Paul Magder, the man who won a conflict-of-interest lawsuit against Rob Ford, is consenting to a stay of the order to remove the mayor from office, pending the outcome of Ford's appeal.
In a statement, lawyer Clayton Ruby said he and Magder are agreeing to the stay to give Toronto "a measure of stability" that has been lacking during Ford’s tenure, but they continue to oppose his appeal.
"By breaking the law in such a flagrant manner, Rob Ford has put this city into unnecessary turmoil," Ruby said in the statement. "We are agreeing to this stay to give the city of Toronto a measure of stability, something that has been wholly absent during Mr. Ford's term in office.”
In a decision released Nov. 26, Justice Charles Hackland ordered Ford to be removed from office for breaking provincial conflict-of-interest rules.
A day later, Ford confirmed he would be seeking a stay of the decision, which would allow him to remain in office during the appeal process.
A court will hear Ford’s application for a stay Wednesday.
Without a stay from the courts, Ford will be removed from office Dec. 10.
According to a statement, Magder is not impressed with the way Ford has responded to the judge’s decision. The mayor blamed a left-wing conspiracy for his removal.
"I brought this application to protect Toronto's municipal government from politicians putting their own interests ahead of the citizens they were elected to serve," Magder said. "One of Ontario's most respected judges considered in great detail the arguments made on my behalf and that of Mr. Ford before issuing his thoroughly reasoned decision. For Mr. Ford to pretend he is the victim of a ‘left-wing’ political attack is to insult the justice system that is a cornerstone of Canada's strong and enduring democracy.”
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