Casino talk, transit and a crack confession: Toronto council's 2010-2014 term is coming to a close this week after four years of seemingly never-ending debates on transit, a failed casino bid and a mayoral scandal of epic proportions. While Mayor Rob Ford's behaviour both inside and outside of city hall often eclipsed policy work, there were some heated moments on the floor of council as transit, casinos and service cuts kept the 44 councillors and a rogue mayor on their toes – right from the get-go.
As the 2010-2014 council term wraps up this week, we look back at some of the highlights and tense moments from a contentious and controversial four years at Toronto city hall.
Don Cherry's colourful council term kick-off
It was controversial from the beginning. Hockey personality Don Cherry upstaged newly elected Toronto Mayor Rob Ford on inauguration day, welcoming Ford and the 44 councillors to city hall with his trademark, no-holds barred bite.
Chosen by Ford to kick off the first meeting of the city's new council, a pink-jacket clad Cherry praised Ford for being "no phony," but lashed out at the so-called left-wing politicians on council, in a foreshadowing of the polarization on council that was soon to follow.
Cherry said Ford is "going to be the greatest mayor this city's ever seen … now put that in your pipe, you left-wing kooks."
TTC Chief Stintz breaks ranks with Ford over Transit City
Handpicked by the mayor to head up the contentious transit file, Karen Stintz broke ranks from the mayor's plan to make the Eglinton Crosstown LRT line fully underground.
After 10 hours of heated debate, council threw the mayor and his subway plan under the bus, voting in favour of Stintz's light rail plan. (Is this too cheesy? I took it from the story…)
Despite the vote, Ford refused to acknowledge his plan was dead, saying it was up to the province to make the decision.
Mammoliti and Perks almost come to blows
Councillors George Mammoliti and Gord Perks nearly ended up in a fistfight after a confrontation in council chambers in October 2012. Perks called Mammoliti a “bully” after he criticized a report by the city’s ombudsman, while Mammoliti told him to get out of his personal space. Watch the extended video here.
In May 2013, council voted to reject any new gaming facilities in Toronto. In a separate vote, council also voted against the expansion of gaming at the Woodbine Racetrack. This came after months of controversy over a proposed downtown casino, which Mayor Rob Ford initially supported, but then decided it wasn’t in Toronto’s “best interest.”
Deputy Mayor Norm Kelly takes over after Ford’s powers revoked
After Mayor Rob Ford admitted to smoking crack cocaine in early November, city council voted to remove most of his powers, including his authority during emergency situations. Most of the mayoral powers were transferred to Deputy Mayor Norm Kelly as critics called on Ford to resign. Ford remained defiant and threatened to challenge the council’s vote in court.
BONUS: Reggae performance
At the height of Mayor Rob Ford’s crack cocaine scandal, there was a lighter moment in council chambers when the whole room took a dance break. When a visiting jazz group played Bob Marley’s “One Love,” the councillors and the mayor got up and danced. The resulting video was seen around the world.
