Toronto Mayor Booted Out of Office

Earlier today, Justice Charles Hackland ruled that Rob Ford had breached Ontario's Conflict of Interest Act, deliberately ignoring the law, and demanded his removal. However, the judge announced he would not render his decision for a fortnight to allow the local government to coordinate the necessary personnel changes. Ford's lawyer is expected to appeal and to ask for a stay of Hackland's ruling that would allow the mayor to stay in office during the course of the appeal.

Ford has 30 days to appeal and if his attorney fails in his efforts to get the ouster stopped, council can either appoint a councillor to be caretaker mayor until the end of the term in two years or have a $7 million dollar byelection.

The allegations against Ford arose when Toronto resident and businessman Paul Magder made a complaint against Ford following a February council debate. The mayor had asked to be excused from paying back $3150 to lobbyists who had made donations to his football foundation that that mayor had accepted. Ford violated the provincial law which prohibits members of council from speaking or voting on matters in which they have a financial interest. The debate had come about after Ford ignored six reminders from the integrity commission to repay the funds and the integrity commissioner brought the matter back to council.

Ford became mayor in 2010 after serving on council for 10 years.