

Chris Fox, CP24.com





Two of Rob Ford’s biggest allies on council are now calling on him to take a leave of absence amid a crack cocaine scandal that has consumed city hall.

Deputy Mayor Norm Kelly met with Ford in private Wednesday afternoon, where he said he asked the mayor to “take a pause” for the good of himself and the city.

The mayor rebuffed the suggestion, according to Kelly, prompting city council speaker Frances Nunziata to tell reporters that she was “frustrated” by Ford’s refusal to step aside.

Both Nunziata and Kelly have been long-time allies of the mayor.

“I told him that he could protect his family, himself, his political career and the vitality of his administration if he took a pause and regrouped and re-entered the fray later this year or early next year,” Kelly told CP24 following the meeting. “We reviewed all the things that we have discussed previously and all the concerns and worries of councillors and residents of Toronto and the options he has and it would appear that he is sticking with the announcement he made yesterday.”

Kelly has previously stood behind Ford publicly, telling CP24 that he was satisfied with the mayor’s apology for past “mistakes” following his radio show on Sunday.

The deputy mayor, however, said he felt he needed to go public with his concerns in light of Ford’s unexpected admission that he has smoked crack cocaine while in office on Tuesday.

“I define my role as a very confidential one and I have given him my best advice over these last few days and weeks, but in the end I think it is important for me to let the public know where I stand on this,” he said. “I am inviting him today, as I have previously, to take a pause. It’s the one option that takes care of all the issues on the table.”

Kelly, who represents Scarborough-Agincourt on council, said he will remain as deputy mayor despite Ford’s refusal to step aside.

“I will continue to give my best advice,” he said.

A bizarre day at city hall

Kelly’s plea to the mayor came on a particularly bizarre day at city hall, in which a former WWE wrestler known as the Iron Sheik made an unannounced appearance to personally admonish Ford and question his fitness for office while in character.

Ford did not come out of his office to speak with the Iron Sheik, who is in town to be roasted as party of a comedy event on Friday.

“What kind of role model is (Ford) for the Toronto city?” the ex-wrestler said after bringing up Ford’s use of crack cocaine with reporters.

While the Iron Shiek was holding court with reporters inside city hall, dozens of protesters were gathering outside city hall to express their displeasure with Ford and demand his resignation.

Meanwhile, in the mayor’s office staff were dealing with the departure of one of Ford’s advisors.

Policy Advisor Brooks Barnett submitted his resignation Wednesday morning, becoming the first staff member to leave the mayor’s office since a flurry of resignations in May.

It is not known if Barnett’s resignation had anything to do with the growing controversy surrounding Ford or the increasing number of calls on the mayor to step aside.

Councillors work to limit Ford’s powers

Amid the chaos at city hall, several councillors spoke out Wednesday about the need to curtail Ford’s powers.

“The mayor has lost power and legitimacy at city hall, however he is still in the position, so quite frankly we have to figure out how we can work around him,” Coun. Janet Davis said Wednesday morning. “Maybe there are some rules that we can agree to that will form some kind of a firewall between the mayor, the mayor’s office and his executive and council.”

Council does not have the legal authority to remove Ford from office unless he was to miss three consecutive meetings, however there may be ways to negate his powers.

One motion prepared by Coun. John Filion and distributed to reporters Tuesday aims to prevent the mayor from removing his deputy mayor or other committee members from their positions.

If approved, the motion would provide council with the power to select a new deputy mayor should current Deputy Mayor Norm Kelly resign. In the event of any resignation by chairs of any city committee, the motion would give the power of selecting a new chair to the affected committee instead of the mayor.

Speaking with reporters Wednesday, Davis called on all members of Ford’s executive committee to vote for the motion when it comes to council in December.

“They have to demonstrate that they will not be accountable to the mayor but to the rest of council and the first way they can demonstrate that they will act in the interests of the city is to vote for John Filion’s motion,” she said.

Though many councillors have spoken out in support of Filion’s motion, others have said they need time to consider the ramifications and on Wednesday morning former Ford-ally Giorgio Mammoliti released a short written statement, in which he suggested the motion could result in a “left-wing coup” at city hall.

“Councillor Filion’s motion is an attempt to backdoor the administration, allowing the left to take over and cease the fiscally responsible agenda we were elected to implement,” the statement reads. “This motion will give the left full power to appoint whoever they want to all standing committees. It will become a free for all and the agenda will be lost to the left; taxes will go up, there will be no subway vision, the union will be back on top, and the last three years will have been a fiscal waste.”

In addition to the motion by Filion, Coun. Denzil-Minnan Wong has also prepared a motion of his own, calling on the mayor to step aside, apologize for his actions and cooperating with an ongoing police investigation.

“While it is symbolic, symbolism is really important and I cannot think of any other issue that has come before this council that is more important to get unanimous approval on then to ask for the apology from the mayor and for him to take a time out.” Minnan-Wong said of the motion Wednesday morning. “We must clearly state that this city does not support the things that have gone on over the last few months.”

Pasternak calls on deputy mayor to intervene

Ford arrived in his city hall office through a back door at around 12 p.m.

It is not known if the mayor will take any questions from reporters today.

Yesterday Ford took several questions after making his admission but ignored questions directed at him after reading from a prepared statement announcing his intention to remain as mayor later in the day.

Speaking about the controversy surrounding the mayor earlier on Wednesday morning, Coun. James Pasternak called on Kelly to help organize an exit for Ford.

“I am hoping that in the coming days we are going to have a dignified exit, I am calling on the deputy mayor to organize that and that is what all councillors are talking about behind closed doors,” he said.

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