Toronto Mayor Rob Ford found guilty, removed from office

[Sue]

Toronto Mayor Rob Ford was found guilty in a conflict of interest case and will be removed from office.

Justice Charles Hackland released his ruling on Monday, rejecting Ford's claim that his decision to participate in a debate over whether he should repay $3,150 in questionable donations was a simple error in judgment.

"The Mayor is the face of City government, both internally and externally. Maintaining the integrity of government is the Mayor's most important job," Hackland found, in part, according to a tweet by the Toronto Star's Robyn Doolittle.


http://ca.news.yahoo.com/blogs/daily...155533313.html

And there was much rejoicing . I just hope they got him out before he did too much damage. Wonder how this will affect his sidekick brother (who is a city councillor).

[Alarm]

I like the bit where he says he's innocent, because he didn't take time to read the book about how to do his job...



Class act, ex-mayor Ford! Class act!

Ford testified in court in September, revealing that he had never read the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act he is accused of breaking, nor the handbook given to city councillors that spells out the rules for declaring conflicts.

He told court at the time he believed he did nothing wrong, while lawyer Clayton Ruby, who represented the complainant Paul Magder, argued Ford acted in bad faith by not familiarizing himself with the city's conflict of interest rules.

CBC article

[Sue]

Ever gracious, Ford is blaming "left wing politics" for his removal from office. And his goon (oops, brother) distinguished himself by shoving reporters aside as they left the building. Ah, the Ford brothers, what did Toronto ever do to deserve you?


Predictably the National Post is calling Ford's removal "an insult to Toronto voters" . Is there nothing a conservative politician can do that will cause the National Rag to put aside their partisanship?

[NorthernLite]

That would explain the classified ad I saw this morning.

"FOR SALE: Used Ford. Cheap. Contact people of Toronto."

[Hero_Mike]

As I understand, the mayor had indeed agreed to pay back some money out of pocket - a fairly minor sum of about $3000 - but neglected to do so despite repeated reminders. That's not very nice - that shows contempt of the ruling. One of the things about politicians is that they should abide by and respect the rule of law, as it applies to all citizens.

[Sue]

This article is a good outline of what happened with Ford. The main reason he got turfed isn't because he didn't pay back the money owed, or provide proof that he did, it's because he participated in, and voted on, the motion that was raised in council about this issue. I cannot believe that the mayor of our largest city didn't know you can't do things like that. Oh wait, it's Rob Ford, what am I saying!

http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/city...mayor-in-brief

[Alarm]

From reading while driving, to this, Rob Ford doesn't seem to think laws, rules and regulations apply to him.

The people of Toronto voted him in as a protest against left wing politicians...
Next time they will probably vote for someone different.

[Canuckistan]

Originally Posted by Alarm

From reading while driving, to this, Rob Ford doesn't seem to think laws, rules and regulations apply to him.

Rules are for the little people. I'm Rob ****ing Ford!

The people of Toronto voted him in as a protest against left wing politicians...
Next time they will probably vote for someone different.

You'd like to hope so. You really would.

[MapleLeaf]

Perhaps he would like to hyphenate his name to Rob Ford-Edsel.

[Sue]

With a potential by-election looming, city councillors erupted into insults and threats Thursday night unprecedented for even this fractured, polarized council.

At one point, Mayor Rob Ford yelled “I’ll whip both your asses,” — apparently at councillors Adam Vaughan and Gord Perks — during the final hours of what could be Ford’s final council meeting as mayor.


http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/arti...to-councillors

Ah, Ford, way to go out on a high note.

[Sooeygun]

I listened to the clip in that article. It's quite hilarious. But sad that they are such children. Actually, children would try and get along better.

[Mad Jay]

All this for $3000 ? Just pay the damn money, already!

[Alarm]

Originally Posted by Sue

Ah, Ford, way to go out on a high note.

Rob Ford, model of proper democratic behaivour, he is not...

[MapleLeaf]

Originally Posted by Mad Jay

All this for $3000 ? Just pay the damn money, already!

That's not really the issue though. The time has long past for paying back the money he raised improperly.

[Sue]

Toronto’s political system is equipped with numerous fail-safe mechanisms to keep a mayor out of legal trouble. Mayor Rob Ford managed to crash through every one and land in a heap, steps from being tossed out of office.

How it happened is an unprecedented tale of arrogance, hubris, incompetence, stubbornness and, in the words of Justice Charles Hackland, “willful blindness.”

It’s been reported that Ford ignored as many as six letters from city council’s integrity commissioner to comply with the rules that now threaten to abort his mayoralty, midterm.

What many may not know is the extent to which Integrity Commissioner Janet Leiper, Ford’s council allies and opponents, staff, advisers — Justice Hackland, even — tried to avert the pending disaster.

This is the story of how Ford burned through all the firewalls erected to protect him from himself.

http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/arti...f-from-himself

[Alarm]

Originally Posted by Sue

Toronto’s political system is equipped with numerous fail-safe mechanisms to keep a mayor out of legal trouble. Mayor Rob Ford managed to crash through every one and land in a heap, steps from being tossed out of office.

How it happened is an unprecedented tale of arrogance, hubris, incompetence, stubbornness and, in the words of Justice Charles Hackland, “willful blindness.”

It’s been reported that Ford ignored as many as six letters from city council’s integrity commissioner to comply with the rules that now threaten to abort his mayoralty, midterm.

What many may not know is the extent to which Integrity Commissioner Janet Leiper, Ford’s council allies and opponents, staff, advisers — Justice Hackland, even — tried to avert the pending disaster.

This is the story of how Ford burned through all the firewalls erected to protect him from himself.

http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/arti...f-from-himself

Wow....
just
Wow

[Sooeygun]

His whole schtick about not spending his office budget and using his own money has always annoyed me. It's not that I think the office budget should be automatically spent to the limit, but people shouldn't have to be rich to be on council. I was glad when they forced him to report his spending.

Ford always reminds me of the bully small town mayor/councillor/sheriff in a horror novel/movie. Like Big Jim in Stephen King's Under the Dome.

[lord_feldon]

http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/arti...stay-in-office

Rob Ford has won his conflict of interest appeal. He will remain mayor.

[Canuckistan]

Torontonians everywhere are sad.

[Canuckistan]

Fellow American: have you heard of Rob Ford, portly Canadian football fan and Mayor of Toronto, Canada's version of New York City? If not, you are missing out — and you better get on the Ford bandwagon soon because he might not be Mayor for much longer.

Back in November, Ford had been automatically expelled from office after a justice ruled that he'd illegally voted to let himself off the hook over improperly solicited lobbyist donations to a football charity he'd started. This morning, Ford won his appeal meaning he will stay on as mayor, at least over the weekend. Next week, an independent audit of his campaign finances will be released; if it goes poorly for Ford he could be removed, again.

http://gawker.com/5978975/the-best-o...-for-americans