TORONTO, Ont. – Mayor Rob Ford hung on to the city’s top spot after Ontario’s Divisional Court overturned a previous decision that ordered Ford removed from office for violating conflict of interest rules.
A Divisional Court released its decision at 10:30 a.m. Friday.
Shortly after the ruling was released, Ford returned to the mayor’s office and was greeted by cheering staff members. He didn’t say anything on his way in, but had a huge smile on his face.
In an address to the media at around 11:30 a.m., Ford said the legal battle was a “very, very humbling experience.”
“I have an enormous respect for the judicial system. And I’m very, very thankful for the decision it made today,” he said.
He also stressed that despite his turbulent two years in office, he has fulfilled his promises to Torontonians.
“I am proud of how much we’ve done so far. Promises made, promises kept. And it is my plan to continue fighting for the great people of this city.”
Ford thanked his legal team and his family and citizens for their support.
“Your kind words have inspired me to continue fighting on. The people of this city have given me phenomenal support.”
He also noted that the experience was taxing on his family.
“This has been a very, very challenging time for all of us.”
The three-judge panel agreed with Ford’s lawyers, who had argued the previous ruling was legally flawed.
In November, an Ontario Superior justice ordered Ford removed as mayor for taking part in a council vote that he repay $3,150 raised for his private football foundation.
The ruling was put on hold pending Friday’s decision.
Despite the legal win, Ford’s woes are not done. A forensic audit of Ford’s 2010 campaign expenses is expected to be released next month.
“We also need to know what happened with the campaign finances,” Coun. Adam Vaughan said earlier this week. “There are allegations out there that he cheated during the last election.”
If Ford is found to have violated the Municipal Elections Act he could face further charges, which could lead to a fine or removal from office.
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So this was all about Ford illegally voting and people raging on how he blatantly disregarded the law. But the actual vote city council held was illegal itself?!?!?! Why was Ford the only one charged? Every councillor who participated in that vote should’ve been thrown out. Freakin dysfunctional council goin on there.
Well said. Now, can we finally get around to building subways, and not those idiotic above ground LRT lines, which, as anyone with a brain knows, will further add to Toronto’s already massive traffic problems. Karen Stintz must have been boiling when it was announced that Mayor Ford was keeping his job. She has tried everything to get rid of him, and to get those stupid LRT lines in place. I wish someone would get rid of Karen Stintz.
Karen Stintz is going to have to find another way to get rid of Rob Ford now.
I like our city, I like our Mayor and for you lefties that down like either you are free to leave. Toronto is already over populated as it is. What people fail to realize is all the promises Rob Ford has come through on. We all know he’s not perfect, but no is. Let’s remember that he got rid the $60 car tax right out of the gate. Privatizing garbage saving us millions, reduced city councillors annual expense allowance from $50K to $30K (this is why a lot of the councillors don’t like him). He’s doing a good job people, this is what we all want in a Mayor.
Now that the elitists have lost 2 out of 3, can we get back to the subway system we voted for? Please and thanks!
The MONEY was for a CHARITY not personal gain! This is all part of the lefties on council trying to circumvent the will of the MAJORITY who voted for Ford.
Want a bunch of blank!!. He should be booted out.
Wow so the city of Toronto saves 7 Million dollars today.
well done
Hey, Mr. Ford is the Mayor elected by the people of this great city. If you don’t like him you are free to leave. No one will miss you.
Such an embarrassment to this city.
Very happy that I live well north of Toronto and am a spectator only of this 3-ring Rob Ford circus. How much longer before the next spectacle? Virtually since the election, Toronto has taken a back seat to one debacle after another. I give it 2 months at most before the next one comes along. One thing for sure, Mr. Ford, you have managed to entertain us while there was no hockey! Incidentally, reading while driving is a 6-point offence – so sad that many other citizens have had to pay for this action while the mayor is graciously allowed to ‘carry on’!
If you think That Rob Ford is a 3 ring circus. Then that must have made David Miller’s reign a complete Circus del soleil extravaganza. The only reason there are these spectacles in the first place is because, virtually since the election(as you put it) the left wing politicians in city council and their cronies have continually harassed him day and night like some crazed rabid paparazzi. l wonder how cool you would be under this constant pressure. I would lose my temper once and while too and make mistakes. Tell me of any previous mayors that had to endure these constant attacks as our “gracious” mayor has had to. By the way, I too am very happy that you are only a spectator and live well north of Toronto. There are enough of you already living here lowering the class of our city
Congratulations to Mr. Ford on this decision. He represents ideas of majority of Toronto residents and speaks up about it. Might not be politically correct at times, but I would rather see someone speak up about issues rather than mumbling political nonsense. How disgusting it was to hear our so-called “politicians” willing to go to elections and spending millions of OUR dollars just to prove their point. Shame….. God forbid your plans, actions and wrongdoings become public one day, there will not be enough time in the news to cover it…..
Oh the whinging, oh the whining! I personally dlslike Ford because he is an oaf, but I believe that he is good for Toronto which has sunk to unbelievable depths after too many years of lefty BS. What really annoys me is that there are plenty of others who have genuinly done bad stuff, but they are not persecuted, nor charged, nor removed from office.
Another thing, how come it’s okay to make fun of his weight, his features and his personality, but if you did the same for one of the lefties, OMG! the sky would cave in. So what we have here is a double standard.
A great day for Democracy. Biased judges should not be able to overturn the overwhelming will of the people.
I cannot agree more. I thought I was the only one seeing all the negatitiy that comes out of his mouth. He is Mr. Doom & Gloom.
This is a good day for the tax payers of Toronto. Keep up the good work Rob and please hurry up and get rid of the city’s Fair Wage Policy. This was part of your election platform, right?
Congratulations Mayor Ford!! The left leaning media in Toronto must be crying! Too bad the media did not do their job and investigate the so called “private citizen” who started this big time waster!!!
Great news….
…for those that want to commit crimes for around $3000 or less. Seems it’s ok as far as the mayor and the judicial system is concerned. Now lets get back to work…or football…or reading while you drive…or hijacking a TTC bus…or building ferris wheels and cheese cake factories. Fortunately, the laughs continue!
what crime was comitted? So now raising funds for needy kids is bad? Exactly which bus did he hijack. Could it possibly the same one the “police” dispatched that day. Amazing how you haters pick and choose what you want to say then twist the facts to suit your needs. By all means don’t let truth get in your way. You are right about one thing the laughs will continue as long as people like you post this type of pathetic dribble. By the way, have you given any thought to changing your name. Perhaps Tom Dumb might be a better fit !
Forget this city. I’m selling my house and moving to stratford.
we will miss you.
Seriously, he may be an oaf at times, but he cares about this city. That’s more than I can say about the leftist Councillors that are trying to bankrupt this city to buy more votes, aka Clayton Ruby supporters. Put Olivia Chow in charge and see what happens to the City’s financial position, its budget and property tax rates.
Good decision, the courts are starting to regain my confidence. Some are saying he got off on a technicality. Lets look at this. It was all over $3,150.00 for a high school football team. Good intentions for a good cause. Those who can’t wait for another election were/are willing to paying 12 – 15 million dollars for byelection after they thought they could get him out of office for $3,150.00 for a local football team. Not to mention the cost of the disruption at City Hall it has caused and court costs involved. All over trying to help a football team for $3,150.00.
Congratulations Mr. Ford hold your head high and keep moving forward!
The conflict of interest wasn’t how he solicited funds for his football team. The conflict was his voting on whether or not he should have to pay the fine he incurred from improper use of his council office’s resources (to raise funds for his personal charity), even after being told repeatedly to stop doing that. He voted on an issue in which he had a personal financial stake. Regardless of the fact that he never made any money from this, by having the fine forgiven he was no longer obliged to pay out $3,000, which, in itself, is a financial gain. In a sense, by not losing $3,000, he gains that amount. He voted to keep his personal money in his personal wallet. Putting aside the question of the validity of that fine, he still broke the rules of conduct in regards to conflict of interest.
I do think the initial ruling was a bit extreme. I also think “stubborn sense of entitlement” is an accurate description of Mayor Ford. The rules are there for a reason and even the mayor has to abide by them. I’m not a fan of the man but I hope that if he takes anything away from this it is that he’s not always right. The lesson here for him is that it might actually be beneficial for him to sometimes listen to those he disagrees with (and maybe even take their advice). For example, had he stopped using city letterhead to solicit funds for his charity the first time he was told to do so, none of this would have happened.
JIm you omitted two very important details. 1) Why should he be expected to pay back money that went directly to a charitable foundation, regardless of wheather his or any other persons names is on that chartible foundation. The money was never in his hands. If city council felt so strongly about having the money returned they should have gone directly to the foundation in the first place. 2) As stated by the judges in their ruling City council had NO AUTHORITY to hold this vote in the first place. Since the vote had no leagal authorization, he cannot legably be held in conflict of interest. All matters pertaining to this action & vote become null & void and therefore there is no validity to the case. You may want to call it a technicality if you choose but consider this. Why wasn’t all of city council questioned and held to task for over stepping their authority on this matter in the first place? Why no repercussions for them?
Excellent points Chips. In a sense, if I understand it correctly, it was a bit like entrapment (no conspiracies, just a comparison). However, with entrapment, just because the set-up is done specifically to get someone to do something illegal, that person still makes the decision to commit the crime – they still did something wrong but can’t be convicted for it. As in this case, despite council overstepping, the non-validity of the vote itself, the nature of the fine, or that the mayor never intended to pay it, he still voted on a financial matter that involved him personally. Just because he didn’t believe the issue had any merit, or the vote he was taking part in had any validity (as the court decided it didn’t), doesn’t mean he can ignore the rules of conduct. He should have known better, he should have trusted his colleagues to deal with the issue, and he should have abstained from the vote.
Council, in overstepping their authority, didn’t do anything illegal (unlike Conflict of Interest). What Mayor Ford was accused of is a matter for the courts; what council did is a matter for the electorate. And, come next election, perhaps you will see those repercussions.
I am happy Rob Ford won his appeal. His job has been made much more difficult because of the economic conditions we find ourselves in. Mayor Ford understands that we must cut back on our spending, and I am sure everyone agrees with this. The problem is everyone is saying yes we need to cut spending, just do not cut in my area. This self preservation attitude can no longer be supported by the taxpayer. Mayor Ford is trying to make our city a better place for all of us. Unfortunatly sometimes you need to take two steps back in order to take one step forward.
Keep up the good work and do not give in to the lobby groups always wanting more. We all need to get back to work instead of looking for a handout.
Looks like he got away without any punishment. Perhaps he should have been told that there is no excuse for him skipping his Mayoral duties and attend every event at the Gay Pride Parade this year.
I am very happy for Rob Ford. He is a good mayor!!!
I seldom participate in the banter, because everyone here has strong feelings one way or the other and we’ll no doubt fail to agree, because it becomes about politics. My view is neither left nor right but about running a business. The business is called “Toronto” and it really is about common sense. Ford has demonstrated little of that. He behaves like a bully and arrogant. Now, I don’t know the man personally, so he may be a sweet guy – but his persona is indeed negative, I acknowledge that he has done some of the things he promised in his platform – although I am somewhat mystified that now have a $220 million surplus for our 2013 budget, yet my property taxes continue to go up in a community that has been established for more than 100 years. I don’t discount that hard decisions had to be made, although cutting expenses are a fairly common approach, whereas building revenues and sales are how companies, like “Toronto” must be successful, when the dust settles. I am somewhat surprised, but maybe not really that surprised, how we could have voted Mr. Ford in as Mayor, in the first place, but given the choices I guess we simply vote in this fine City against the others we don’t want to win, rather than for our leader. So our choices were a true politician with more than questionable historical practices of financial mismanagement or this (more than the even the former “head of embarrassing mayors association”, ever – Mel Lastman) oaf. I love Toronto and hope that one day, very very soon, we may attract a business person with excellent skills in relationship building so that we can attract new business to this fine city, inject visitors, companies opening here, international conventions and investment. Now if you are a business person, would you want to work with this CEO of Toronto? This is our “new” economic times, so we had better adapt our leadership, our voting and our own views to be realistic and not political – can you say fiscal cliff? That’s where arrogant politics leads – in wining a point, but loosing so much more in the end. Let’s all work together and demand that of our elected officials. Nothing is free, the home owner cannot possibly pay for everything and the government is not always effective. We need to build more revenues, create new ongoing revenue streams and work tirelessly to ensure our business, that we are all shareholders in, Toronto, thrives.
You make some very good and sensible points Dave. The citizens of this city must take this current city council to task during the next municipal elections. Wheather your political views are left or right leaning it does not matter. You must send an unmistakable message to all these councilors ,that up until now are refusing to work together for the1, by firing ALL OF THEM. Not only will we be taking back our city but it will also serve as a warning to the newly elected counsillors the consequences the will face by only thinking about themselves or their party affiliations instead of the good of the city and ALL of it’s people-not just special interest groups.
Very glad to get him back.
Good day for Toronto. All these people hating Rob only get news from the media and don’t even live here.
good! common sense prevails -this was a put up job done by the left wing and paid for by Magder
nice to see Him back.
I for one am very glad Rob Ford is still in as mayor. We live in Mississauga and looking in from the outside, I see that Rob Ford is a dufus, but he is direct and right-leaning, which is GOOD for the city. At least he’s getting things done.
Let the people decide in the next election how he’s doing, but for the meantime, let the council get actual work done now. There is much to do!
I’m so glad …… good 4 him . If you think about it this has probably been happening for years
with past Mayors. So now what because mayor isn’t liked that much it comes out ?
They are all crooks …… they all do these types of things all the time for YEARS !
So why pick on him ? Why bring this out to light now …… ? Its people who are haters and wanted him to leave did this. Plus he is cutting down on many things …. services ….. so yeah he would be hated. People shouldn’t throw stones at glass houses !
So congrats mayor FORD ! Now if you could use your SECOND chance to really clean up toronto that would be great……. ! Not many people in your position would get a second chance so ….. don’t mess up !
Adam vaughan needs to get a life or something,always negative in everything he says.He should have stayed on cp24.Always has negative thing to say about the Mayor.What a depressing site to see him on the news. What does he do anyway and who voted for him.
I am soooo happy for him, who hoooo!!!
…there has been a witch hunt on for this man since he took office! It’s so obvious.
Its mind-boggling how Adam “Lets tax sidewalk use” Vaughan is still a member of city council.
Congrats Mayor Ford you deserve to run the city. You’re the only one in a long time who has done it properly. Hey lefties why don’t you save the energy from your smear campaign and use it to get back to work for a change.
This is a sad day for Toronto. I can’t believe how conservative and dumb Torontonian’s are. I’m embarrassed to be your neighbour.
get a life ! what are you American ?
Now that the law has spoken, Counselors….. GET BACK TO WORK!!!!1
WHEN ARE YOU MOVING DAN,GOOD LUCK,LOL
GOOD FOR YOU ROB,ALL THE BEST MY FREIND.
Well done Mayor Ford!!! Very happy that things have worked out for you! Now – if we could only get rid of Adam Vaughan, Toronto can get back to normal…
Adam Vaughan what a jerk a lot like his father–Either start woking to improve the city or resign — You talk about lthe Mayor not doing his job try looking in the mirror– You really are a JOKE
Bang on Ray. Adam needs to learn how to adopt a good hard work ethic and stop wasting time and tax payers’ money.
Ok who is the next lefty to whine about Rob Ford.
Word advise to left councillors, next election we will see how many of you will be elected.
If you decide not to run that means you are scarede on what the voters think of you, and all the crap that you did and cost the city money.
Common sense has prevailed and Rob has learned from this experience. A win/win for the city, and Dan’s moving out to boot……….
…and he can take Adam Vaughn with him
Arrogance is a very dangerous political game. Should Mr. Ford believe that he can return to his questionable practices, it would be foolhardy to expect that there will be no consequences.
Hopefully, Mayor Ford appreciates this “teachable moment”.
The only thing he needs to learn is that the lefties will find any reason to go for the throat. He’s a good mayor and just needs to be more careful moving forward.
After reading Adam Vaughn’s comments about still pursuing Ford for fund irregularities I am stating to believe the allegations that Mamolito has levelled about a conspiracy at City Hall. Adam Vaughan is much more iterested in destroying Mr Ford than he is in running the City in a fair and just way for the citizens that elected both he and Mr Ford. Come on Adam quit conspring to get Ford and start working with him to ensure that the taxpayers get what they are paying you for.
BTW Good bye Dan and enjoy paying higher property taxes in the the border city that you move to.
Yes!! So glad…this is the righteousness that our city needs. Now, lets move forward and support him.
I don’t like him really, but i hope they can move pass all this scandals bs and focus on the city now. I bet theres gonna be some crazy folk out there that waste the courts time and try to get him thrown out again.
THE RIGHT DECISION HAS BEEN MADE….ENOUGH SAID. ROB FORD IS AN INNOCENT MAN
NOW ZIP IT AND LETS MOVE ON. YAHOOOO!!
THE RIGHT DECISION HIS BEEN MADE…..ENOUGH SAID. ROB FORD IS AN INNOCENT MAN
)
Lets all hope that Ford(s) have all learned something from this little escapade. Do your job, be kind to people as you go. There is no need to be a bully. Now, lets move on to other news makers, Toronto X Files – Mommoliti being followed and phone bugged, really! Only the guilty make up stories, oh and then there is the audit, coincedance you say….you all should practice what you preach. These days there are no stones left unturned……be honest and try not to step on anyones toes.
wow!! this is amazing. Thank god we still have Rob Ford as our Mayor. he has done an amazing job up to date and will continue to do an amazing job.
Thank God the judges have common sense and ruled for the good of the mass and not just one sided political interests. What an absolute waste of time money and energy. Congratulations to the best and most honest Mayor Toronto has ever had Mr. Robert Ford.
Someone can tell me what is Adam Vaughan going to do if Ford is out? He has been paid only to fight Ford. He can’t do anything else….. I bet inside he is hoping Ford will continue as will give him access to media. Adam Vaughan value without Ford = 0
Adam’s value WITH Ford = 0
Awesome news !!
finally TO has a mayor who really has the city in his best interests
good riddance Dan …
“Dan says:
wow, look at the poll here. If he’s ousted and then reappointed, I’m done. My house goes on the market first thing next monday after reappointment.”
Go ahead Dan, We’ll hold the door for you on the way out. This is what democracy dictates and if you don’t like that then you’ll have to move somewhere outside of Canada and the U.S.
It’s up to voters to determine what should happen to Ford and not liberal lawyers and judges with a personal agenda.
No Rob should stay and you Dan move along then…Ford has trimmed the fat in office alot by stopping the garabage collectors from striking downtown which saves millions and keeps the city from mounds of trash piling up in the summer.
He took away the double dipping of renewal of your stickers once a year for your car. He has done alot and saved millions and is there, for the people. He has visions of more subways not streetcars but you have the lefties stopping it.I guess all you haters of Ford most live downtown.
“He has visions of more subways…” – a vision without a realistic (or any) funding plan is a pipe dream. THAT’s why it wasn’t approved.
If the left wing politicians would stop opposing the idea of bringing in a casino/entertainment complex to the city (as MGM want’s to do) then there’s your sustainable funding plan. The yearly proceeds would easily fund the expansion of at leat 1-2 new subway stations a year. However that would make our mayor look good now wouldn’t it and people like Adam Vaughan would never let that happen now will they? THERES THE REAL REASON WHY IT WASN’T APPROVED.
Hey Dan, why wait, please leave now……………..
wow, look at the poll here. If he’s ousted and then reappointed, I’m done. My house goes on the market first thing next monday after reappointment.
That will mean this city has reached the threshold of the point of no return of stupidity. I will be moving to a border town, and spending as much time outside of Canada as possible.
Bye Dan. Don’t let the door hit you on the way out.
You put your Rob Ford in, you put your Rob Ford out, and you shake it all about! But seriously folks if Toronto ends up spending another $7M for an election, I for one am going to be upset. In or out I don’t think the tax payer should pay for another election until the end of term, which is why we have a backup in the first place. The whole thing is just ridiculous, everyone get back to work.
because flaherty at least admitted to wrongdoing… and there’s still an inquiry on the way. Ford has been screwing around with everything within his power for 2 years now – and admits to nothing.
Please let Ford go. we,ve had enough of a person that has no respect for the law or people. Let him go to his Football heaven.
@ kevin in Taxoronto… also, have you looked at what the taxes cost in any other city in Ontario? We are still well off, and have always been.
Let this be a lesson to everyone else reading these comments. If someone has “taxoronto” in their name, they are most likely extremely ignorant.
Dan… Only Toronto pays a second Land transfer tax and Vehicle tax-(Now removed) among other smaller taxes from Miller era, If Rob Ford holds his promise, the Land transfer tax will start being cut down in year #4 for complete removal in Robs 2nd term….Which you can bet he will be elected again! If he hold this promise he will lock himself in for the next election overwhelmingly this time.
@ kevin in Taxoronto. Sometimes the privatized garbage collection comes 1-2 days late. Nuff said.
Ah, but the fact of the matter is it comes. Not sitting there waiting for a summer strike to accumulate trash in city parks and rinks.
You may complain about the delay of a few days. How were you with the weeks long strike that we got to endure on a regular basis?
Think it through before you speak. Or in this case type.
Why is it that Finance Minister Jim Flaherty gets a slap on the wrist and told not to use his letterhead but Mayor Rob Ford may lose his job
Mr. Ford should go, the deputy mayor should step in as mayor and and the next in line for deputy mayor positon takes that position.
These people hold these positions until the next natural election…..
I see we are still worrying about this pettiness, what about that city councllor that was nailed with impaired. Is she still allowed to work and drink and drive
…….and this is all because of $3000.00 somebody donated to charity? Sounds logical. How much money have Councillors wasted chasing this witch hunt? Somewhat embarrassing! This “cheat” of a mayor has saved the city hundreds of millions of dollars which is something all the other Councillors couldn’t do in all their years at the public teat. They are the joke!
Bon Voyage Rob
If Rob Ford is thrown out of office and hopefully he will be, why would he be permitted to be given another opportunity at the same job????? Where is the logic?
Will you Mr. Ford just leave and don’t come back once and for all! You make Toronto look like a joke! Saving the city money you say?? Yeah it sure looks like it! NOT!! You have cheated, used taxpayers money for your own private life and the list goes on! So no you have not done good for the taxpayer! Your a embarrassment!
Don’t let facts get in the way of your accusations.