Ford’s comments drew scorn and skepticism from councillors.
“I think that the timing is curious at best,” said Josh Colle, a centrist swing voter. “It’s a coincidence, I’m sure,” said conservative Gloria Lindsay Luby, laughing.
The proposal has no chance of success. Provincial law requires Toronto to have an integrity commissioner and ombudsman, and there is nearly no council support for scrapping the office of the lobbyist registrar.
The three watchdog positions were created in the last eight years in the wake of the MFP computer leasing scandal. Ford, who has been regularly chastised by the integrity commissioner, told the Globe and Mail on Thursday that a single part-time lawyer could handle all of their duties on retainer.
“You don’t need a lobbyist registry (sic), an ombudsman and an integrity commissioner,” he said at a North York football field, where he coached his high school team in a mid-afternoon game. “They have 20 people; they’re tripping over themselves. They’re trying to make themselves look busy. I’ve never voted in favour of it and never would.”
The integrity commissioner investigates complaints about the conduct of the mayor and councillors, the ombudsman complaints from members of the public about their treatment by the city, and the lobbyist registrar possible violations of lobbying rules.
“I think they’re all important offices, and we need them, and I think the other thing to note is they have very different mandates and responsibilities. To suggest that one role or one person could carry those out is a little misguided,” said Colle.
“These people resulted from the MFP inquiry. Other municipalities have followed Toronto’s suit. I think that it preserves our integrity and keeps us transparent, and I think it’s a very good idea to have them,” said Lindsay Luby.
In reports released Thursday morning, integrity commissioner Janet Leiper wrote that Ford and his brother, Councillor Doug Ford, violated council’s code of conduct in April by publicly disparaging the city’s chief medical officer on their radio show after he recommended lower speed limits to save lives.
Rob Ford called Dr. David McKeown’s $294,302 salary an “embarrassment.” Doug Ford asked, “Why does he still have a job?” Doug Ford apologized on AM640 on Thursday; Leiper said Rob Ford sent her a “letter of retraction.”
In a separate Thursday report, ombudsman Fiona Crean undermined Ford and his allies by disclosing proof that the mayor’s office had sent a list of preferred board candidates to city staff. Doug Ford had accused Crean of relying on “hearsay” when she found that the administration improperly interfered in the civic appointments process.
And in a story that appeared in the Star on Thursday morning, lobbyist registrar Linda Gehrke said she has concerns about whether two casino lobbyists breached city rules in the hours before Councillor Ana Bailao was charged with impaired driving last week. The mayor is a casino proponent.
Ford, who complained of City Hall “corruption” during his campaign, pledged to make government more accountable and transparent. On Thursday, the two-year anniversary of his election, his office sent allies talking points that said he had succeeded in doing so.
He has been the subject of numerous complaints to the integrity commissioner; among the complainants are the Star, a left-leaning writer, and a left-leaning councillor. He and some of his allies believe his opponents have made complaints for political purposes.
“It almost seems that if there weren’t any Fords, you wouldn’t need any accountability officers at all,” said Deputy Mayor Doug Holyday. “You certainly wouldn’t need them to the extent that you have them, because half of what they do seems to be revolving around complaints made about the Fords. Well, that’s just the opposition’s way of trying to put pressure on Ford and knock us off our agenda.”
Crean said her office has 10 employees including herself. It is “absolutely swamped” and “very understaffed,” she said, and its successes “speak for themselves.”
Her five-year term expires in November 2013. The city manager has asked council to discuss at next week’s meeting whether to renew her contract, setting the stage for a highly politicized debate.
Asked if she thinks the debate is coming to council early, Crean paused, laughed, and said, “I think the timing is interesting.”
Doug Ford, meanwhile, questioned the timing of the new reports, which were published along with the rest of the council agenda as usual. “Is it a coincidence this landed on our two-year anniversary? I don’t think so,” he told AM640’s Arlene Bynon.
Original Article
Source: the star
Author: Daniel Dale and David Rider
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