City bureaucrats give Ford Fest green light, but liquor licence denied

TORONTO – Ford Fest is a go after getting the green light from city officials on Tuesday.

A permit has been granted for Mayor Rob Ford’s annual barbecue event scheduled for this Friday evening Thomson Park in Scarborough.

Some of Ford’s rivals in the upcoming mayoral election objected on the grounds that it was a campaign event and shouldn’t be allowed in a public venue.

Campaign rules state that no permits will be granted for use of city facilities during an election.

Mayor Ford has maintained the event is for the community and a way for the family to “give back.”

Meanwhile, a report from the Toronto Star says the province’s liquor control agency has denied a liquor licence request from the Fords because it was deemed not “municipally significant.”

The newspaper says the Fords made an application two weeks ago but the mayor said he wasn’t granted the licence due to the “timing.”

Mayor Ford also told reporters on Wednesday he has been using robocalls to invite the public to his event.

“We have robo-called before and we will robocall next year,” Ford explained. “That’s how you invite people.”

“You cannot, it’s virtually impossible to get to everyone’s door with an invitation.”

The free public barbecue has been an annual tradition that was started by Ford’s late father when he was a MPP.