City Council — November 2013
November 18, 2013
154 posts
Nunziata is again making a good case for the installation of a new Council Chair. Might as well.
Yes. Good luck with that.
RT @JProskowGlobal
Doug Ford is asking the city to rise up in opposition to council.
So I guess Rob Ford can build his campaign on a promise to address the Rob Ford issue.
Holy hell is Doug Ford ever bad at media strategy. And legal strategy. And political strategy. And strategic role playing games. Probably.
My suspicion is that Doug Ford is calling all the shots now, and Rob isn't taking advice from anyone else. Which is what Doug always wanted.
It's funny because, to seek legal recourse, the mayor's lawyer would likely need to argue that Ford needs a bigger budget to do his job.
At council, Councillor Filion says he has a "significantly revised" motion regarding Ford's powers.
With this motion, does Ford lose the ability to serve as council speaker if Nunziata and Parker are unavailable? Anyone know?
Ford's lawyer letter says "Toronto Party for a Better City" interested in "intervening in support of the Mayor’s position in any litigation"
"I believe the mayor is ill," says Mammoliti. "I believe that some of the decisions he's made lately are because of that."
City's outside counsel says she was just retained an hour and a half ago. The line draws laughs. She'll do well in this chamber.
Di Giorgio: does this motion say the mayor is no longer the head of council? Lawyer says no. And now Doug Ford is up to question staff.
Doug Ford asks city legal staff if they have read the City of Toronto Act. "Yes, we have," they say. "It's our bread and butter."
Doug Ford now badgering the city solicitor. She is probably part of the anti-Ford conspiracy too, I guess.
"How much is this costing the taxpayers of Toronto?" demands Doug Ford. Audience reacts negatively to that question.
Counsel to Doug Ford: "I'm afraid I have to disagree with the factual statements in your question so I can't answer 'yes' or 'no.'"
Told ya the mayor sometimes chairs council meetings. I *think* with the revised motion he'd retain this power.
Frances Nunziata calls the motion in front of her "totally confusing." She wants to know what powers exactly they're giving to deputy.
Nunziata now asks if councillors could be taken to court for libel if they vote in favour of this motion.
Oh wait, maybe she was just asking if councillors could be "liable." I will remain neutral on this important distinction.
So section 27-42, Part C of Council's Procedural Bylaws says "Mayor can chair Council at any time." Councillors may want to look at that.
Ford now asking questions to staff: isn't it true I reduced the mayor's office budget by $700K. "Yes, that's correct," says clerk.
Ford says his office receives 552 emails and 489 phone calls each day at office. Also he receives 111 calls via home number and OnStar.
Ford says returning the volume of phone calls and emails he gets would be "virtually impossible" with reduced budget/staff.
To which I would say: hey, man, find some efficiencies. Times are tight.
And we're on to speakers. Councillor Filion speaks first, and moves the list of amendments that have already been circulating.
Councillor Filion: "To do nothing would betray the faith our constituents have placed in us to act in the best interest of the city."
Filion points out that more people voted for council as a whole than voted for Rob Ford. So, hey, democracy wins.
Mammoliti is now bringing up various things related to Mel Lastman. His point, I guess: come on, we let HIM stay as mayor, what's one more?
Ford now questioning Filion. He's again reading his questions off a sheet in front of him.
It's kind of like Ford is acting in a play. He's been cast as a lawyer.
Ford again reads off the numbers relating to how many calls and emails he gets. His office is a duplication of the 311 service.
Councillor Ford now brings up Filion's office budget, demanding to know how he spent $12K representing just one ward, when mayor spent $7K.
Doug Ford says the people in the gallery are "CUPEs, union members and the like."
Doug Ford is working the angle that councillors didn't get the revised motion far enough in advance of today's meeting.
Someone was taking photos of people in the gallery. Things get rowdy. Nunziata declares 10 minute recess. Crowd: "SHAME! SHAME! SHAME!"
"How do you know ANTHONY SMITH, you lying scumbag?!" demands someone in the gallery.
Nunziata now vacating the council chambers. Temporarily, I think.
Nunziata says she'll vacate the council chamber if everybody can't sit quietly.
Councillor McMahon wants to know who was walking with the mayor and filming members the audience. (It was Ford's driver.)
Di Giorgio says the mayor never goes to bid committee meetings anyway, so why remove him from the committee? Right. Smart.
Del Grande: "I think we should wait a little bit. To do something mid-stream with the budget just doesn't seem fair."
Now Mammoliti moves the expected deferral motion. He wants to wait until an "independent healthcare provider" gives opinion on Ford's health
"Oh my god, he's attacked somebody!" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QB1dJeMtb08&feature=youtu.be
I don't think a doctor can diagnose somebody with a substance abuse problem without their consent or involvement but, hey, Mammoliti.
Mammoliti tries to paint a picture of a Rob Ford who is suffering and needs help. Meanwhile, mayor mimes drunk driving and yells at public.
And we're voting on Mammoliti's deferral motion. This shall not pass.
Deferral fails 6-30. Could be a telling vote. Here are the results. http://t.co/x61tlQo4v0
Minnan-Wong says motion doesn't build a firewall around the mayor. "More like a picket fence."
"The mayor has lost the ability to lead on this council," says Minnan-Wong. He points out that's not really a new thing.
Minnan-Wong reads through the mayor's statutory powers and points out the mayor has kind of failed at doing all of them.
Minnan-Wong to Ford: "You, sir, have lost the ability to lead this city."
Doug Ford moves a motion that'd ask the province to allow council to call an election before the next scheduled one.
Doug Ford: "This council is tramping over every single person's democratic rights in this city."
Doug says his brother delivered subways and says Rob can still do his job.
"Rob, after the game -- you'd think the Argos won. Those are the real people!" says Doug of Rob's post-game experience.
Fletcher now bringing up the the McConnell incident. She asks Ford to apologize. Ford says he was rushing to his brother's defence.
"It was a complete accident. I do sincerely apologize to you, Councillor McConnell," says the mayor.
Doug Ford refers to Kathleen Wynne as the "unelected premier" because learning about how our government works is for socialists.
Doug Ford now suggest that the province also hold an election at the same time we hold a mayoral election. "Kill two birds with one stone!"
Doug Ford thinks he can trigger both a provincial and municipal election through sheer force of Ford.
Councillor Cho: "Mayor Rob Rob, he has created two trains. One train is a crazy train."
Councillor Cho also says Ford has created a gravy train by holding up meetings and forcing meetings like this one.
Cho: "I like our mayor. We're personal friends." But he says Ford needs help. "This is the only route I have to choose."
Janet Davis now wants Nunziata to give another warning to Councillor Ford. She says Doug has been threatening people.
"I did not threaten any councillor whatsoever," says Doug Ford. Says he was just wishing Cho well in the next election.
Now Doug Ford says Davis' statement was an "outright lie" and is demanding she apologizing to him.
Ford retracts his comment, sorta, but is still demanding Janet Davis also retract her statement. "Councillor Ford, will you BE QUIET!"
Mammoliti: "All I said is that [Cho] switched parties three times and I only did it twice!"
Wong-Tam: "We need to distance ourselves from the mayor and any type of speech that is steeped in bigotry."
Ainslie brings up a meeting a year ago where 20 city councillors sat in his mother's basement watching a baseball game, giving Ford advice.
Ford did not act on any of the advice to better himself given to him at the basement-baseball summit, Ainslie says.
"Nobody condones the mayor's behaviour," says Crisanti. But he's upset that he didn't get much advance notice of revised motion.
Motions are amended on the fly all the time at council, so I don't really get this complaint.
Pasternak moves a motion that would limit Ford's power only until a report from the Integrity Commissioner comes back.
"It's not our job as councillors to stage an intervention," says Adam Vaughan.
Vaughan: "This is democracy that you're watching. As tough and as messy as it can sometimes be..."
Councillor Moeser has a motion asking for a report back in December on the transition of duties from mayor to deputy. Sure.
Shiner says he'll be supporting the main motion today. A bit surprised, since he voted against one of the power-limiting motions on Friday.
Heckler says he has go to work but wants councillors to know this debate is a waste of time.
Palacio: "You could have become the champion of second chances. You could have created the fairytale of redemption. You could have changed."
On Filion's motion, Palacio says he will "reluctantly support some of those recommendations."
I suspect many councillors spent the weekend taking the temperature of people in their wards, and didn't find many Ford diehards.
Budget Chief Frank Di Giorgio has his own interpretation of the City of Toronto Act because of course he does.
Di Giorgio: "This is a team sport! And as members of a team, when we have one that falters, we are obligated to... put him on the bench?"
I'm not sure where Di Giorgio is going with this. He wants to help the mayor "complete his term."
Ol' dramatic-speech Perruzza is up now. He says the mayor's behaviour is indefensible.
Also indefensible: the number of councillors who insist on speaking on this. Just vote.
Nunziata speaking now. She says she's been personally trying to get the mayor to get help. But she's also mad about other things.
Nunziata accuses Adam Vaughan of running for mayor and politicizing things. She's upset no one asked her to sign special meeting petitions.
Councillor Carroll is up now. She has a printed copy of the ITO.
Councillor Grimes, longtime Ford friend, urges Ford to get help.
Grimes: "Please, Rob Ford get help." He asks members of council to rise in a show of support for the mayor getting help.
Economic Development Chair Michael Thompson says he has had people tell him they won't attend events if Ford is scheduled to be there.
Ford is about to speak. He's last speaker, so there's going to be some scrambling to get councillors back upstairs from the TTC meeting.
Mayor Ford: "I want to congratulate the Hamilton Tiger Cats and wish them the best of luck in the Grey Cup."
Mayor is about to lose most of his procedural powers. But first pauses to talk football.
Ford says he's been getting thousands of emails and phone calls to "continue on and stay the course."
Ford: "This is nothing more than a coup d'etat. And if you don't know what a coup d'etat means..."
Ford: "This is a dictatorship process." Says councillors who vote for today's motion will be telling voters their vote didn't count.
Ford: "I've apologized enough. I've admitted my mistakes. I'm not going to sit here and go on and on and on."
Ford brings up his father, who was a Bible School teacher. "Prayer in our family was very important."
Ford said his father taught him to help people when they're down and out. Says he's helped thousands of people.
Ford says he "sides with the poor people." Some laughter. "This is not a joke," says Ford.
Ford: "Everybody's had their say: the critics, the media, the opposition." THEN HE PLUGS HIS SUN NEWS TV SHOW.
Ford: "Then you'll get my side of the story! Unfiltered!"
Ford now brings up the first Gulf War, and George HW Bush's warning to Saddam.
Ford: "If you guys think American-style politics is nasty, you guys just -- attacked -- Kuwait." He means it metaphorically.
Ford says he will work to get every councillor who votes for this out of office. "What goes around, comes around!" he says.
Ford now has a point of order. He's got a letter from the integrity commissioner advising him not to vote on this item.
Ford will excuse himself from the vote, because he's learned not to play loose with conflict-of-interest law.
In 5 minutes, the mayor talked football, defended his record, plugged his TV show and compared his situation to Desert Storm.
Nunziata rightfully rules Doug Ford's let's-have-an-election-now motion out of order. Council won't vote on it.
This is going to get messy and confusing because they're voting on recommendations individually.
Council votes 40-2 to remove Part 1 of the original recommendation. It's complicated. Don't worry about it.
Council now voting on amendment to recommendation reducing mayor's office budget. That passes 37-5.
Council also votes 36-6 to transfer balance of Ford's budget to city clerk's office.
Rec 3: to allow staffers in mayor's office to come work in deputy mayor's office. Also passes 36-6.
Recommendation 4 is now being broken up into individual votes.
Up first: can the mayor still designate key items? Council says nope, 32-10. A little closer!
Can Ford still elect to speak first or last? Council says nope. 30-12. Close one!
(They need 30 votes to pass all of these, FYI.)
Part f: will the deputy mayor now chair the striking committee, instead of the mayor? Yep. 35-7.
Recommendation g: will council fill vacancies on civic appointments committee, instead of the mayor? Yes. 37-5. Sensing a trend.
Recommendation H: Should council fill vacancies on affordable housing committee? Yep. 36-6.
Recommendation I: Should Clerk consult with Speaker instead of Mayor to designate items urgent? Yep. 37-5.
Recommendation 5 is a minor amendment about public appointment nomination panels. It passes 39-3.
Recommendation 6, something about not having the mayor sign off on meeting minutes. Passes 36-6.
Recommendation 7, part a. Should the mayor be removed as head of the action-packed Debenture Committee? Yep. 34-8.
Council appoints Deputy Mayor Chair of Debenture Committee. 38-4. Council removes Mayor's alternates 36-6.
Council removes mayor's authority to enter into debt-issuing agreements. 37-5.
Council removes Mayor's ability to apply to regulatory bodies for approval on things. 36-6.
Council removes mayor's authority to authorize temporary borrowing of funds. 37-5.
Without my ability to debenture, I'm nothing. Nothing!
And council gives the deputy mayor all those powers they just took away from the mayor. 38-4.
Now a Pasternak motion that could restore Ford's powers once the Integrity Commissioner's report comes back. That fails, 9-32.
And now an innocuous Moeser motion that just asks city staff for a report on how all this power-transferring goes. It still fails, 11-30.
Now: should the deputy mayor be chair of executive committee, and not Ford? Yep. 36-5.
Council also votes to have Vice Chair elected by Exec Comm members, 38-3. And votes to no longer allow Ford to vote on all committees. 32-9.
And one more vote to confirm all these decisions council just made. That passes 36-5. And we're done!
Voting against the item as amended: Crisanti, Di Giorgio, Doug Ford, Nunziata, Perruzza. Think Del Grande abstained.
Doug Ford speaking to media. "This is a coup d'etat that is happened for the first time in Canada!" And so on.
Doug Ford is saying stuff but there's no value in my transcribing it. So.
Reporter asks John Filion if Ford isn't "more like a mascot" after today's vote.
Hah. "What's the difference between Rob Ford and a mascot?"
RT @dayfat
Mascots are welcome at sports venues.
By the numbers: 28 of 45 council members voting for every measure to remove Ford's powers. Two were absent for every vote.
Ford's remaining council support: Doug Ford (supported 0% of power-removing measures), Frances Nunziata (8%), Vince Crisanti (8%).
Well, I have literally no reason to ever watch "Ford Nation" again.
Ford is giving lots of interviews but they're all pretty dull so far.
Weird thing about Ford continuously bringing up the gas plant thing is that he's no stranger to wasting money by cancelling things.