WATCH: During a Wednesday morning press conference, Toronto mayoral hopeful Doug Ford attacked John Tory for his time on the board of directors for Charter Communications during the company’s bankruptcy proceedings in 2009.
TORONTO – Councillor Doug Ford attacked John Tory’s employment history Wednesday by accusing him of hiding the eight years he spent as a member of the board of an American cable TV company that filed for bankruptcy in 2009.
“From 2001 to 2009, he sat on the board of Charter Communications,” Ford told reporters at his campaign headquarters. “He presided over one of the largest bankruptcies in U.S. history. It was an over $20-billion bankruptcy.”
“If you go on his webpage he talks about being CEO of Rogers, but makes no mention of Charter Communications.”
Ford claims Tory isn’t being transparent with voters about his employment record and maintains he isn’t fit to run city hall.
“We’re running for a job that has a $12-billion a year budget. John Tory has yet to prove anything.”
Tory defended his time at Charter Communications when asked about it Wednesday morning following an endorsement by Toronto city councillor Gary Crawford.
“I would stack my resume up against Doug Ford’s any day of the week,” he said. “I came in a very difficult situation and that’s been confirmed by Paul Allen.”
VIDEO: Councillor Gary Crawford throws his support behind John Tory
Allen, co-founder of Microsoft and founder of Charter Communications, released a statement confirming Tory’s time at the company as an “effective and valued contributor” of the board.
“He is a seasoned leader who I greatly respect,” Allen said. “Charter Communications filing for creditor protection arose from events that pre-dated John’s time and any implication otherwise is inaccurate.”
A statement released by Tory’s campaign team said he joined Charter’s Board of Directors and the Board’s Audit Committee “for the express purpose of helping the company move forward in the wake of a probe by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.”
The statement further mentioned a probe looking at book-keeping issues at the firm between 2000 an 2001 happened prior to Tory’s time on Charter’s Board.
“Paul Allen’s credibility, I would put up against Doug Ford’s any day of the week and twice on Sunday,” Tory said. “So I’m proud of my resume. It is what it is. It’s set out for all to see.”
Doug Ford’s recent attack on Tory is just the latest in the back-and-forth battle between the two mayoral candidates.
Ford has accused his counterpart of calling him names during debates and exchanges between the two have become increasingly heated.
VIDEO: Doug Ford says he isn’t resorting to name calling
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