Toronto man files legal application to oust Mayor Rob Ford
Posted March 12, 2012 7:58 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
A Toronto man has filed a legal application to remove Mayor Rob Ford from public office.
Paul Magder and his high-profile lawyer Clayton Ruby alleged Monday that Ford violated the Ontario’s Municipal Conflict of Interest Act during a council debate about his private football foundation.
Ford is accused of misusing city resources to solicit donations for his private football foundation. The integrity commissioner ordered Ford to pay back the money. He then participated in a council debate on the issue. But the act prevents councillors from speaking on issues that financially benefit them.
“Now we see a municipal politician voting for his own monetary benefit,” Magder said. “He should have excused himself from the debate and the vote.”
Ruby says Ford’s participation in that debate is a conflict of interest. “You can’t as a city councillor vote on a motion that benefits you personally,” he said.
If found in violation of the Act, Ford would be removed from office. Ruby is also requesting that Ford be barred from running for office for seven years.
The council debated the issue at its February meeting and decided not to pursue the issue with Ford, spokesperson George Christopoulos told CityNews Monday.
Last year, two Toronto residents, Max Reed and Adam Chaleff-Freudenthaler, asked a city committee to audit Ford’s campaign funding. Toronto resident and retired teacher Ted Ho also filed a request for an audit.
Ford has been accused of illegally borrowing money from his family business, misrepresenting fund-raising costs and spending money on his campaign before he was registered as a candidate — all of which violate election laws.
Last May, the city’s compliance audit committee ordered a forensic review of the mayor’s campaign finances. That review could begin next month.
Ford has cancelled his public weekly weigh-in at city hall on Monday because of March Break. Since January, the mayor has been stepping on the scale every week, along with his brother Coun. Doug Ford, who’s in Florida this week.
