TORONTO, (Reuters) – The mayor of Toronto, Canada’s largest city, was ordered removed from office yesterday after a judge found him guilty of breaking conflict-of-interest laws.
In a 24-page ruling, Ontario Provincial Judge Charles Hackland ruled Mayor Rob Ford acted wrongly when he voted with the city council to scrap a fine he had incurred for accepting donations for his football foundation from lobbyists.
Hackland ruled Ford’s actions “were not done by reason of inadvertence or a good faith error in judgment.”
The judge ordered Ford’s seat vacant, but declined to impose a ban on Ford seeking office beyond the current term.
Ford can appeal the decision, which will not take effect for 14 days in order to allow necessary administrative changes at City Hall, the judge wrote.
Efforts to reach Ford’s office were unsuccessful.
Elected nearly two years ago on a populist promise to “stop the gravy train”, Ford has watched his popularity fall after a string of public battles with members of the city council, as well as personal blunders and controversies.
He also faces charges in a C$6 million ($6 million) libel case about comments he made about corruption at City Hall during the 2010 campaign.
The mayor has grabbed headlines after he was seen reading while driving on the highway; for calling the police when a comedian tried to film a segment for a popular TV show outside his home; and for an angry confrontation with a City Hall reporter.
