Mayor Ford votes against every community grants program

Returning briefly to his old role as council's lonely contrarian, Mayor Rob Ford reprised an annual tradition and voted on Tuesday against every one of Toronto’s six widely popular community grants programs.

The community development and recreation committee, chaired by Ford ally Councillor Giorgio Mammoliti, recommended that the city give dozens of community groups a total of about $7.2 million. The allocations were about to sail through council without a discussion or vote when Ford rose to say he wanted to be recorded as opposing all of them — as he did every year as a councillor.

Council then voted on the programs individually. Despite Ford’s newfound power, the results were nearly identical to votes on the programs under mayor David Miller: Ford lost 43-1 in votes on four of the programs, 42-2 on the fifth, and 41-3 on the sixth.

Ford was the lone councillor to oppose the Access, Equity and Human Rights program, which will provide $767,000 to 38 groups working on issues related to “race relations, gender equity, literacy, disability, sexual orientation, and Aboriginal affairs”; the Community Safety program, which will provide $666,000 to 22 groups working to prevent violence in priority neighbourhoods; the Community Recreation program, which will provide $594,000 to 80 groups for “activities that address gaps in available services provided by city recreation services”; and the Community Festivals and Special Events program, which will provide $98,000 to 30 groups.

Councillor Doug Ford joined his brother in opposing $4.7 million in Community Service Partnership grants to 78 groups that will “advance council's strategic goals and priorities by working to improve social outcomes for vulnerable, marginalized and high-risk communities.”

Councillor Frank Di Giorgio joined both Fords in opposing $408,000 in grants from the Services Development Investment Program, which helps 11 community organizations improve their capacity to respond to local needs.

Rob Ford did not respond to a question on his votes as he left the podium at the end of a brief press conference.

As a councillor under the left-leaning administration of Miller, Ford regularly voted alone against spending he believed was unnecessary or wasteful, including the grants programs. As mayor, he was the sole vote against accepting provincial money for an effort to combat HIV and syphilis.

Deputy Mayor Doug Holyday, a staunch fiscal conservative who voted in favour of the grants, said he thinks Ford believes the city spends too much on grants.

“I think it’s the overall amount that he’s opposed to. I guess we have to look for cutbacks,” Holyday said. “The trouble with the list is there's some very, very good recipients, and then there might be some that are questionable. Without picking the list apart, it's difficult to say no to them all. That's why I did what I did.”

Councillor Janet Davis, chair of the community development committee under Miller, called Ford's votes “embarrassing.”

“At first I just shook my head. He still thinks he's the Ward 2 councillor. He's the mayor, and he's supposed to provide leadership,” Davis said. “To turn around and be the sole vote opposing grants that support communities across Toronto? It's just shameful, and it's pretty astounding: he has not adjusted to his new role. It's like it was 2001.”

Origin
Source: Toronto Star