The future of Toronto Community Housing Corporation's remaining board members could be decided sooner rather than later, after Mayor Rob Ford called a special council meeting set for Wednesday evening.
Council will vote on whether to remove the remainder of the board of directors during the special meeting, which comes amid ongoing wrangling about the arms-length housing agency.
The vote comes one day after Ford's political opponents delayed an attempt to clear out the agency's representatives and replace them with a single manager, retired councillor Case Ootes.
The vote did not receive the two-thirds support it needed to be added to the council's agenda on Tuesday.
The call to remove the four remaining board members will only need a simple majority to pass during Wednesday's special meeting.
Most of TCHC's board members resigned last week after an auditor's report revealed between $4 million and $10 million was wasted on sole-sourced contracts.
The report also revealed issues with record-keeping at the agency and found that $200,000 was misspent on luxury chocolates, spa trips and a Christmas party.
Two councillors and two tenant representatives have refused to resign from the board.
If the motion is passed, Ootes would run the public housing agency until a new board is appointed. However, TCHC supporters say this is the first step in an attempt to privatize the agency.
Ford's opponents have threatened to take legal action, and have questions about what will happen if Ford's ally assumes full authority.
Ford did not speak with reporters following Tuesday's setback. On Twitter he wrote, "It's unfortunate some councillors don't want to discuss accountability at the TCHC."
Coun. Adam Vaughan reprimanded the mayor's attempts to fire the board before the auditor's report can be fully discussed.
"The auditor's report says these members of the board did nothing wrong," he told reporters on Tuesday. "If they did nothing wrong why are we taking them off the board?"
Vaughan also said tenants have not been allowed to voice their own opinions.
"They will throw every roadblock, use every rule, break established law to silence tenants in this city," said Vaughan.
Coun. Gord Perks, meanwhile, agreed that Ford was attempting to muffle tenant opinion.
"Rob Ford is so scared of Toronto Community Housing Corporation tenants, (his team) cancelled a meeting where they would be allowed to make their voices heard."
But Coun. Doug Ford said that Torontonians have had enough of the reports of waste at the agency.
"I think the people of Toronto voiced their opinion. They're extremely upset over this matter. They want action and we're trying to give them action," he said.
Tenants speak out
While the political wrangling continued at City Hall, CTV Toronto's John Musselman spoke to tenants about the ongoing furor. Much like City Hall, opinion appears divided.
James Stubbins, a 56-year-old tenant in Regent Park who pays $140 monthly for a bachelor apartment, said that Ford's quest seemed like a "witch hunt."
Other tenants, like Jean Descoteaux agreed, saying that Ford is simply attempting to make political hay while he can.
"He's a new mayor and he's got to pick at somebody, so he's picking at housing. He's got nothing better to do, I guess."
Still, tenant Bill Bars said a change at TCHC would be good for everyone, especially given the revelations of "misappropriated" public funds.
