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Back in 2010, Janet Leiper, the city’s integrity commissioner, ruled that the Mayor had, as a councillor, improperly solicited and obtained donations for the foundation from registered lobbyists and one company that had dealings with the city.

Council asked him to pay the money back.

He didn’t. Ms. Leiper went before council again in February asking that it demand proof of payment, prompting Mr. Ford to voice his concerns.

“To ask for me to pay it out of my own pocket personally, there’s no sense to this. The money is gone, the money has been spent on football equipment. And that’s how this foundation works, and I’m very proud of it,” the Mayor told council, before he and a majority of council voted to overturn the earlier decision.

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“That’s exactly what is not permitted,” Mr. Ruby said at a press conference at City Hall in March. “You can’t as a city councillor speak to a motion, vote on a motion that benefits you personally.”

According to Mr. Ruby, it’s up to Mr. Ford to show that he inadvertently contravened the act, or did so through an error in judgement, in order to avoid the mandatory penalty: vacating his seat.

Mr. Ruby is also asking a judge to ban Mr. Ford from running for office for seven years, a sanction that is at the court’s discretion.

Mr. Ford will be in court on Sept. 5, 6 and 7.

National Post, with files from Natalie Alcoba