Mayor Ford can’t be forced out, province says
Posted October 31, 2013 5:58 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
The country’s largest city descended into embarrassing new political turmoil Thursday with police essentially confirming the existence of an alleged video appearing to show Mayor Rob Ford smoking crack cocaine.
The surprise announcement by police chief Bill Blair, which followed the morning arrest of Ford’s friend Alexander Lisi on an extortion charge related to the alleged video, prompted immediate calls for the mayor to resign.
“The mayor has a totally unique approach to these personal crises of any politician we’ve ever seen,” said Coun. Shelley Carroll.
“(But) we’re now at a juncture where nothing he can do can make this go away.”
Despite the pressure on Ford, municipal law makes no provision for his forced removal from office unless he’s convicted and jailed for a criminal offence.
“There’s nothing we can do at this point,” Municipal Affairs Minister Linda Jeffrey said at the legislature.
“The province has no power to remove anybody, and obviously we’d have to wait as the investigation unfolds as to next steps.”
Like others, including Blair who expressed disappointment at the latest turn of events, Jeffrey said she was “saddened” by them, but refused to say whether Ford should step down.
At the same time, the minister expressed confidence in council to continue managing the city’s affairs despite the questions and allegations.
Even if the city and its thousands of employees keep functioning despite the woes at the top, the situation is clearly weighing on the minds of many councillors.
Some branded Ford an embarrassment, others said he owed the city an explanation.
“This cannot keep dragging out,” Coun. James Pasternak said.
“It is very disconcerting that the mayor of Canada’s largest city is under police surveillance.”
Allegations about Ford began on May 16 when website Gawker and the Toronto Star published stories about an alleged drug dealer shopping around a cellphone video.
They also published a photograph showing Ford with people accused of drug and weapon offences. One person in the photograph was killed in a drive-by shooting.
With files from Maria Babbage, The Canadian Press
