Despite ongoing saga with Rob Ford, Toronto’s deputy mayor says city hall is still functioning as usual
May 24th, 2013 | Comments (0)
Despite the ongoing saga of Rob Ford, Toronto’s deputy major says it is business as usual at city hall. Doug Holyday says the government is still functioning regardless of several external distractions. The mayor’s executive committee is drafting a letter to urge him to address allegations of a cellphone video that is said to show him smoking crack cocaine. Last Friday, the mayor called the allegations “ridiculous” but has said little else about them. Holyday says he will be talking to the former aide to see if he can find out why Ford has been unavailable for the past week.
U.S. website unable to contact the seller of the alleged Rob Ford crack video
May 24th, 2013 | Comments (0)
The target for money has almost been reached, but the seller is apparently nowhere to be found. The U.S. website, Gawker.com, claims its lost contact with the person who allegedly is in possession of a video that shows Toronto Mayor Rob Ford smoking crack cocaine. Editor of the site, John Cook, says his confidence in the deal has greatly diminished. So far, about $160,000 has been raised which is just short of the $200,000 goal.
The Prime Minister reacts to the resignation of his Chief of Staff
May 24th, 2013 | Comments (0)
Prime Minister Harper says maybe he could’ve been quicker to respond to news that led to his chief of staff resigning. Nigel Wright quit last weekend, four days after it was revealed he cut a cheque for $90,000 to cover Senator Mike Duffy’s disallowed housing expenses. Harper, who’s currently in Colombia on a trade mission, insists he was never told about the Wright-Duffy deal until after the fact. Duffy, meantime, resurfaced on Parliament Hill yesterday dismissing any suggestion he resign his Senate seat.
Toronto Mayor’s Chief of Staff no longer in office
May 23rd, 2013 | Comments (0)
Toronto Mayor Rob Ford’s Chief of Staff has been fired. Mark Towhey was escorted out of city hall by security and told reporters he didn’t resign, Thursday. He did not say why he was no longer Ford’s chief of staff, but said it followed discussions earlier in the day with the mayor. Earl Provost, Deputy Chief of Staff, will assume the role of Acting Chief of Staff until further notice. Reporters have crowed city hall, waiting for a statement from the mayor. This news comes as another councillor says he registered a warning on a roadside alcohol screening test but is not being criminally charged. Paul Ainslie spoke earlier saying he was stopped at a ride check earlier this month, after having “two or three glasses of wine” while out for dinner with friends.
Toronto Mayor Rob Ford dropped as volunteer coach of high school football team
May 23rd, 2013 | Comments (0)
Things just keep getting worse for Rob Ford. Toronto’s mayor has been let go as volunteer coach of the Don Bosco Eagles football team in a decision made by the Toronto District Catholic School Board. The board simply said that it wanted to go in a new direction and made no mention to the crack cocaine allegations that have made headlines internationally. Ford continues to stay silent about the allegations, while his brother, Councillor Doug Ford, says the mayor would let the media know if and when he had anything to say.
The Prime Minister unhappy with senate expense scandal
May 23rd, 2013 | Comments (0)
Prime Minister Harper is weighing in on the Senate expense scandal, saying it has left him “extremely angry.” He says he was unaware that former Chief of Staff Nigel Wright gave $90,000 to Senator Mike Duffy for wrongly-claimed housing allowances. The prime minister says had he known the cheque was about to be handed over, he would have blocked it. Harper, who is on a trade mission to South America, says the reimbursement was wrong, adding that’s why Wright resigned last weekend.
Audit continues for a Senators housing allowance
May 22nd, 2013 | Comments (0)
Liberal Senators have been blocked in their attempt to have police investigate Senator Mike Duffy‘s improperly-claimed housing allowances, which totaled $90,000. The Liberals claim the Senate committee on internal economy has no credibility because it whitewashed its first review of the case. However, the Conservative majority in the Upper Chamber voted to have the case sent back to the committee for a second review.
Toronto council votes against downtown casino
May 22nd, 2013 | Comments (0)
Toronto city council has rejected a proposed downtown casino. They voted 40-4 against the proposal on Tuesday afternoon, essentially putting an end to the possibility of a downtown location in the near future. Mayor Rob Ford said during the debate that he would not support it after the province said the city’s share would be just 53 million dollars a year… not the 100 million they were hoping for. The mayor had previously been pushing for the casino, saying it would result in 10,000 jobs for the city. Council also voted 24-20 against expanding slots at Woodbine race track.
NDP leader Andrea Horwath says her party will ensure the passage of the provincial budget
May 21st, 2013 | Comments (0)
After much consideration, NDP leader Andrea Horwath says she will ensure the passage of the provincial budget. The announcement means Ontarians will be spared an election. Horwath says her party did its best to make sure the people of the province have a more accountable government. Last week, Premier Kathleen Wynne agreed to Horwath’s extra demand for a financial accountability office, modelled on the parliamentary budget office in Ottawa. Horwath says the government has also agreed to bring plans for new tolls on car-pool lanes back to the legislature for a vote.
Harper says he will be tightening the rules in the upper chamber
May 21st, 2013 | Comments (0)
Prime Minister Harper told his caucus morning that if any of them wants to use public office for their own benefit they should make other plans or better yet leave the room. Harper Said Tuesday morning that he will tighten the rules in the upper chamber after the recent Senate expense scandals. He told the caucus he was very upset about the conduct of some people and the conduct of his own office.
Toronto city hall will be watching Mayor Rob Ford’s camp for a response to crack cocaine video allegations
May 21st, 2013 | Comments (0)
Some light could be shed on Tuesday about reports of a video allegedly showing Toronto Mayor Rob Ford smoking crack cocaine. The mayor’s brother, Councillor Doug Ford, told a Vancouver radio station over the weekend that he would respond to the reports. The alleged footage made headlines last week after it was reported by the Toronto Star and the U.S.-based website Gawker.com. Ford calls the entire ordeal ridiculous and a smear job, while his lawyer called the reports false and defamatory.
The issue of a new casino in Toronto being debated at special council meeting
May 21st, 2013 | Comments (0)
The debate over whether or not Toronto council supports a casino in the city will get going once again. Councillors will weigh in on the issue Tuesday at a special meeting and are expected to hold a vote. Last week, Mayor Rob Ford threatened to kill plans for a new casino, unless the province agreed to give the city $100 million a year in hosting fees. The government says a new formula would give Toronto nearly $54 million a year, far below expectations.