rob ford
Formal complaint filed about Mayor Rob Ford’s use of staff
A Toronto man has filed a complaint against Mayor Rob Ford with the city’s integrity commissioner, alleging improper use of influence and city property. His complaints stem from allegations outlined in a police document released in court and in media reports. Ray Fredette, 62, filed his formal complaint to the Office of the Integrity Commissioner last week, claiming that Mr. Ford broke the council code of conduct by using city-paid staff and resources for personal benefit, as well as to benefit his own private business. The complaint cites as evidence a nearly-500-page police document on a Toronto Police drug investigation that targeted Mr. Ford and his friend Alessandro Lisi. The document details police interviews with former Ford staffers who allege the mayor called on them for personal errands, such as changing a light bulb and purchasing laundry detergent. Other staffers said they were asked to purchase alcohol for the mayor, and perform tasks for the high school football team the mayor coached. None of the allegations has been proven in court. “We’re paying, as citizens and taxpayers, for his salary, and the salary of his staff,” Mr. Fredette said of Mr. Ford. “So his time is on our dime, and there’s a lot of occasions where we weren’t getting value for our money.”The mayor declined to comment on the complaint. Mr. Fredette, a retired executive assistant with the Ontario English Catholic Teachers’ Association, said the legal costs of his case against the mayor are being borne by himself and his lawyer. He described himself as “left of centre,” and has participated in anti-Ford rallies at City Hall in the past, but said his complaint is not politically motivated. “On December 7, 2010, at the inaugural meeting of council, he took an oath, and he became my mayor” he said. “As far as I’m concerned, he broke his oath a number of times.” Mr. Fredette’s lawyer, Tim Gleason, said that other allegations
A Toronto man has filed a complaint against Mayor Rob Ford with the city’s integrity commissioner, alleging improper use of influence and city property. His complaints stem from allegations outlined in a police document released in court and in media reports. Ray Fredette, 62, filed his formal complaint to the Office of the Integrity Commissioner last week, claiming that Mr. Ford broke the council code of conduct by using city-paid staff and resources for personal benefit, as well as to benefit his own private business. The complaint cites as evidence a nearly-500-page police document on a Toronto Police drug investigation that targeted Mr. Ford and his friend Alessandro Lisi. The document details police interviews with former Ford staffers who allege the mayor called on them for personal errands, such as changing a light bulb and purchasing laundry detergent. Other staffers said they were asked to purchase alcohol for the mayor, and perform tasks for the high school football team the mayor coached. None of the allegations has been proven in court. “We’re paying, as citizens and taxpayers, for his salary, and the salary of his staff,” Mr. Fredette said of Mr. Ford. “So his time is on our dime, and there’s a lot of occasions where we weren’t getting value for our money.”The mayor declined to comment on the complaint. Mr. Fredette, a retired executive assistant with the Ontario English Catholic Teachers’ Association, said the legal costs of his case against the mayor are being borne by himself and his lawyer. He described himself as “left of centre,” and has participated in anti-Ford rallies at City Hall in the past, but said his complaint is not politically motivated. “On December 7, 2010, at the inaugural meeting of council, he took an oath, and he became my mayor” he said. “As far as I’m concerned, he broke his oath a number of times.” Mr. Fredette’s lawyer, Tim Gleason, said that other allegations