Ford to appeal conflict-of-interest decision Monday
Posted January 6, 2013 9:22 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Mayor Rob Ford will begin his appeal on Monday against a conflict-of-interest decision that could see him removed from office.
If his appeal fails, council will have 60 days to decide whether to hold a byelection or appoint a caretaker mayor until the next municipal election in 2014.
It’s one of two legal challenges the mayor is currently facing, after a third – a $6 million defamation lawsuit – was dismissed.
Ontario Superior Court Justice Charles Hackland ordered Ford out of office on Nov. 26, after finding that he had voted on a city hall issue in which he had a financial interest.
Hackland said Ford was “willfully blind” when he took part in a council vote on whether he should repay $3,150 he had solicited for his private football charity using city letterhead.
However, a stay was granted on Dec. 5 until an appeal could be heard.
Ford has vowed that he will run in the byelection for his job if one is called. He argued that his decision to vote was an error in judgment.
In his second court case, Ford will learn the result of a forensic audit of his 2010 election campaign finances.
If Ford violated the Municipal Elections Act, he could be fined or banned from seeking public office – which would prohibit him from running in a by-election.
The defamation lawsuit, launched by Beaches restaurant owner George Foulidis, was thrown out Dec. 27 for failing to meet the “essential aspects” required for a libel claim.
With files from The Canadian Press
