Toronto mayor granted stay of ouster

TORONTO – An Ontario judge says Toronto Mayor Rob Ford can remain in office while he appeals a decision that turfs him for breaking conflict-ofinterest rules.

If not for the stay granted by Superior Court Justice Gladys Pardu, the mayor would have had to vacate his seat next week, as so ordered by Justice Charles Hackland. Now he can remain until a judgment is rendered on his appeal, scheduled to be heard Jan. 7.

Speaking to reporters outside his office minutes after the decision came down, Ford said he was happy with the outcome.

“I’m very pleased with today’s decision and I can’t wait for the appeal, and I’m going to carry on doing what the people elected me to do,” the mayor said.

“They voted for me to be mayor to get this city back on financial footing, which we’ve done. I’ve got a lot of work to do and I’m going to continue doing it to the best of my ability, and I can’t wait until January 7.”

Justice Hackland found the mayor violated the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act when he spoke and voted on a matter at city council requiring him to repay donations made by others to charitable football foundations.

The sanction was overturned at that February meeting.

The stay proceeding at Osgoode Hall lasted half an hour, with lawyers for both sides arguing in its favour.

“It is clear that the appellant would suffer irreparable harm if he were removed from office, but it later transpires that his appeal was successful, and the order of Hackland J. was set aside,” Justice Pardu read in court.

“If the decision under appeal is stayed for a short interval until the appeal is heard, there is no basis to conclude that any harm will be caused to the public interest.”