not represent lokol (goCapeBreton.com). Read more