Councillor calls for investigation into Rob Ford’s football charity, again

By Emily Senger - Friday, March 1, 2013 at 10:30 AM - 0 Comments

Toronto Mayor Rob Ford addresses reporters at City Hall in Toronto on Nov. 27, 2012. (Chris Young/CP)

Toronto Mayor Rob Ford’s football charity is again at the centre of a debate at city hall, just a month after the mayor was cleared in a conflict-of-interest lawsuit involving his charity.

This latest controversy comes after the Toronto Star reported Thursday that Ford was still sending out letters to registered lobbiests soliciting donations for the Rob Ford Football Foundation.

In its report, Star reporters said they had obtained at least two letters sent by Ford to registered lobbiests in the past two months.

Now, even Ford’s allies on council are advising the mayor to back away from his charity. Continue…

Is Rob Ford just too honest?

By Ivor Tossell - Tuesday, January 8, 2013 at 2:34 PM - 0 Comments

Toronto Mayor Rob Ford leaves a courtroom on Jan. 7, 2013. (Chris Young/CP)

Another month, another day in court with Rob Ford. His whole mayoralty has been very edifying for the City Hall press corps in this regard. Once every month or so, off everybody troupes to some stately courtroom, mayor in tow, to watch him sit glumly in the front row as lawyers argue about this thing or that thing that Rob Ford has done. This was his third court session. Really, it’s a field trip for everybody.

Yesterday, the Toronto mayor’s appeal of the decision that kicked him out of office was heard in front of a divisional court. The day after, he is still mayor, and will be until the court decides on his appeal, which it promised to do as quickly as it can. Going in, the punditariat had predicted a rehash of the conflict-of-interest trial that rendered a damning verdict against him. What we got instead was a launch few were expecting–the debut of Rob Ford: Honest Man.

The mayor was kicked out of office for breaching Ontario’s strict conflict-of-interest laws by speaking out in council against having to repay a few thousand dollars in donations to his football charity. (The money had been solicited in ways that broke the city’s integrity rules.) Then, to make matters worse, he voted against giving the money back. His political foes saw an opportunity and sued. A trial followed in October and once Justice Charles Hackland found that Ford has indeed broken the provincial Conflict of Interest Act, the penalty was automatic and written into law: removal from office. Continue…

Enter Jose Canseco, the best mayor Toronto never had

By Ivor Tossell - Friday, January 4, 2013 at 1:04 PM - 0 Comments

(Patrick Doyle/CP)

José Canseco, the best mayor Toronto never had, is a man of many schemes. Just a few days ago, the former steroidal slugger rang in the new year with a public list of resolutions that included “Get elected to a important political office in the U.S. or canada to help all people and governments with there problems (sic)” and bringing an anti-aging drink called “Ponce de Canseco” to market.

In fact, he was square in the middle of convening a meeting of followers of his gonzo Twitter account to discuss the drink, sending out a picture of himself sipping a glass of suspiciously yellow liquid, when political inspiration struck. A political consultant from Milton, Ontario tweeted a suggestion that he run for office in Toronto. Canseco, who clearly understands the value of saying “yes,” appointed the political consultant from Milton as his agent on the spot. Continue…

If Olivia Chow wants to be mayor of Toronto…

By Aaron Wherry - Monday, November 26, 2012 at 1:09 PM - 0 Comments

… there might be a very immediate opening and an impending call for applications.

At last report she was polling well as a hypothetical candidate.

Decision in Rob Ford’s conflict of interest case expected Monday

By Emily Senger - Friday, November 23, 2012 at 9:57 AM - 0 Comments

Toronto Mayor Rob Ford will know a judge’s decision in his conflict-of-interest case Monday morning, in a verdict that could see the mayor removed from office.

The case involves an alleged breach of the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act, where Ford is accused of using city resources for his personal football charity. Ford then voted during a council meeting on an item related to his football charity, which is where the actual conflict of interest is alleged to have occurred.

If Justice Charles Hackland finds Ford guilty, the mayor could be removed from office. The judge also has the power to ban Ford from running in the next municipal election, reports the Toronto Star.

This case is unrelated to another court case the mayor is involved in. Last week, Ford appeared as a whitness in a $6-million defamation lawsuit, where George Foulidis is suing the mayor for comments he made before the 2010 municipal election about Foulidis’ company, Tuggs Inc.

Your hypothetical Toronto mayoral race

By Aaron Wherry - Tuesday, October 30, 2012 at 3:34 PM - 0 Comments

Forum Research finds support for Olivia Chow in Toronto.

In a one-on-one matchup between Ford, who has said repeatedly he intends to seek re-election, and MP Olivia Chow, the federal politician would garner 49 per cent of the vote, while Ford would pick up 34 per cent, the poll suggests.

In June, the last time Forum Research asked respondents about a Chow-Ford matchup, Chow garnered 58 per cent support.

Ms. Chow said “no” in June, but then said “we’ll see what happens” in September.