Toronto: 2 thrown out: Mayor Rob Ford sacked for conflict of interest, Salvation Army exec David Rennie tossed for alleged $2 million theft

It's a real sad day for those of us who discovered from our local paper, the Toronto Daily Star, that two people holding positions of trust have apparently lost their jobs due to malfeasance.  One is the mayor who was found guilty of conflict of interest, and has had his term terminated prematurely.  The other is the executive director of the Salvation Army's distribution centre in the city who allegedly stole over $2 million in toys and "high end" stuff from Sally Ann.

— Albert Gedraitis with thanks to the Star's journos covering this story.


Toronto Star (Nov27,2k12)

Ford verdict prompts impassioned reaction, 

tough criticism

Published on Monday November 26, 2012

Rachel Mendleson
Staff Reporter 

Upon learning he’d been found guilty of breaking Ontario’s conflict of interest laws and ordered out of office, Toronto Mayor Rob Ford put on a brave face, telling reporters, “You gotta have skin on you like an alligator.”

Ford’s ability to let setbacks — and criticism — roll off his back was put to the test on Monday, as the stunning verdict prompted his detractors to render harsh judgments of their own.

“We need a mayor who knows how to follow the rules,” said Councillor Josh Matlow. “We need a mayor who understands what their role is, what their job description is and how to fulfill it without getting into trouble every other day, no matter who that is and no matter what their political persuasion might be.”

As the decision garnered attention from international media outlets and blogs, including theBBC and Taegan Goddard’s Political Wire, Councillor Glenn De Baeremaeker called it “a sad day for Toronto.”

“Unfortunately the world is looking at us being represented by a mayor who skips out of council meetings to coach football and is being brought before the courts,” he said.