Wednesday was Day Seven of the Crisis at City Hall. That’s our short hand for the collision between Mayor Ford with the entirety of city council since the revelations contained in Chief Bill Blair’s news conference on Thursday, October 31, 2013. Our story resumes following Mr. Ford’s admission Tuesday that he had smoked crack cocaine.
- Ford loyalists Frances Nunziata and Deputy Mayor Norm Kelly ask the mayor take a leave of absence. He refuses.
- John Parker (Ward 26) expresses concern about the legal basis for the John Filion motion which would clip some of the mayor’s powers.
- In Ottawa, the Justice Minister, Peter MacKay and both opposition leaders ask the mayor to step down and get help.
- A demonstration in Nathan Phillips Square calls for the Mr. Ford’s resignation
- Premier Kathleen Wynne again expresses concern but says city councillors have “certain tools” at their disposal to deal with the crisis.
- The Mayor’s brother, Doug, is uncharacteristically silent. It is said he was blind-sided by his brother’s crack smoking admission.
- Brooks Barnett, a policy adviser to the mayor resigned. He apparently left on his own advice.
- Finally, the Police Chief’s charity gala has gone ahead at the Liberty Grand event centre without the presence of the mayor. It just seemed a good idea for him to stay away. Organizers also pulled the mayor’s silent auction prize of dinner with Mr.Ford off the table.
“Organizers also pulled the mayor’s silent auction prize of dinner with Mr.Ford off the table.”
Very disappointing. It could have been such fun!!! :))