It is conceivable that Toronto's right-wing mayor Rob Ford could be out of a job by the end of this month. Facing a conflict of interest charge after a private citizen's complaint to the city's Integrity Commissioner, accusing him of using city resources to promote his own private football charity and then, participating in a procedural vote and debate on the same matter (a prima facie case of influence peddling)-Ford could receive an automatic removal from office plus a seven year ban from running for any elective public post, if found guilty. But as Torontonians have grown accustomed to when it comes to their buffoonish mayor, there is a whole lot more to the sordid tale of Rob Ford than meets the eye.
A whole lot more.
Just this week, a published report in the conservative daily The Globe and Mail found that the mayor had been using members of his own staff (by definition-city employees) to help him run his own two high school football teams-the Don Bosco Eagles and the Rexdale Raiders. Chief among these city staff is one Andrew Gillis, a former quarterback for the University of Toronto Varsity Blues. Gillis is listed as a "special assistant" to the mayor in official city records, although there seems to be no discernible responsibility to his position on the mayoral staff. In fact, he doesn't even show up for work at City Hall. But you can find him most of the time on the field in the west end campus of Saint Don Bosco, working as a 'volunteer' QB coach of the school's football team, the Eagles, which coincidentally is head coached by his own boss-the Mayor of Toronto.
It is important to remember that Ford ran on a platform of responsible spending and taxpayers' rights. When confronted by reporters, mayoral brother Councilor Doug Ford (Etobicoke) admonished the media, calling them "petty" and "lazy" and "out to get the duly-elected mayor". And yes, he said that indeed, part of the mayor's junior staff assist their boss with his football teams but they don't do it on city time. They are just volunteering "out of the goodness of their hearts". When the same pack of 'petty, lazy media people' pointed out to the councilor that those volunteer hours by city staff came at the expense of city-issued vehicles and mobile phones-in other words, TAXPAYER MONEY-the best that good old Dougie could come up with was to minimize the use of public resources; "they're just cars and cell phones", the not-so-smart Etobicoke councilor flippantly blurted out.----In other words, AN ESSENTIAL ADMISSION OF GUILT.
Not surprisingly, legal experts were quick to pounce on the ramifications of the Councilor Ford's statements. In fact, just hours after the Doug Ford interview was broadcast over the airwaves, another private citizen filed another complaint to the city commissioner. And the mayor's office sought to distance themselves from the very foolish comments of his brother.
Worth noting, too is the fact that two weeks ago (on September 4), the mayor himself was under oath and proclaimed that any undue involvement of public resource in his charity and other related 'private affairs' has since been rectified. Ford's lawyer could only argue as a line of defence-ignorance on the mayor's part. But there are many levels of ignorance, as the city prosecutor stated; ' willful ignorance can have criminal consequences'.
Yet, I agree with the mayor's stance that the legal system should not decide on his fate. Only the voting public should have the right to fire him. After all, the next election is just 26 months away. I would rather have the satisfaction of giving him the boot myself, what with his 12% approval rating.
And yes, I agree with the mayor's brother. This latest 'Ford football scandal' does come off as rather "petty and unimportant" in the overall scheme of things. A great majority of Toronto citizens already know that the Ford brothers are a pair of hypocritical, incompetent boobs.
So I say, let him stay. Let him be mayor for at least the next two more years. What's the worst that could happen? Besides, he's such a huge source of public entertainment for a city reeling in these economically dreary times; he and his brother are so unimaginably stupid that they're actually FUNNY.
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ONTARIO SUPERIOR COURT FINDS ROB FORD GUILTY OF CONFLICT OF INTEREST AND ORDERS HIS REMOVAL FROM OFFICE
An Ontario Superior Court judge today (November 26) found Toronto Mayor Robert Bruce Ford guilty of improperly participating in a debate on why he should reimburse $3,1050.00 in donations he solicited for his private football foundation using city letterhead.
Justice Charles Hackland dismissed Ford's claim that the mayor acted out of sheer ignorance of the law and instead found him guilty of 'willful blindness' and with a 'tremendous sense of self-entitlement and arrogance'.
The court ordered the mayorship vacant and gave a 14-day reprimand for the purpose of administrative transition.
Ford, in his usual combative self, has stated that he will appeal the court's decision and put the blame squarely on a 'left-wing conspiracy' that is out to get him at whatever cost. He also said he will fight 'tooth and nail' to keep the job he was elected to do 25 months ago.
Speculation now begins on who replaces the ousted mayor. There's talk about former Ontario Conservative leader John Tory stepping in to fill the remainder of Ford's term that began in December 2010 and ending in the fall of 2014. It is unsure though, if the former mayoral hopeful and popular radio host is interested in the job. Then, there's Councilor Karen Stintz, Ford's former ally-turned-political adversary. Stintz, a moderate conservative and chairperson of the TTC, has displayed considerable leadership and consensus building skills while challenging the abrasive Ford on a number of issues, in particular-the public transit file.
On the other side of the political divide, left-wing councilor Adam Vaughan has expressed interest in pursuing the mayorship, as has current NDP federal MP Olivia Chow but like Tory, it is unclear whether they are interested in mounting an electoral campaign for what is essentially a half-term.
And of course, there's Rob Ford, if and when he faces no legal obstacle in running again for the job he was just removed from.
One thing is for sure. This city's mild flirtation with right-wing politics may have come to an ignominious end. And the citizens of this highly liberal city cannot thank Rob Ford enough for that.
Toronto's deputy mayor Doug Holyday now assumes the role of city mayor on an interim basis until City Council decides on how to replace Ford; whether through appointment or by-election.
