The play they watch at the Christmas Party in the beginning is "'The Little Match girl", which is a fairy tale by Danish author Hans Christian Andersen. (1805-75). The tale was published 1845.
The character who worked for the miserly boss is named Robert Kratchit, which is a reference to Bob Cratchit, the character who works for miserly Mr. Scrooge in Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol."
The aide to Mayor Clarkson is named Mansbridge and is played by Peter Mansbridge, host of CBC's evening news 'The National.'
Brendan Coyle (Mr. Bates from Downton Abbey) appears in the episode.