City
Lawyer plans Supreme Court appeal of Rob Ford's Conflict of Interest ruling
Lawyer Clayton Ruby says he'll ask the Supreme Court of Canada to consider a final appeal on Rob Ford's conflict of interest case. According to the Toronto Star, Ruby's submission says there are still "legal questions that are fundamentally important to all municipalities and all Canadians" surrounding the case.
As reporter Daniel Dale notes, a panel of three Supreme Court judges will decide whether to take the case but won't reveal their decision for another four months. If they do summon the legal teams for a final showdown, the decision won't be released until around the time of the 2014 election.
The Supreme Court is the end of the line for all court proceedings in Canada but it typically only hears around 12 per cent of the cases it's offered. A ruling would mean an absolutely final decision over whether Rob Ford breached provincial rules by speaking and voting on an item at council in which he had a financial interest, namely the decision not to return $3,150 in lobbyist donations to his football foundation.
Is the case deserving of a Supreme Court appeal? Would an unsuccessful appeal help Rob Ford's chances of re-election?
Chris Bateman is a staff writer at blogTO. Follow him on Twitter at @chrisbateman.
Image: Chris Bateman
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God...we don't have a mayor, we have a 1-900 operator.
We probably come from the same side of the spectrum, but steve has you dead to right. The Right Honourable Mayor Grabass has yet to accomplish anything of lasting value to his city, and certainly not come close to holding up the vast majority of his platform. Like NOTHING. Quite literally, he has COST the city money. There's still time for him to affect change in his first term (and yes, i think there will be a second), but so far he's been all hot air.
So if you're gonna sit at the adults table, you're going to have to provide a few references as to what he's actually done. Then maybe people reading your comments will actually pay attention to anything you've taken the time to write.
Just my two cents.
Ended punitive vehicle tax
Kept property tax rates within rate of inflation
Hasn't raided the treasury to support his buddies
Keeps pissing off the pants wetters in the media and on council.
Good 3 years so far.
Okay, I'll take a swing. Let's see...
Contract out garbage saving millions?
Ever talk to anyone in District 2 (where GFL operates?). I take complaints for SWM...everyone hates the job they are doing. And they always miss trash, so chaser trucks have to go back out resulting in--you guessed it-- net loss over city workers doing the same job in the district next door.
Ended punitive vehicle tax?
Yeah, because we shouldn't pay for the roads that we use. I'll tell the theatre owner I don't want to pay for the seat I'm going to use, see how that works out.
Kept property tax rates within rate of inflation?
I don't care who you idolize--Ford, Miller, Lastman, Hall, Rowlands, Eggleton...the property tax in this City has traditionally dependent upon artificially low property tax rates, in effect soaking the business community somewhat to acheive balanced budgets. Homeowners have it too easy in this city, it's why the city has frays frayed so much at the edges (potholes go unfilled, parks go ungroomed...pick your favourite gripe).
Hasn't raided the treasury to support his buddies?
No, he's letting his thick file of lobbyists do that for him. It may take years to come out in the wash, but I guarantee this topic will one day see the full light of day.
Keeps pissing off the pants wetters in the media and on council?
I'll give you that one. No one likes pants wetters of any stripe, and stoking them up gives everyone a smile. But, in the long run, is that what you want to be known for...you successfully riled-up people opposed to you? Not much of a legacy.
Good 3 years so far?
If you say so. Though most people --on all sides of the political spectrum-- would have expected more from this politician by now. He still has time, but he's going to have to roll up his sleeves. Really, someone who speaks his language needs to charge into his office and blast him with a really stirring football locker room speech...then we'll see what this man is really made of. Until then, I fear he's going to coast through the rest of this "term".
This was fun Mark...tee-up some more of Ford's accomplishments, s.v.p.
Were are the tax savings you speak of? My property taxes went up, my cost of transit went up,(so car drivers pay less and transit riders pick up their tab) no evidence yet if privatizing garbage collection ( a contract that was single sourced, but i guess if the right does it is ok)I am getting less service yet pay more for it. Traffic is still hell, but transit has been reduced. There is more, but that hits some of the highlights
Guess your balls feel off and rolled under the couch, huh? You're being awfully quiet over there...guess it's hard to articulate your point-by-point position with your pud in your hand and your head buried so deep up your butt. Again.