At the same time, the mayor said he was asking police to investigate what he alleged was a theft of information from his office by a former city staffer.

Instead of being scrutinized for leaking sensitive information, the story twisted into reporting about a criminal investigation and became a witch hunt to find out who leaked the leak to our newspaper group.

The irony is the tape was leaked to us to expose the leaks going on between local politicians and the media. The media most guilty of prodding leaks out of city hall in camera meetings subsequently lambasted Councillor Brad Clark, who admitted he sent the recording to one of our reporters. The layers of hypocrisy make me angry and sad, especially as a journalist.

A few months later, the mayor was cleared of any wrong doing, which made the story even more interesting. Apparently, in the eyes of Hamilton's fledgling integrity commissioner's office, the mayor can leak information he deems to be in the best interest of ensuring accuracy in media coverage.

Ah, but let's not forget about the police investigation into the alleged stolen recording. There hasn't been much news on that front until this week.

We received an e-mail from a Hamilton Police officer asking for information regarding the original recording sent to us by Mr. Clark. In the e-mail the officer refers to recording tapes and written transcripts “stolen” from the mayor's office.

We have been asked to provide information on how we received this information and from whom. Under advice from our lawyer, we will obviously co-operate. However, I'm still baffled by the fact that no one seems concerned about the prevelance of leaks coming out of city hall.

Most recently, someone on council leaked information from an in-camera meeting regarding stolen money at HSR. I’m left to wonder who leaked this to the city daily, and will that councillor be involved in rendering judgement on Brad Clark, who is also being investigated by the city’s integrity commissioner for his role in providing our newspaper with the taped conversation?

I asked the mayor's office if they would be investigating the HSR leak.

Basically I was told that it's almost impossible to investigate leaks from city hall councillors because they don't come forward and admit they are breaching integrity rules. These leaky councillors prefer to hide in the darkness like cowards. And the media, who get the leaks, won’t reveal their sources, therefore contributing to the breach. So some members of the media in this town believe it’s okay if councillors break rules as long as the story lands in their lap.

It’s not hard to see why the public is so cynical about the media. In February 2008, council ruled against calling police to investigate leaks from city hall to the media, hearing it would be “extremely difficult” to prove who leaked confidential allegations against Councillor David Mitchell. Former city manager Glen Peace consulted with police at the request of Mayor Eisenberger,` who was concerned the allegations against Mitchell were leaked to the city daily.

I'm all for the public's right to know what goes on at city hall. I understand reporters rely on confidential sources. What I don’t understand is how any media can pass judgement on someone who actually admits to leaking information to the media. And there’s a big difference between getting information from a source that’s not governed by specific rules of conduct, such as city councillors. Sometimes the danger in exposing leaked information is the potential cost to taxpayers, should it lead to a lawsuit. Unfortunately, it seems some people in this city believe leaks are okay when they are on the receiving end, and bad when they don’t get the call.

I'll let the public be the ultimate judge of this ironic attitude. In my opinion, councillors who blab sensitive information to the media aren’t acting in the public's best interest, which they have chosen to protect by seeking office.

Leakers leak to curry favour with a specific media outlet or reporter. Anyone who says different is weaseling from the truth.

The media and politicians sleep together for a mutually beneficial relationship. And that is simply shameful and an affront to our democracy.