TORONTO – The mayor is firing back against criticisms that city staff and resources were used to run his high school football programs.
The mayor’s office released a statement just after 1 p.m. on Wednesday defending his football program and the “hundreds” of volunteer hours he contributes each year, and fired back at councillors criticizing his staff members.
“I’m okay if Councillors want to criticize me for helping kids. That’s their right,” said Mayor Rob Ford in the statement issued on Wednesday. “I’m a big guy and I can take it. However, Councillors should not be criticizing my staff. Each and every one of them works hard every day for the taxpayers of this great city. They put in at least 40 hours of work for taxpayers every week. Often more.
“Only a coward would criticize my staff. They can’t defend themselves in the media against elected officials.”
At least two of Ford’s office employees helped administer his summer football programs, says The Globe and Mail.
The paper is also reporting that the mayor hired a former University of Toronto varsity football quarterback as a “special assistant,” who was seen helping the mayor coach the Don Bosco Eagles through a football practice on Tuesday.
Isaac Shirokov, a former member of Ford’s staff, repeatedly posted his name and telephone number on the Facebook page for the Rexdale Raiders while he was on staff, asking those interested to call him for information.
Global News has confirmed that the posted cell number used is paid for by the city of Toronto.
“Game tomorrow! (Sunday), JV come to Bosco for 12:30PM, Varsity come at 1:00PM, If you have any questions call Isaac at 416.873.8761,” reads a post on the Rexdale Raiders Facebook page on July 14.
“Registration starts soon please call Isaac for details on sign up dates 416 873 8761,” reads a post on the Rexdale Raiders Facebook page from March 16.
A recruitment poster for the Rexdale Raiders posted on March 26 to the team’s Facebook page also features Shirokov’s name and number, asking people to call to register for Ford’s team.
While the mayor’s brother, Councillor Doug Ford, maintains that the staff members were volunteering, the use of city staff and resources such as cell phones for outside work is strictly prohibited by the Municipal Code of Conduct.
“No member of Council should use, or permit the use of City land, facilities, equipment, supplies, services, staff or other resources (for example, City-owned materials, websites, Council transportation delivery services and member of Council expense budgets) for activities other than the business of the Corporation,” reads the Municipal Code of Conduct.
Mayor Ford was recently forced to testify in open court about alleged past abuses of the code of conduct.
City Councillor Adam Vaughan, a traditional political foe of the mayor, told Global News that use of city staff for work not related to city business contradicts Ford’s campaign motto of taking the gravy out of city hall.
“When he came into office, the gravy train included councillors using office budgets to sponsor and support sports teams and the first thing he did was put Doug Holyday on a task force to eliminate that opportunity for politicians,” Vaughan said. “It’s hypocritical. If it’s wrong to sponsor a sports teams with your office budget… then it’s wrong to use your staff to run a football team. Period.”
Councillor Doug Ford told Global News on Tuesday that he does not see an issue with a city-issued cell phone being used for the mayor’s football foundation. Ford also claimed that the phones are billed at a flat rate. If they had been used for work at the football foundation, he said, no extra charges would have been incurred by the city.
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