Mammoliti’s charity appeal draws questions
The city’s integrity commissioner is asking Councillor Giorgio Mammoliti about an email he sent to all city staff asking them to sponsor him in Autism Ontario’s charity bike ride.
Mammoliti (Ward 7, York West) said Tuesday his office received a letter from Janet Leiper saying some city staff had complained to her about his email appeal.
In it, he wrote: “I am reaching out to all of you to help where you can as a volunteer, a rider or make a donation to my page. All donations go to Autism Ontario.”
In August 2010, council accepted Leiper’s finding that then-councillor Rob Ford violated conduct rules by using city resources — his council letterhead — to improperly solicit donations to his private football foundation from lobbyists who do business with the city.
Last month, a majority of councillors, including Mammoliti, voted to rescind that decision despite Leiper’s finding that the now-mayor has not repaid the lobbyists.
Mammoliti said Tuesday he is merely trying to raise $5,000 for a charity to which he has no personal connection, and the donations go straight to Autism Ontario.
“If there’s a question about our integrity because we want to contribute our name to a reputable charity, I think we need to revisit the policy,” he said.
Leiper is away and nobody is authorized to speak in her absence, an assistant in her office said Tuesday.
On Tuesday evening, Mammoliti’s donation page for the June 10 ride said people had pledged $1,125.