Stop free lunch for council: Ford
Note to city councillors, after Oct. 25 brown bag it to council meetings.
That's the message from mayoral frontrunner Rob Ford who sparked an angry speech on the council floor by Councillor Shelley Carroll Wednesday when his campaign snapped several photos of council's mid-afternoon buffet.
A Sun photographer also tried to capture the post-lunch lunch but was rebuffed by City Hall security.
"When I'm mayor that food is going," Ford vowed Wednesday. "It's like literally a gravy train … like pigs at a trough."
Ford's photo foray into the backroom buffet caught the attention of Carroll and Councillor Paula Fletcher who scolded him behind the scenes, he said.
But Carroll also took her anger out on Ford during the public meeting - accusing him of trying to derail the $7 million in staff work that went into the city's draft zoning bylaw– which council pass late Wednesday – while obsessing over a "snack" that costs council just $8,870 a year.
"He's prepared to leave you hanging and waste $7 million of professional expertise while he's out back - he's probably out there now getting a picture of the finished plate," Carroll told her fellow councillors.
Ford doubted the budget chief's figures.
"It's probably $8,000 per meeting," he said.
Every year Ford tries to eliminate the free food costs, including coffee and tea for councillors during meetings.
He says that cost is around $88,000 per year.
I have a feeling this is going to be a very interesting election. hopefully huge voter turnout.
I can't remember a time when there was so much pre election controversy
