Much to the chagrin of untold citizens of Toronto,
Rob Ford will not be taking the fateful trip to Ottawa that many had hoped. The
Supreme Court has declined to hear the appeal from a Divisional Court decision
which restored Ford to his mayoral seat after a conflict of interest issue
caused Justice Hackland of the Superior Court to vacate Ford’s mayoral seat.
Why the Supreme Court declined to hear the appeal is a matter upon which one
can only speculate – as is its custom, the Court did not give a reason for
declining to hear the appeal.[1]
Rob Ford will not be taking the fateful trip to Ottawa that many had hoped. The
Supreme Court has declined to hear the appeal from a Divisional Court decision
which restored Ford to his mayoral seat after a conflict of interest issue
caused Justice Hackland of the Superior Court to vacate Ford’s mayoral seat.
Why the Supreme Court declined to hear the appeal is a matter upon which one
can only speculate – as is its custom, the Court did not give a reason for
declining to hear the appeal.[1]
Of Paul Madger who set the wheels of this legal
odyssey in motion when he filed suit against Ford for violating the Municipal Conflicts of Interest Act,
Ford has said: “…they did everything they could to stop me from moving forward
with my agenda.” Presumably this means that Ford has every intention of moving
forward with his old agenda, an agenda which includes demonizing labour groups
under the guise of necessity and fiscal austerity.
odyssey in motion when he filed suit against Ford for violating the Municipal Conflicts of Interest Act,
Ford has said: “…they did everything they could to stop me from moving forward
with my agenda.” Presumably this means that Ford has every intention of moving
forward with his old agenda, an agenda which includes demonizing labour groups
under the guise of necessity and fiscal austerity.
Though ultimately attaining the result he desired,
one would think this may have been a sobering process for Ford, a hint that his
manner of doing business is deeply flawed, at best. But humility seems to
escape him. His Deputy Mayor has even said that Ford’s participation in a
vote in which he had a vested interest and which resulted in the loss of his
mayoral seat, albeit temporarily, was nothing to apologize for. The Deputy
Mayor explained: “if anyone should apologize it should be the integrity
commissioner or council.”[2]
one would think this may have been a sobering process for Ford, a hint that his
manner of doing business is deeply flawed, at best. But humility seems to
escape him. His Deputy Mayor has even said that Ford’s participation in a
vote in which he had a vested interest and which resulted in the loss of his
mayoral seat, albeit temporarily, was nothing to apologize for. The Deputy
Mayor explained: “if anyone should apologize it should be the integrity
commissioner or council.”[2]
The Ford administration’s lack of insight into the
authorship of its own troubles is so complete as to be almost fascinating. Of course, the integrity commissioner (or any
integrity commisioner for that matter) should find no cause to apologize when
raising an issue over a mayor who votes in his own favour in a vote concerning
allegations made against him. Nevertheless, a sense of indignation remains and
Ford appears to have emerged from his legal contest unaffected by modesty and
proudly impervious to personal growth.
authorship of its own troubles is so complete as to be almost fascinating. Of course, the integrity commissioner (or any
integrity commisioner for that matter) should find no cause to apologize when
raising an issue over a mayor who votes in his own favour in a vote concerning
allegations made against him. Nevertheless, a sense of indignation remains and
Ford appears to have emerged from his legal contest unaffected by modesty and
proudly impervious to personal growth.
While Ford’s reign will continue for the moment,
there is a bright spot amidst all of this grey for the working men and women
who would prefer a change in leadership: the vote. Councillor Adam Vaughan
offered this consolation: “there are lots of reasons to get rid of this mayor
and the best way to do it is at the ballot box.”[3]
Indeed – with the power of the ballot box on their side the people will eventually
have the chance to remove Ford from office in a way he can’t appeal.
there is a bright spot amidst all of this grey for the working men and women
who would prefer a change in leadership: the vote. Councillor Adam Vaughan
offered this consolation: “there are lots of reasons to get rid of this mayor
and the best way to do it is at the ballot box.”[3]
Indeed – with the power of the ballot box on their side the people will eventually
have the chance to remove Ford from office in a way he can’t appeal.