Toronto city council is holding its first meeting since Mayor Rob Ford took a personal leave of absence to seek treatment for substance abuse.
Ford announced he was taking time off to get professional help after new allegations of drug and alcohol use – including claims that a new video shows the embattled mayor smoking from a pipe –surfaced last week.
Ford's brother, Coun. Doug Ford, and lawyer, Dennis Morris, say the mayor has checked into a rehab centre. Both refused to disclose the location.
Council may be forced to address Ford’s absence at some point in the future.
His seat will be declared vacant if he misses three monthly council meetings (May, June and July) and his colleagues don’t pass a resolution approving an extended absence.
It is not known when Ford plans to return. A notice filed with the city clerk did not include a return date. He told the Toronto Sun he would be away for at least 30 days.
If Ford has a prolonged absence, his brother is confident council will approve it and allow him to take all the time he needs.
“I’m sure that council is going to excuse Rob for his illness for at least one or two sessions,” Doug Ford said.
He said a “vast majority” of people who disagree with the mayor would disagree with councillors if they did not approve an extended absence, should the situation arise.
Outspoken Ford critic Coun. Shelley Carroll said she would vote in favour of an extended absence if there was “legitimate proof” the mayor was in a treatment program.
“We don’t have that yet. We don’t even have the name of a program,” Carroll told reporters. “I’m not buying that it can’t be divulged. I know that when (actress) Elizabeth Taylor headed off to Betty Ford she said, ‘That’s where I’m going and that’s where I’ll be.’ It was not a problem.”
In an interview with CP24 commentator Stephen LeDrew, Deputy Mayor Norm Kelly said he does not have proof Ford is in rehab.
“Like most people, I’ve taken him at his word that he’s acting in good faith,” Kelly said.
Ford breached code of conduct: integrity commissioner
Even though Rob Ford is not at the meeting, he is on the agenda.
Council is scheduled to consider a report by Toronto’s integrity commissioner, who found the mayor in violation of the city’s code of conduct when he conducted robocalls in Coun. Paul Ainslie’s Scarborough ward last October.
Ainslie complained to the integrity commissioner after robocalls to Ward 43 residents criticized him for voting against the Scarborough subway extension.
In her report, the integrity commissioner recommended council ask Ford to apologize in writing and on the floor to Ainslie. Due to Ford’s absence, the matter will likely be deferred.
Councillors are also looking at banning the mayor and others from autographing decommissioned street signs that are being auctioned online.
Coun. Paula Fletcher’s motion says the signatures deface the signs and reduce their value.
With more than 50 days left in the auction, signs autographed by Ford have received bids of nearly $1,000.
Kelly has assumed the mayor's remaining responsibilities. Kelly had already assumed key powers that council stripped from Ford last November after he admitted to smoking crack cocaine while in office.
At this week's meeting, council is being asked to allow the deputy mayor's staff to occupy the members' seating area in the council chamber with the same privileges as the mayor's staff.
The meeting is scheduled to last two days. Here is a look at what else is on the agenda:
TCHC report
Councillors will decide whether to adopt city ombudsman Fiona Crean’s scathing report on the Toronto Community Housing Corp.’s hiring, promoting and firing practices.
Crean was extremely critical of Gene Jones’ leadership and it led to the Ford-backed president and CEO’s departure after less than two years on the job.
If council accepts the report, it will request that the TCHC implement all 12 of Crean’s recommendations.
The social housing agency has already promised to implement the recommendations.
Raves at Exhibition Place
Coun. Mike Layton is asking council to force Exhibition Place’s board of governors to undo its ban on allowing “electronic dance music concerts,” including raves, in buildings controlled by the board.
In a 4-3 vote, board members narrowly approved the ban at their meeting last month.
If Layton’s motion is approved, Exhibition Place also would be required to review its safety protocols for such events.
In 2000, council approved a motion allowing raves or dance parties to be staged at city-owned venues at Exhibition Place in an attempt to draw them away from illicit or dangerous venues.
Mayor, councillors in line for pay increase
Council members are expected to give a decision on whether to award themselves a pay raise that is in line with inflation.
Two weeks ago, the executive committee voted against a proposed salary increase of nearly 13 per cent and recommended a cost of living increase of about two or three per cent annually.
If approved, the raises would go into effect in January.
Councillors are currently paid $105,397 while the mayor makes $177,499.
@ChrisKitching is on Twitter. For up-to-the-minute breaking news, follow @CP24 on Twitter.
