Toronto Mayor Rob Ford to stay in office

Toronto - Toronto Mayor Rob Ford has won his appeal at the Ontario Superior Court and will stay in office for the remainder of his term. Ford will now continue on as mayor for the next two years until the city holds its mayoral election.

An appointment or a by-election by city council will not be necessary. City councillors have mulled the possibility of holding a by-election, which would have cost taxpayers roughly $10 million. "In light of our conclusion that Decision CC 52.1 was a nullity because of the nature of the financial sanction it imposed, the appellant has not contravened s. 5(1) of the MCIA. Therefore, the appeal is allowed, the judgment of the application judge is set aside and the application under the MCIA is dismissed," Judge Hackland ruled. Toronto resident Paul Magder accused the mayor of not declaring his conflict-of-interest before a vote taken in February. Magder argued that Ford violated the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act by voting in the city integrity commissioner’s recommendation that the mayor pay back the $3,150 he solicited for his private football foundation that his staff sought on official city letterhead two years ago. The entire judgment can be read here. More to come...