Rob Ford Defends Robocalls

[terom]

TORONTO -- Toronto Mayor Rob Ford says he ordered robocalls to east-end residents to make sure they knew their councillor voted against a subway expansion.

Ford says he didn't do anything wrong since he believes it's his "responsibility to the taxpayers" to make sure constituents know how their councillors vote.

Coun. Paul Ainslie says residents in his ward were called Friday night with a minute-long recorded message from Ford -- hours after he quit the mayor's cabinet-style executive committee.

In the recording, Ford says it was "extremely unfortunate" Ainslie did not vote last week in favour for the subway extension in his ward.

Ainslie says he'll be making complaints to the city's Integrity Commissioner and the CRTC over the robocalls.
On his weekly radio show Sunday the mayor said he was puzzled as to why Ainslie would take issue with the automated calls.

"What is he going to say to the Integrity Commissioner? Rob Ford told my constituents how I voted? What is wrong with that," he said after earlier reading a list of councillors' names and how they voted.

"It cost a few hundred dollars to do this. I'm paying for this, folks, personally... out of my own pocket so it's not costing taxpayers a dime."

In the recording, which has been posted online, Ford singles out Ainslie from his fellow east-end councillors for his subway stance.

"It was extremely, extremely unfortunate that your councillor Paul Ainslie was the only Scarborough councillor who did not listen to his constituents and voted against the Scarborough subway," Ford said in his message.

Though Ainslie once supported the subway expansion, he changed his mind in favour of a cheaper light rail line prior to Tuesday's vote.

Ford said the robocalls aimed to make sure his constituents knew that.

"He said he was supporting it and in the last minute he decided to switch? You've got to tell people this, and if you don't then I have to," he said, adding he was going to fire Ainslie from the executive committee before he quit.

Ainslie has said he resigned from the executive committee because he didn't want to be "bullied" by the mayor and told how to vote.

The city's code of conduct bars use of municipal equipment for non-city business. Municipal law expert John Mascarin questioned whether the calls ran afoul of that rule, since they were made days after subway vote.

"The vote was already taken at council, so the robocalls could not have been for the purpose to solicit the public's support and gather people to call Councillor Ainslie and get him to vote for the subway."


Read more: http://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/rob-fo...to-east-end-residents-1.1495998#ixzz2hdjYuJZ7

 

[slowandeasy]

I am curious about this. In one way it seems to be a bit over the top, and that Ford has singled out Ainslie.

On the other hand, if Ainslie's constituents were in favor of a subway, then they have the right to know how he voted on this critical issue.

 

[acutus]

I am curious about this. In one way it seems to be a bit over the top, and that Ford has singled out Ainslie.

On the other hand, if Ainslie's constituents were in favor of a subway, then they have the right to know how he voted on this critical issue.

Exactly. Sincerely, Jon .

 

[Anbarandy]

Demonstrating once again that rules do not apply to him as he was using City of Toronto resources for his robo-calls. Demonstrating once again that bullying and intimidation is his style. Demonstrating once again that he is unfit to be mayor.

 

[Butler1000]

Demonstrating once again that rules do not apply to him as he was using City of Toronto resources for his robo-calls. Demonstrating once again that bullying and intimidation is his style. Demonstrating once again that he is unfit to be mayor.

Um. He used his own money.....no city hall resources.

Just like the Trip to Austin to help promote and gain assistance for the indy music scene in Toronto. Even Now Magazine said that was a good one. All on his own dime.

Again. Get your facts straight. Rhetoric is just a waste of time.

 

[groggy]

Um. He used his own money.....no city hall resources.

Just like the Trip to Austin to help promote and gain assistance for the indy music scene in Toronto. Even Now Magazine said that was a good one. All on his own dime.

Again. Get your facts straight. Rhetoric is just a waste of time.

If this is legal, then its time to start a new crackstarter fund to pay for robocalls through Ford's turf asking why he won't answer questions about his crack use. If they could raise $200k for a video, raising a 'few hundred' for robocalls should be easy.

 

[Anbarandy]

Um. He used his own money.....no city hall resources.

Just like the Trip to Austin to help promote and gain assistance for the indy music scene in Toronto. Even Now Magazine said that was a good one. All on his own dime.

Again. Get your facts straight. Rhetoric is just a waste of time.

I'm sorry, but he used his 'City of Toronto' funded office # for people to call: 416 397 3673.

Just like he used his 'City of Toronto' funded office staff for his football program. And just like he used his 'City of Toronto' letterhead asking for donations to his football foundation.

He still hasn't read, nor understand , nor care about the rules.

Get your facts straight.

 

[fmahovalich]

I'm sorry, but he used his 'City of Toronto' funded office # for people to call: 416 397 3673.

Just like he used his 'City of Toronto' funded office staff for his football program. And just like he used his 'City of Toronto' letterhead asking for donations to his football foundation.

He still hasn't read, nor understand , nor care about the rules.

Get your facts straight.

And I hope he would use the city funded office. Nice to see the Mayor getting out a message to his people in an efficient manner. We want our Mayor to speak to the people. This was an effective way to do it.

Anabary's problem is not that he called.....but what he said.

 

[groggy]

And I hope he would use the city funded office. Nice to see the Mayor getting out an message to his people in an efficient manner. We want our Myor to speak to the people. This was an effective way to do it.

Ana problem is not that he called.....but what he said.

Do you support the use of city resources to robocall the city?
Would you support all councilors in similar ventures?

 

[Anbarandy]

And I hope he would use the city funded office. Nice to see the Mayor getting out an message to his people in an efficient manner. We want our Myor to speak to the people. This was an effective way to do it.

Ana problem is not that he called.....but what he said.

Nope, the problem is that once again he most likely contravened the Municipal Code of Conduct.

Damn rules.

 

[boodog]

Rob Ford says he paid for robocalls 'out of my own pocket'

Read more: http://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/rob-fo...-out-of-my-own-pocket-1.1495998#ixzz2hewmiwDB

Toronto Mayor Rob Ford says he ordered robocalls to east-end residents to make sure they knew their councillor voted against a subway expansion.

Ford says he didn't do anything wrong since he believes it's his "responsibility to the taxpayers" to make sure constituents know how their councillors vote.

Coun. Paul Ainslie says residents in his ward were called Friday night with a minute-long recorded message from Ford -- hours after he quit the mayor's cabinet-style executive committee.

In the recording, Ford says it was "extremely unfortunate" Ainslie did not vote this week in favour of the subway extension in his ward.

Ainslie says he'll be making complaints to the city's Integrity Commissioner and the CRTC over the robocalls.

On his weekly radio show Sunday the mayor said he was puzzled as to why Ainslie would take issue with the automated calls.

"What is he going to say to the Integrity Commissioner? Rob Ford told my constituents how I voted? What is wrong with that," he said after earlier reading a list of councillors' names and how they voted.

"It cost a few hundred dollars to do this. I'm paying for this, folks, personally... out of my own pocket so it's not costing taxpayers a dime."

In the recording, which has been posted online, Ford singles out Ainslie from his fellow east-end councillors for his subway stance.

"It was extremely, extremely unfortunate that your councillor Paul Ainslie was the only Scarborough councillor who did not listen to his constituents and voted against the Scarborough subway," Ford said in his message.

Though Ainslie once supported the subway expansion, he changed his mind in favour of a cheaper light rail line prior to Tuesday's vote.

Ford said the robocalls aimed to make sure his constituents knew that.

"He said he was supporting it and in the last minute he decided to switch? You've got to tell people this, and if you don't then I have to," he said, adding he was going to fire Ainslie from the executive committee before he quit.

Ainslie has said he resigned from the committee because he didn't want to be "bullied" by the mayor and told how to vote.

Ford begins the recording by introducing himself and reading out his office's phone number.

The city's code of conduct bars use of municipal equipment for non-city business.

Municipal law expert John Mascarin questioned whether the calls ran afoul of that rule, since they were made days after subway vote.

"The vote was already taken at council, so the robocalls could not have been for the purpose to solicit the public's support and gather people to call Councillor Ainslie and get him to vote for the subway."

 

[fuji]

And I hope he would use the city funded office. Nice to see the Mayor getting out an message to his people in an efficient manner. We want our Myor to speak to the people. This was an effective way to do it.

Ana problem is not that he called.....but what he said.

He should have put his campaign number as the callback. It does violate the separation between city business and political campaigning for him to take any return calls using city phones (I.e., phones answered by city paid staff should not be used for political campaigning).

That said, since he paid for the outbound calls with his own money it's a pretty trivial violation. A brief "oops sorry should have used my other number" should get him off the hook. He has bigger issues to deal with, like the police investigation that is taking down his close associates, and his crack problem.

Of course I can see him escalating this until it bites him if council asks for that apology and he refuses to give one....

 

[groggy]

Rob Ford says he paid for robocalls 'out of my own pocket'

Then he committed fraud when he used the city supplied phone number for reference, since it came from him personally. That makes it a personal message, not city business at all.

 

[fuji]

Then he committed fraud when he used the city supplied phone number for reference, since it came from him personally. That makes it a personal message, not city business at all.

It isn't fraud. It's inappropriate. He should apologize. But it's hardly fraud.

 

[Butler1000]

I'm going to admit I'm on the fence about this one. Not sure where this falls within city rules.
Definetely not fraud. I guess the questionis if he had sent out a press release with the same statement would it be in conflict? Is there that much of a difference between a press conference with a vicious soundbite, an e-mail blast, and a robo-call?
Again I'm not sure...and legal eagles with the fine point arguments on this?

 

[boodog]

I'm going to admit I'm on the fence about this one. Not sure where this falls within city rules.
Definetely not fraud. I guess the questionis if he had sent out a press release with the same statement would it be in conflict? Is there that much of a difference between a press conference with a vicious soundbite, an e-mail blast, and a robo-call?
Again I'm not sure...and legal eagles with the fine point arguments on this?

http://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/rob-for...#ixzz2hewmiwDB

Municipal law expert John Mascarin questioned whether the calls ran afoul of that rule, since they were made days after subway vote.

"The vote was already taken at council, so the robocalls could not have been for the purpose to solicit the public's support and gather people to call Councillor Ainslie and get him to vote for the subway."

 

[fuji]

I'm going to admit I'm on the fence about this one. Not sure where this falls within city rules.
Definetely not fraud. I guess the questionis if he had sent out a press release with the same statement would it be in conflict? Is there that much of a difference between a press conference with a vicious soundbite, an e-mail blast, and a robo-call?
Again I'm not sure...and legal eagles with the fine point arguments on this?

He spent his own money on the outbound calls. Great. No problem.

But giving a city number for any return calls is dodgy. Plainly anyone calling back in response to that call is on the line on a political campaign topic, but the person answering the phone will be paid by the city. That implies using city staff for a political campaign which is a no no.

An honest oversight most likely, paying the outbound clearly signaled an intent to foot the bill. Though after having been dragged into court for using city letterhead, you would figure he's learned by now!

I think a brief apology to council should cut it, and next time he should give his campaign office number instead. Then it's all on the up and up.

This is a wrist slapping offense assuming he owns up to it just being an honest mistake. If he insists he can use his city paid staff for politics then fireworks ensue.

 

[Butler1000]

I see. So the issue is the use of the city #. Well I guess on a technical basis that makes sense. Did he give out the number so his constituants could be routed to his office? To express their opinion? I guess this is the other question because how else would you reach your councillor except via the switchboard?

We have seen several campaigns in the past by various sources with addresses printed for letter writing campaigns. Both real and e-mail. Wouldn't these fall under the same thing as the offices of various politicians are paid for by taxpayers money? Theae are answered by other people too.

Fairly murky. Don't get me wrong. I think robo-calls should be banned. Period.
But as long as they are legal I wonder how they fall as to whetther they are a legitimate media source, no different than an e-mail, a twitter blast, a facebook message etc.

 

[groggy]

It isn't fraud. It's inappropriate. He should apologize. But it's hardly fraud.

It is fraud if he's using personal resources and claiming its his personal opinion yet still using the city's Mayoral office phone number.

Its the same conflict of interest issue of him using city resources to try to raise money for his football hobby. Now he's putting out his personal opinion on another councillor as if it were official city policy by virtue of his using the Mayor's phone number.

Had he used his own resources and his own campaign headquarters or home number that would be different. Then its a matter of junk calls and/or spending on campaigning out of elections.

Maybe fraud is too strong a word there, but he is now using city resources (mayor's phone) towards a personal matter (his views on another councillor).

 

[fuji]

There is a difference between calling a councillor to express your views on an issue, and political campaigning.

It is the job of a councillor to listen to the views of constituents so as to be able to represent them on council votes.

Political campaigning, on the other hand, is about who should be elected. In this case Ford is plainly campaigning against Ainslie.

Yes there can be grey areas but in this situation it seems to be straight up campaigning. Which is fine, but that is what his campaign office, paid for by his campaign, is for.

Politicians generally all have two contact numbers, offices, and emails. Their official contact for city business, with city paid staff. And a political campaign office paid by their campaign contributors.