MISSISSAUGA – There are no rules preventing former Mississauga mayor Hazel McCallion from joining a Peel-based real estate development company, according to an expert in municipal government.

Andrew Sancton, a professor of political science at Western University who specializes in municipal government, told The News that he’s not aware of any clauses in the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act or other legislation that would prohibit a former municipal politician such as McCallion from joining a development company.

Last week, Kaneff Group of Companies announced that McCallion had joined the company’s board of advisors as of June 1. McCallion served as Mississauga’s mayor for over three decades before she decided to not seek reelection in last fall’s municipal election.

City of Mississauga officials also confirmed they have no rules governing what a Mississauga councillor or mayor could do once leaving office.

Sancton, meanwhile, said he was “surprised” to learn about McCallion’s decision to join Kaneff Group.

“If she’s being asked because she’s a distinguished citizen and it’s an honorary position, then it’s not a big deal,” he said. “(But), it doesn’t look like a good thing for a former mayor to do.”

He felt that if she was expected to use insider knowledge of the municipality gleaned from her years of service, it could be an ethical issue for the former mayor.

McCallion, when reached by The News, lauded the work that the company’s founder Ignat Kaneff has done in Mississauga. She said Kaneff invited her to join the board of advisors but declined to comment when asked about any possible perceived conflict arising from her sitting on it.

Kaneff Group officials said that McCallion’s role on the board of advisors is a paid position and her responsibilities will be to advise the management team on “broad” matters. They noted that former Ontario premier Bill Davis is also on the board.

Ward 11 Councillor George Carlson, who didn’t always see eye-to-eye with McCallion during their time on council together, doesn’t believe it’s a big deal.