The man who almost managed to have Mayor Rob Ford turfed from office is hoping the country’s top court will hear the case.
Lawyer Clayton Ruby and his client Paul Magder are asking the Supreme Court of Canada to overturn a ruling that allowed Ford to stay in the mayor’s chair.
“We’re appealing this case to Canada’s highest court because it is a case of national importance,” Ruby said Thursday.
“Holding politicians to account is a matter of importance to all Canadians. “
In his application, Magder says the case raises novel questions about the powers of municipalities to govern themselves and to hold public officials to account.
Ford said he had no control over Magder’s decision.
“I consider the issue closed but obviously they don’t,” Ford said at the Canada Blooms show on Friday.
“If they want to go to the Supreme Court, all the power to them.”
Last fall, an Ontario court ordered Ford removed from office for violating conflict laws by taking part in a February 2012 vote in which he had a financial interest.
Ford, however, argued on appeal to Divisional Court that the ruling was in error — and the court sided with him on what was essentially a technicality.
It said the vote was null because council didn’t have the power to make Ford repay $3,150 registered city lobbyists donated to his private football charity. And therefore Ford’s participation in the vote was irrelevant.
“Are we supposed to sit back there and do nothing? Are we supposed to just sit back and let it go? Well we cannot let it go,” Ruby said.
“We will have powerful politicians doing whatever the hell they want and nobody able to do anything about it until an election rolls around again in two, three, four years. No thank you. Paul Magder deserves thanks for what he did.”
It could be many months before the Supreme Court decides whether to hear the case.
He still didn’t learn his lesson. Ford should have an IQ test before. Im sure he is under 10
Gotta hand it to Clayton Ruby. Dude knows how to make money.
I’m pretty sure he’s the only real winner here.
There are only two ways Clayton makes money here. Either Paul Magdar pays him representation, this publicity generates future business for his law firm. Paul Magdar is a deadbeat fur salesman and hired Clayton “pro bono” (that means without paying), so scratch number one, and any future potential clients should run for the hills now that they can see what a frivolous, petty solicitor Clayton really is, so scratch number two. If Clayton really wants “politician’s held accountable, then why doesn’t he sue the provincial liberal government for burning all that money for moving gas plants. Let’s see $3,150 vs. $1,000,000,000. Hmmm?
You’ve got the wrong Paul Magder. The Paul Magder that initiated this action is VP of Iris Power, as per LinkedIn.
“any future potential clients should run for the hills”
SHOULD is the operative word here. They won’t. People will open their wallets to have this guy represent them. If Clayton Ruby was a stock, I’d be BUYING right now because he’s going nowhere but up. In a manner similar to the Kardashians, but up nonetheless.
Geeze, you Leftard radicals REALLY hate democracy, don’t you? Rob Ford kicked all the Lefty asses in the municipal election, and you really can’t handle that, can you? Well, here’s hoping your streak of conspicuously bad luck keeps costing the back-room bag men (affiliated with a party whose three initials we all know) who are funding these nuisance lawsuits a BUNDLE!
Mr Clayton can do what he likes but its coming out of your own pocket and Paul Madger’s pocket. Don’t go whining that taxpayers should cover the costs. You wanted the court costs to balloon to 100k over a 3k issue then deal with it.
Clayton Ruby should always remember Guy Paul Morin.
Clayton Ruby has a history of loosing!
This is turning into a farce. Stop wasting the court’s time on petty lawsuits. You tried, you lost, give it up. Your message is already out there, any more is a waste. The courts are back logged enough already and REAL crimes are being delayed or, even worse, tossed out due to delays. Enough already!
to be honest let Rob Ford be. He will get his Karma and election day will have his conservative buddies in a knot. Toronto has begin will always be LIberal city so we will never elect him again. So leave Rob alone and just wait for the next election because that will be the best time for our city to voice our opinion. For those people that keep on supporting Rob and don’t live in the city. Your opinion really don’t count because he truly have no vote in Toronto so please just stop acting as if you live in our great city.
I know the guy did something wrong, but for the 3000 that he didn’t put in his pocket, how much more of tax payers’ money is to be spent on useless courts and lawsuits?
I bet city counsellors do more corruption. this guy should go after mismanagement of millions, not 3000.
It’s pretty obvious to everybody by now that there are persons who have it in for Rob Ford. Mr Ford has beaten them numerous times now and shown he is able to cope with the extra stress involved with these allegations and court procedures. He has also been able to still continue on with his obligations that are involved with being mayor and running the city. Isn’t it about time this witch hunt is stopped and to let the man get on with his job of running the city and getting on with his life? Mr Ford may not appeal to everyone with his character flaws, but he’s proven he is a resilient individual who can handle obversity and criticism. Maybe, just, maybe, he is the right man for the job of running a city like Toronto.
While I can understand that Ruby and Magder feel the appeal judge erred, I think they’ve proven their point. People are watching Ford a lot more closely in terms of his conduct at City Hall. Pushing it further just feeds your own ego.
As for @Ash calling this a witch hunt. You forget that he was found guilty and the appeal judge upheld that verdict. The ruling was set aside by legal slight of hand, the notion that the council didn’t have the power to make him pay back the money.
Clayton Ruby…please take your personal agendas, and those of your followers…and PISS OFF!! This has gone on long enough, your 15 mins of fame are over, the witch hunt You and all the other left wingers have been waging is even grating on the nerves of people who dont like Rob Ford!!
“Holding politicians to account is a matter of importance to all Canadians.”…
Sorry but this ain’t me…and STOP WASTING TAXPAYERS’ MONEY by trying to make CANADIANS pay for these legal fees!!!!!
man I pity RB… he’s definitely being bullied right now by the haters.
and that is RF btw.
Citynews: “Holding politicians to account is a matter of importance to all Canadians. “
Well let’s see, It appears that the Provincial Liberals wasted a billion dollars buying votes before the last Provincial election by cancelling a couple of electricity generating stations that the local residents were unhappy with. But this case is supposed to go to the Supreme court because of perhaps three thousand dollars.
Is this is a political strategy? Keep the public focused on the little three thousand dollar problem and maybe they won’t notice the billion dollar problem???
The Liberals are so good at keeping power. It’s a work of art.
Why do you quote citynews for saying “Holding politicians to account is a matter of importance to all Canadians. “
That’s dumb – it was clearly Ruby who said that, not Citynews
Furthermore, the Ontario liberal government and the Toronto municipal government are completely different legislatures. Bundling the two into one argument is stupid.
You’re dumb, you’re comment is dumb. Congratulations on being dumb today.
Your continued use of the world “dumb” is a immature and unimaginative. Why don’t you move along or go back to elementary school?
That’s another thing that the Liberal folks do very well. They either pay people to do postings for them or they have so many hangers-on that people feel obligated to post in order to preserve their high salaries. Public tax dollars at work.