TORONTO – Toronto mayoral candidate John Tory has sent a letter to the city’s integrity commissioner to find out the status of an investigation into a potential code of conduct violation involving Mayor Rob Ford and whether a ruling will be handed down prior to the municipal election in October.
As first reported in the Globe and Mail in May, a complaint filed by a watchdog group called Democracy Watch alleges the mayor lobbied city staff on behalf of two companies that had done business with his family’s company, Deco Labels and Tags.
Integrity Commissioner Janet Leiper initiated an investigation into the matter but it was temporarily halted when Ford entered a rehab centre for this substances abuse issues.
“We understand that your investigation was stayed on or about May 12th, during Mayor Rob Ford’s declares leave of absence,” wrote the letter issued by the law offices of Benson Percival Brown LLP.
“Will you issue a public report or statement regarding your investigation once completed?”
The letter also questions whether the office recognizes “the timely issue” of the report and the need for the public to have a ruling “in advance of this year’s municipal election.”
This past week, Mayor Ford denied he gave any special treatment to two companies who had ties to his family’s business.
The code of conduct complaint alleges Ford intervened on behalf of Apollo Health and Beauty Care when the company was being investigated by the city for a sewage spill in 2012.
It is also reported that Ford and his brother Doug helped printing company RR Donnelley and Sons seek a city contract.
Tory’s letter was sent to the integrity commissioner on Thursday, July 24.
Comments