Councillor Wong-Tam slams Fords over Olympics "decision by fiat"

Councillor Kristyn Wong-Tam undeniably comes at many issues from the left. But the rookie has impressed many with her eagerness to work with colleagues of all stripes to get things done. When others were dismissing Mayor Rob Ford, she tried to keep the door open.

That openness closed somewhat when she tried to act as Ford's gateway to the gay community, offering him ways to mark the Pride festivities and remain in his comfort zone. When Ford made no effort, Wong-Tam's frustration was palpable.

Now, she is taking direct aim at Ford and his brother, Councillor Doug Ford, over their closed-door method of governing, asking the city manager for an "administrative inquiry" into their apparent joint decision on behalf of the city not to even entertain the idea of making a bid for the 2020 Olympics. It's part of a pattern, Wong-Tam writes in her open letter, that has her worried about the health of local democracy. 

She also asks an uncomfortable question - what exactly is Councillor Ford's role at City Hall? Is it proper that he gets special access to the mayor and decision-making ability on something as important as an Olympic bid even though he is only one of 44?

Asked about the letter on Wednesday, Mayor Ford said he was unaware of it and couldn't comment.

Councillor Doug Ford suggested nothing improper is happening. “He’s my brother. Of course I have access to him, ” Ford said. “The left is playing politics.”

Below is Wong-Tam's letter in full:

August 31, 2011
 
Open Letter to Mayor Rob Ford
City of Toronto
100 Queen Street West
Toronto, Ontario
M5H 2N2
 
Dear Mayor Ford:
 
I will be submitting an administrative inquiry to the City Manager in an attempt to make public
whatever information is available about the decision that was made not to bid for the 2020 Olympic
Games without Council's participation.
 
I've learned, through the media, that Toronto is required to notify the International Olympic
Committee (IOC) to express our interest to host the 2020 Olympic Games by September 1, 2011.  I
cannot hide my disappointment that on the day before the deadline to express interest to the IOC,
43 other Members of Council were not privy to any details of the proposal.  In fact, I believe that
you and Councillor Doug Ford disrespected our roles as elected representatives when you made a
decision by fiat without Council consideration.
 
Some of my constituents have asked me why Toronto turned down the bid so quickly, what the bid
was comprised of and why Council wasn’t involved with this decision.  This is why I am writing to
you today.
 
Although Toronto is currently facing budget pressures, we as Members of Council still have a
responsibility to our residents to review and consider proposals that have a major impact on the
city.  That is why we have rights to information as duly elected representatives.
 
With sincere respect to Councillor Ford, he is one of 44 City Councillors, is not a committee Chair,
and is not entitled to special privileges that do not extend to all of us on behalf of the constituents
we represent. This transparency and equality is a fundamental principle of our civic democracy,
and you as Mayor have a duty to ensure it.
 
Informal discussions in your office between you and your brother are not to be mistaken for official
committee or Council meetings.  I believe discussions involving an Olympic bid require serious
exploratory consideration, due diligence, and a broader and more robust debate that involves all
Members of Council and Torontonians from every neighbourhood. 
 
I am concerned with the health of our local democracy. The decision about the Olympics is only the
latest in a worrying pattern. On your first day in office, you declared “Transit City is dead” despite
the fact that a Council decision declaring it our first priority has never been revisited, and have
since been operating on the premise that your unilateral decree overrides the democratic
processes of civic government.  

Media reports also reveal that detail financial and technical plans are not required by the IOC until
February 2012.  There was sufficient time to engage all Members of Council and even more
broadly the general public about the feasibility of hosting the 2020 Olympic Games.
 
Transparency in government would have required that an informative briefing on the bid and an
invitation to the Olympic working group be presented to Members of Council on behalf of our
constituents.  Whether one supports or does not support an Olympic bid, what is of the gravest
concern to me is the lack of accountability and transparency in your decision.
 
An informative briefing would have allowed Council Members and our constituents an opportunity
to learn more about the obligations and benefits expected for Toronto if we were to host the most
high profile international sporting event in the world. During such a briefing I would have asked the
working group whether or not Toronto’s hosting of the Pan American Games in 2015 could have
enhanced our bidding position. I also wanted to know if were leveraging opportunities for us to
“build once and host twice.”
 
I wanted to ask the Olympic Working Group what kind of legacy hosting the 2020 Olympic Games
would have had on Toronto as it relates to affordable housing, infrastructure, cultural assets,
amateur sports and public transit.  I needed to know if there would be tangible benefits to the
suburbs as surely they would inherit all the major new facilities by their birthright in vastness of
land.  I wanted to know if Toronto’s aging subways, theatres, recreation centres, swimming pools,
parks would have seen new stimulus funding.  I would also have wanted to know if other levels of
government and private sector partnerships were interested in this collaboration.
 
As a result of your decision, we will not get answers to these questions, or even have the
opportunity to ask them.  I am sure that my Council colleagues and the general public would have
had questions of their own for the working group about their Olympic proposal, but again we were
not given that opportunity.
 
In year 2000, then Mayor Mel Lastman championed the 2008 Olympic bid where the merits of the
bid were explored openly and debated robustly before Council unanimously agreed to submit
Toronto’s proposal to the IOC for consideration. Perhaps Council would have made a different
decision in 2011, but we will never know, as no vote will be held.
 
Mayor, our democratic institutions are to be respected and I urge you to re-consider the
governance style in which you currently operate.  Making a public announcement cannot replace
legislative process and policy.
 
I am ready to work with you to build a more prosperous, just and beautiful city.  A little respect
would go a long way.
 
Respectfully submitted,
 
Kristyn Wong-Tam
Councillor, Ward 27
Toronto Centre-Rosedale

Comments

[Simon]

Im not a big fan of Wong-Tam but she has hit the nail on the head. Doug Ford does get special priveledges and appears to weild power at the City. The closed door "My way or the highway" policy is disheartening and as soon as you disagree with Ford (either one of them) you are branded a leftie from either Ford or Mamolitti. This adminsitration is really showing its true colours and I hope other councillors come out and agree, suppport and speak up, like Wong-Tam

[Mongomery's marsh]

It's odd we in Toronto have been plagued by people who seem to have no sense of reality/common sense
Three that jump to the top of the heap are Susan Eng,Olivia Chow and now another, Wong-Tam.
All in their own way are a danger/have been a danger to the well being and prosperity of all Toronto citizens.

[Don Bundock]

Well put. I could not possibly agree more. The Mayor is but one vote on council. This is not a municipal monarchy and Councillor Wong-Tam has done an excellent job pointing that out. I hope someone, the Ford's or the public, pays attention.

[jerry jordan]

now she knows what it was like with miller,s inner circle. you get what you give my dear.. its not nice is it?

[kcrannie]

My heartiest congratulation to Kristyn Wong-Tam for opening speaking her mind to Mayor Ford. Rob Ford, Doug Ford, and the entire 'Ford Nation' need to be removed from office, as soon as conveniently possible. Rob Ford is uncapable of telling the truth about anything. For him to say he didn't know anything about the letter is an outright lie. Citizens of Toronto really need to give sincere thought to having Rob Ford removed from office. Another 3 years of his lying, decietfulness, and the like will ultimately destroy the City of Toronto.

[Don Bundock]

Any of the candidates in the next provincial election could win across the GTA by promising to bring in recall legislation that would enable the removal of truly incompetent officials. Of course that will never happen as they all fear it would be used against them.

[Don Bundock]

Not to disparage the value of a blog, by why has this letter, with such a well stated position, not been reported on in the mainstream Star?

[Jay]

Good for Kristyn Wong-Tam for calling out the elephant in the room. Well written and thought out, I'd like to read, watch, hear the Mayor's response now that the letter has been published.

[Tabber]

Montgomery' marsh, you left out the most egregious example, that of the Ford brothers. How is it that interest in maintaining democracy is a danger, except to those who wish to run rough-shod over the rights and will of the population? I have hereby elected myself to manage your utterances, and you are therefore fined $1000 for ignorance, payable to the campaign to rid this city of the Fords.

[davey]

@ Montgomery's marsh:
The fact that you named very intelligent WOMEN as ones that "have no sense of reality/common sense" shows just how ridiculous you are! This was one of the most well written and HONEST letters I have read in ages! Why is everyone so frakking scared of these dumb asses (The Ford dopes?) It's called democracy people - oh right, conservatives DON'T know what that word really means.

[George Thanagan]

I agree that the process is the issue here. We have a city council for a reason. This council is elected by the people in their respective wards based on how the people feel they will be represented on this council. Mayor Ford and his brother are but two voices of forty four for the city of Toronto.

[Zak]

This is the most poignant letter towards this city's most ridiculous administration yet. After watching hours of deputations at the 23 hour council meeting, I thought I had heard all the clever, heartfelt ways to beg Ford to be moral. But this, is gorgeous. Thank you KTW, I sincerely hope Rob gets the message, Maybe Giorgio can take 2 seconds to breathe and think it over too.
I'm just waiting for the audits to come through, the inquiries to finish and the opportunity to Impeach Rob Ford to come to fruition.

[Kirk]

Great letter by Kristyn Wong-Tam. It is the duty of politicians to be as transparent as possible and unilateral decisions have no place in the governance of our city. While I may not entirely agree on an Olympic bid, I believe that due process and debate should proceed, and those that we elected be afforded the opportunity to make an informed decision.

[Norman Calder]

Ms Wong-Tam, I'm proud of you for speaking up so.

[Ed Sasha]

Dear Ms. Wong-Tam, thank you for your open letter which so eloquently voices the concern that many citizens have about the way that the Ford brothers are not only mismanaging policy decisions from transit to taxes to libraries to the waterfront but are concealing those decisions from the council. I have emailed the councillor for my ward conveying my support for your position and have included the link to your letter; I suggest that other citizens of Toronto do the same.

[Mark]

I suspect the need for secrecy by the Fords is there is no real substance behind their hyperbole. The 3P funding for the Sheppard subway extension is eroding; Doug's vision for the portlands is mere fantasy; Rob's meetings with the provincial party leaders is a mask for bullying; the failures of Rob's campaign promises are blamed on the electorate; etc. etc. Blaming the "lefties" on council is wearing thin-municipal government has a fudiciary obligation to ensure transparency and participation by the electorate and their elected representatives. The longer council and voters are kept in the dark, the more suspicion grows about the real motives of the mayor and his brother.

[swongken]

This is an important letter that needs a full and proper public airing. Disagree with her or not, there is no political agenda behind her polite, informed request. Miller, Eggleton, Crombie, Sewell, Lastman, Hall, Rowlands - nobody would ever have had to write them a letter like that.

[Alex]

I sent her a thank you email. She is wonderful!

[Carlo Car]

@ Don Bundock
She is a rookie councilor. That makes your already dumb point even dumber.
Good for you Wong-Tam. Great letter, well stated and unfortunately very true.

[10 of 9 of borg]

Well you guys vote for the Fords and you ask for it. Now it's citizen of Toronto problem.

[Don Collymore]

To the person who stated "now you know how it's like to not be part of the inner circle" as a response to Councillor Wong-Tam's letter, let me remind you of the following of what Councillor Ford has accomplished since he came to office almost a year ago:

1. Replaced Tansit City with a subway that may cost us twice as much and may serve less people.

2. Rather then negotate with unions, ignored their request to meet. Instead he choose to run ramshot overthem. He got the TTC declaired an essetial serivce. Meanwhile offered a buy out package to 17 000 city employees which has proven unpopular.

3. During the Depostion hearing this past July, despite the fact 167 people speaking against the KPMG Report because it only focuses on cuts to social services and programs and fails to adiquately address the debt issue, they are mocked as "rabble razing socialists" who fail to listen to reason.

4. Is ready to take the Port Lands from Waterfront Toronto and turn it into a tacky version of Chicago's Waterfront by placing a mega mall and mono rail with out any clear idea how we are going to pay for it. They said private industry but so far not one company has stood up behind this new venture.

5. Putting his nose in both the Fed. and now Prov. Election by playing the role as Kingmaker of Toronto; yet, liuttle or no political support has come back our way. (Remember that meeting he had with Premier McGuinty regarding additional funding for the Sheppard subway? Ottawa has already came out saying that Ford over exaggerated 650 Million price tag that the province needed to put in).

6. Refuses to answer tough questions. Instead getting his Brother Councillor Doug Ford or Councillor Mammolliti to be his unoffical spokesperson instead.

Miller made some mistakes, but he was never as reckless like Mayor Ford. Based on his actions alone, Mayor Ford needs to be given a reality check. If he is not reminded of his duties as Mayor of Toronto, then we will all pay for the consequences of his actions. PERIOD.