Ford allies say opponents won't quit coming after mayor
CBC News
Posted: Jan 25, 2013 5:32 PM ET
Last Updated: Jan 25, 2013 7:06 PM ET
Toronto Mayor Rob Ford addresses the media on Friday, Jan. 25, 2013. Deputy Mayor Doug Holyday is seen in the background. (Chris Young/Canadian Press)
Related
A successful appeal has allowed Toronto Mayor Rob Ford to keep his job at City Hall, but some of his closest allies say that those who oppose his conservative agenda will continue to antagonize him throughout his remaining term.
Ford learned Friday morning that he had won an appeal in Divisional Court, which reversed a removal order that threatened to take away his seat on city council.
With his victory in court, Ford keeps his job and any councillors with mayoral ambitions will have to wait until the next municipal election to seek the top job on city council.
The mayor gave every indication Friday that he will move ahead with his agenda, as he was elected to do.
"The job is not finished yet and I plan to spend the next six years on getting the job done," the mayor told reporters on Friday morning, alluding to an apparent intention to run for a second term.
Deputy Mayor Doug Holyday said that the conflict case involving the mayor should be a wakeup call to Ford that his opponents are looking for opportunities to come after him.
"This matter should never have come this far, but there are antagonists and there are people that don't like the Ford agenda and don't like Rob Ford period, and don't want him to be the mayor of Toronto," Holyday told CBC News Network on Friday afternoon.
"And they are not happy with the result of the election and as such, they've taken to using the courts — and they've done it several times now — to try to get Rob removed."
The mayor's brother, Coun. Doug Ford, raised similar concerns Friday, suggesting that these opponents are driven by a dislike of the current agenda at City Hall.
"Some of these folks, they won't stop. They can't accept the part of democracy that the people elected a mayor," Ford said in a separate interview on CBC News Network.
Councillors react
Other members of city council say that Ford should seize the opportunity before him to put his agenda back on track and bring council together.
Coun. Denzil Minnan-Wong said the conflict issue involving the mayor was a distraction for the city and harmful to Ford's agenda.
"I think there is a level of relief that this is all over," he said when speaking with reporters on Friday.
"The people that have been, I think, hurt the most are the people of the City of Toronto — that we were put in this situation, that we've been talking more about the mayor's legal problems than about issues that confront the city."
Coun. Josh Colle hoped that the current moment could be an opportunity for council to focus on pressing issues rather than "some of the silliness and pettiness that has distracted us for so long."
The next council meeting is scheduled for Feb. 20.
With a report from the CBC's Jamie StrashinShare Tools
Latest Toronto News Headlines
- Harper chief of staff resigns amid Senate expense scandal
- Nigel Wright has resigned as Prime Minister Stephen Harper's chief of staff, following revelations he wrote a $90,000 cheque to repay living expenses claimed by Senator Mike Duffy. more »
- R.A. Dickey, Blue Jays look to avoid sweep in New York
- The New York Yankees can claim their second home sweep of Toronto this season Sunday when CC Sabathia squares off against R.A. Dickey. more »
- Ads tout job grants program that doesn't yet exist
- The federal government has been airing ads touting its Canada Jobs Grant for training workers, but the Conservative government House leader acknowledges the announced program is merely a "proposal that needs to be fleshed out." more »
- Police not questioning Millard in other cases, lawyer says
- The lawyer for Dellen Millard, who is accused of murdering Hamilton man Tim Bosma, says his client has not been questioned in connection with any other cases. more »
Must Watch
Top News Headlines
- Search continues for 2 missing New Brunswick fishermen
- A search effort has resumed for two missing fishermen off the coast of New Brunswick, after a distress call was issued from their boat early Saturday. more »
- Jeep driver apologizes after stunt kills Edmonton woman
- A man claiming to be the driver of a Jeep that struck and killed a spectator at a charity event in Edmonton says he is sorry for what happened. more »
- Senior Pakistani politician shot dead
- Gunmen in Pakistan have killed a senior member of Imran Khan's Movement for Justice (PTI) party outside her home in Karachi. more »
- Virginia parade crash driver likely had medical problem
- Authorities believe the driver who plowed into dozens of hikers marching in a Virginia mountain town parade suffered from a medical condition and did not cause the crash intentionally, an emergency official said Sunday. more »
- Toronto Mayor Rob Ford cancels weekly radio show
- Toronto Mayor Rob Ford denies crack cocaine allegations
- Panda exhibit opens at Toronto Zoo
- Police not questioning Millard in other cases, lawyer says
- LCBO strike threat off after deal reached
- Toronto Mayor Rob Ford says downtown casino 'dead'
- Beautiful Victoria Day weekend ahead
- Shooting victim Anthony Smith was a 'big part of the community'
- Rare, $26,000 bottle of scotch stolen from Toronto shop


Toronto traffic with Joan Chang