politics
Rob Ford Faces Conflict of Interest Allegations Once Again
The mayor voted against raising fees on companies participating in a City wastewater treatment program—including Deco.
Mayor Rob Ford is facing yet another allegation that he violated the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act, this time by voting on a wastewater treatment program in which his family’s company participates.
In November 2012, Ford and his brother Councillor Doug Ford (Ward 2, Etobicoke North) voted against a proposal put forward by Toronto Water general manager, Lou Di Gironimo, and backed by Councillor Mike Layton (Ward 19, Trinity-Spadina), which would have raised fees for a number of companies that pay the City to treat their wastewater. Deco Adhesive Products was one of those companies.
Deco has been a part of the program since July 2012, but this was not publicly known until the company’s name appeared last week on a list issued by Toronto Water. Doug Ford claims neither he nor the mayor knew when they cast their votes that Deco was involved in the program, despite the fact that both are directors at the company. (It was their brother, Randy Ford, who signed Deco up.)
The Fords won the vote (which took place the day after the mayor was found to have breached conflict of interest rules in a previous vote to do with his football foundation) 22–18. Doug Ford told the Toronto Star that even if he and Rob had known about Deco’s participation in the program, it should not constitute a conflict of interest, because everyone has an interest in water: “To say ‘a conflict’—that’s like saying every councillor should get out of their seat because they pay water bills at their house.”