Despite the grand conspiracy pushed forth by Toronto’s anti-high school football illuminati, Rob Ford the World’s Greatest Mayor is keeping his job.
Just in case you haven’t been keeping up with the Andy Kaufman-esque King of Toronto over the past few months, a whistleblower named Paul started whining about ol’ Robbie’s campaign to get donations for his beloved pigskin posse on city letterhead. It resulted in just over $3,000 in contributions, not a ton of money, because evidently Rob is not a master of charitable sales pitches. Anyway, while Paul and others certainly found this to be a conflict of interest, and even though Rob Ford was temporarily fired, all of this jibber jabber about whether or not it’s alright for mayors to seek donations to fund high school kids’ love of touchdowns and tackles was for nothing. This is the political equivalent of being pronounced dead on the operating table, then suddenly jolting back to life with a newfound respect for conflict of interest appeals.
At this point, it’s unsure how Rob Ford is going to celebrate. Over here at VICE Toronto HQ, we are speculating whether or not he will throw an awesome rager at his mom’s house, go visit the Winnipeg and Detroit border, or avoid a gay pride celebration. Only time can answer this important question.
What we do know is that Rob Ford will continue to be the King of Toronto until October 27, 2014. This means way more GIFs of Rob Ford falling down, more racially questionable comments about “orientals” and “gino-boys,” and a total lack of remorse for any cyclists in Toronto who end up getting hit by cars. Sure, we could build bike lines, but why the fuck would we do that? We’ve got gravy to cut back on.
Yes, the grand irony of a man who looks like he is made up of 70 per cent real gravy, looking to cut back on the city’s figurative gravy, is not lost on most people. That said, we already know that challenging the grand poobah is not going to end well in anybody’s favour but Robbie’s. Not only is he adept at catching and subsequently beating the charge, he’s also great at sticking it to media personalities. One of Big Dawg Rob’s most infamous radio interviews on the CBC was a mix of Rob speaking in the third person about how he was going to get rid of taxes and gravy, while yelling at his football team to go get changed. It is likely being studied in college-level comedy programs across the country as we speak.
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Not only are his accusers and the media in the direct path of Rob’s wrath, civilians have also felt the sting of Rob Ford’s infamous verbal lashing skills. If you sit near Rob at a hockey game you might get burned, just like how if you bike in the city you are, (in Big Dawg Rob’s parlance) “swimming with the sharks.” In 2006, Rob flipped the fuck out and caused a “drunken ruckus” at a Maple Leafs game, told everyone he didn’t cause a drunken ruckus at a Maple Leafs game, then finally admitted, yes, he made a drunken ruckus at a Maple Leafs game.
So sure, Rob Ford may be an angry drunken high school football coach who also just happens to be the mayor, but he’s our angry drunken football coach. If you’re not one for performance comedy, we can kind of understand why you might be upset about Big Dawg Rob’s return, but here at VICE, we would like to to welcome the gravy man back with open arms. Hopefully he trips over something, or yells at a member of society that he perceives as a weak target, really really soon.
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Toronto City Mayor Rob Ford watches players from Don Bosco Eagles, the High School team he coaches, warm up before they compete against the Huron Heights Warriors in the Metro Cup in Toronto on Tuesday November 27, 2012 Those whose antics threaten to besmirch the party name normally don't get a second chance with Canada's federal Conservatives. Not so, it would seem, for Toronto Mayor Rob Ford.
Toronto City Mayor Rob Ford reacts after Don Bosco Eagles, the High School team he coaches, lost 28-14 to Huron Heights Warriors in the Metro Cup in Toronto on Tuesday November 27, 2012.
Toronto Mayor Rob Ford hoists the Grey Cup on stage with Toronto Argonauts players while celebrating the team's Grey Cup victory in downtown Toronto on Tuesday, Nov.27, 2012.
Toronto Mayor Rob Ford addresses reporters at City Hall in Toronto on Tuesday November 27, 2012.
Toronto Mayor Rob Ford speaks to his Don Bosco Eagles team during the Metro Bowl quarter-final at Birchmount Park in Toronto, Thursday, Nov. 15, 2012.
Toronto Mayor Rob Ford, left, speaks to the media at city hall in Toronto, Monday, Nov.26, 2012. Ford has been ordered out of office after a judge ruled Monday he broke conflict of interest rules.
Toronto Mayor Rob Ford, right, walks to attend a toy charity event at city hall in Toronto, Monday, Nov.26, 2012. Ford has been ordered out of office after a judge ruled Monday he broke conflict of interest rules.
Toronto Mayor Rob Ford talks to media at city hall in Toronto, Monday, Nov.26, 2012.Ford has been ordered out of office after a judge ruled Monday he broke conflict of interest rules.
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2012/11/21/rob-ford-fall-gif-video_n_2170653.html">Rob Ford was at an event to promote the Grey Cup when he fell while hamming it up for the press. A GIF of the fall went viral on the Internet</a>.
Toronto Mayor Rob Ford, right, makes a few remarks as Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel listens, before the pair signed a new "sister cities" agreement Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2012, in Chicago.
Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, left, makes a light hearted comment as Toronto Mayor Rob Ford laughs during the signing of a new "sister cities" declaration Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2012, in Chicago.
Toronto Mayor Rob Ford sits on the back of Chicago's First Lady as he takes in an architectural boat tour on the Chicago River Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2012. Ford was visiting the city on a Toronto-Chicago Business Mission.
Toronto Mayor Rob Ford, top left, relaxes during a boat tour with members of the Toronto-Chicago Business Mission on the Chicago River waterfront Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2012, in Chicago.
Toronto Mayor Rob Ford, top right, waves to photographers during a boat tour with members of the Toronto-Chicago Business Mission on the Chicago River waterfront Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2012, in Chicago.
Rob Ford Meets Butter Rob Ford
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2012/08/31/rob-ford-butter-sculpture-ex-cne_n_1846616.html" target="_hplink">Toronto Mayor Rob Ford comes face to face with a butter sculpture of himself at the Canadian National Exhibition</a>.
Butter Rob Ford
As part of an exhibition at the CNE, Toronto-based artist Olenka Kleban has made a <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2012/08/24/butter-rob-ford-sculpture_n_1828527.html" target="_hplink">butter sculpture of Toronto's mayor</a>.
Dave Chappelle And Rob Ford
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2012/08/22/dave-chappelle-rob-ford_n_1822240.html?utm_hp_ref=canada-politics" target="_hplink">Comedian Dave Chappelle met briefly with Toronto Mayor Rob Ford</a> on Wednesday, Aug. 22, 2012
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2012/08/14/rob-ford-reading-driving-car-gardiner_n_1776183.html" target="_hplink">Rob Ford is seen reading while driving</a> in this photo from Twitter.
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2012/07/30/rob-ford-will-ferrell-zach-galifianakis-sketch_n_1719420.html" target="_hplink">Rob Ford meets with comedic actors Will Ferrell and Zach Galifianakis</a>.
Rob Ford poses with neo-Nazi Jon Latvis. <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2012/07/26/rob-ford-nazi-photo_n_1707326.html?utm_hp_ref=canada" target="_hplink">Ford's office has explained Toronto's mayor was unaware of the man's beliefs when the image was captured</a>.
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Rob Ford's ballet debut
Toronto Mayor Rob Ford (left) and city councillor Michelle Berardinetti (right) smile on stage during a performance of the Nutcracker in Toronto on Saturday, December 10, 2011. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Pawel Dwulit)
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Rob Ford's ballet debut
Toronto Mayor Rob Ford acts on stage dressed as a Cannon Doll during a performance of the Nutcracker in Toronto on Saturday, December 10, 2011. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Pawel Dwulit)
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Rob Ford's ballet debut
Toronto Mayor Rob Ford jumps on stage dressed as a Cannon Doll during a performance of the Nutcracker in Toronto on Saturday, December 10, 2011. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Pawel Dwulit)
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The editor in charge of this source should be exited. I wanted intelligence from this site and this was the last straw.
You're done.
Normally, in a private lawsuit brought under the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act (MCIA), the decision of the Superior Court would be final.
But in this case, the Court threw out centuries of precedent, and allowed a collateral attack on City Council's authority under the City of Toronto Act (COTA) to form the basis of its decision under MCIA.
Consider, the City of Toronto was not represented in court to defend its authority.
Mr. Madger, a private citizen, is neither responsible nor authorized to defend the authority of Toronto. In fact, all established precedent is that he is entitled to rely on Toronto's authority unless that authority has been overruled by a competent court in a direct challenge to Toronto.
Consider more, the voters of Toronto have a right to have the courts respect decisions of council and not overrule those decisions in private lawsuits where Toronto is not represented.
The court overstepped in making a collateral ruling under COTA in a private lawsuit under MCIA, and to overrule Toronto when Toronto was not a party to the suit, and for the sake of rule of law and democracy, the Supreme Court should step in to slap this ruling down.
You should be made aware that a fundamental precept of rule of law and democracy is that courts cannot rule AGAINST a party without allowing a person to defend themselves. On the other hand, it is quite normal and accepted that courts rule in FAVOUR of a party without waiting to hear the party defend itself.
Why would the courts bother to hear from a party if they were going to rule in favour of the party even before that?
It is quite normal that a court might rule that Toronto has authority to make a decision without requiring Toronto to defend the decision. But is it unprecendented for a Canadian Court to sit as a Star Chamber, and rule against Toronto without allowing Toronto to defend itself.
I assume you were asking? The lower court ruled that Council had authority to make its original decision, and the appeal court ruled that it did not, and so why am I objecting to the appeal court if I did not object to the ruling of the lower court?
Well, it is because a fundamental right in democracy is that a court cannot make a ruling AGAINST a persons without letting the person defend themselves. On the other hand, a court can rule in FAVOUR of a person without allowing the person to whisper a word.
It is perfectly normal for a court to rule that Toronto had a right to make a decision without hearing Toronto defend itself. It is so unusual for a court to rule that Toronto erred in making a decision without requiring Toronto to defend itself that I defy you to find one single other example of a Canadian court ruling against a person without allowing the person opportunity to defend themselves.
Star Chambers, where persons are found guilty without being allowed to defend themselves, have never been accepted in Canada
Try politics, where failed lawyers often go, because you are making political statements hidden in psuedo law of a leftie instead of reasoned a-political statements of law.
i approve that meal....