Mayor Rob Ford called a news conference Thursday to slam spending by Waterfront Toronto, calling their purchase of a $600,000 washroom “the last straw.”

During the news conference, he called for the CEO of Waterfront Toronto, John Campbell, to step down, asking the provincial and federal governments to support his request.

“The CEO of Waterfront Toronto must step aside and (the organization) needs to be steered in a new direction,” he said at the news conference Thursday afternoon at city hall.

Waterfront Toronto was created in 2001 with the task of revitalizing Toronto’s lackluster waterfront, which stretches across 800 hectares from Dowling Avenue in the west to Coxwell Avenue in the east.

The organization, which is supported by all three levels of government, has said it will take 25 years to transform Toronto’s lakefront and about $30 billion in public and private funding.

One of the things that has been created since its inception is Sugar Beach, an urban oasis for beach lovers. The beach consistently draws a large crowd of Torontonians but recently, the costs associated with the project have drawn a large amount of criticism.

Councillor Denzil Minnan-Wong first spoke out against the organization late last  month, revealing to the media that Waterfront Toronto bought 36 pink umbrellas for the site at a cost of $12,000 each, plus two large rocks for more than $500,000. The purchases were made in 2010 before Ford became mayor but earlier this week, Ford told the media that council had made the decision while he was away at rehab this spring.

At the news conference, Ford made brief mention of the cost of the umbrellas and rocks but instead pointed to the costly washroom at the Cherry Beach sports field as an example of gross overspending at the organization.

“We are learning today that $600,000 of taxpayer money has been wasted on a single public washroom,” he said. “That is approximately the cost of a house in the City of Toronto.

“You must be kidding me,” Ford said. “Unfortunately, I had to answer to a bunch of people that I am not kidding.”

He said the design of the washroom alone cost taxpayers $175,000.

“This is not how taxpayers want their money spent,” Ford added, complaining about his lack of communication with the organization. “It’s virtually impossible to get information from Waterfront Toronto. I have regularly raised my concerns regarding the lack of oversight.”

Ford said he’s been asking for more information about consulting contracts that wereawarded between 2011 and 2013 which he said range from $6 million to $20 million.

But Waterfront Toronto shot back at the mayor, releasing a statement that says the city must sign off on any project that has been undertaken by the organization.

“All projects that will be maintained and operated by the city are designed to meet specific city requirements and standards, and the plans are reviewed and approved in advance of construction,” the statement said. “No project is constructed in the absence of city sign-off on the design, specifications and budget.”

Waterfront Toronto said the costs have been high because of the many challenges developers face, including contaminants in the ground, poor soil conditions and high water tables.

“Since its inception in 2003, Waterfront Toronto has had eighteen positive audits of our delivery of those projects,” the statement said. “All three governments have secretariats that oversee our operations and protect the interests of each order of government including accountability, transparency and value for money provided by Waterfront Toronto.”

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