The outcome was inevitable and predictable. Former Toronto Mayor Rob Ford was found in contravention of the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act. Whether one is a supporter of Ford or not, Justice Charles Hackland's decision reinforces the importance of two issues -- governance and trust. What went wrong in this scenario?

If you're from some non-Toronto region of this country, you may best know Mayor Rob Ford as that guy who stars in all the breathlessly outraged stories your hipster Ontario friends post on Facebook -- not anymore. On Monday he was removed from office. Perhaps he should consider running for the Green Party. By my estimation we can thus anticipate a Green majority government sometime around... 6632 A.D.

TORONTO - A contrite Rob Ford finally apologized Tuesday to those who don't like the way he handled his conflict of interest situation, but said he wo...

TORONTO - Toronto Mayor Rob Ford has been ordered out of office after being found guilty of breaking conflict of interest rules, but he's not the only...

Mr. Ford should not be treated differently than anyone else. I am not implying that he should be above the law. We should be fair when applying the severity of our legal system. Other politicians who have been involved in much more serious offences should have been treated as such. With respect, I consider the sentence against Rob Ford to be a little too harsh.

Ever since that first tender cry of Rob Ford, a sound that can only be described as a siren being sped up through a yak bak repeated by a smarmy parrot yelling at you through an intercom -- shrill and persistent and hammering down on your senses -- we were suddenly all awake, galvanized to this frothing renegade on our radar. Everything he did was newsworthy, on all the national front pages. The whole country was paying attention to Toronto, some saying we finally got what we deserved. Ford was, in his own fumbling toward ecstasy sort of way, successfully rallying the entire country.

On November 26, 2012, Toronto Mayor Rob Ford was found guilty of breaking provincial conflict of interest law, and has been ordered to leave the mayoral office in 14 days. He can and will appeal the ruling, and likely will. Here are some of the lessons I have learned from the troubled and short reign of mayor Rob Ford.

On November 11, 2012, Rob Ford was officially removed from office for violating the Municipal Conflict-of-Interest Act. A humble leader would have simply paid back the money before it became an issue. A careful leader would have taken the time to familiarize themselves with the rules and regulations, before taking the highest office in the city. Rob Ford has truly been the master of his own demise, and his pathetic downfall was not due to any left-wing conspiracy -- it was simply the last, wheezing gasp of a mayor who tried to do one too many end-runs around the rules.

A court ruling booted Rob Ford from his job as Toronto Mayor, declaring he violated the Municipal Conflict-of-Interest Act. In just another example of Ford putting football before politics, the charge arose because of a council vote to recommend Ford repay donations he solicited for his private football foundation using official city letterhead. Many Toronto citizens (and a particular media outlet) have a contentious relationship with Ford, whether it be over his decision to repeatedly ditch the city's gay pride parade, his questionable driving habits, or his explosive temper. While some may be mourning, many more are breathing a collective sigh of relief. Here are some reactions.

Toronto Mayor Rob Ford is losing his job thanks to a court ruling finding he violated conflict of interest rules. Twitter users, who have long play...

A court ruling has removed Rob Ford from his job as Toronto's mayor. Ford was found to have violated the Municipal Conflict-of-Interest Act by Ont...

The latest in the lawsuit that alleges that Mr. Ford broke the Municipal Conflict-of-Interest Act (MCIA) for voting to let himself not be charged for failing to repay $3,150 in improper donations to his football foundation is just bizarre. I really don't like the precedent of letting this go if Ford does end up using the "honest mistake" defence.