More conflict of interest allegations for Rob Ford

The mayor undoubtedly still has vivid memories of the time a court almost booted him from office on conflict of interest charges, and yet here we are again. The Star reports that both Rob Ford and his brother, councillor Doug Ford, voted on a matter related to a program that allows companies to pay the city to treat their wastewater for them. The problem is that the Ford family business, Deco Labels and Tags, participates in the program. This means that the Fords’ votes, which were against making changes that would have shifted more of the financial burden of water treatment onto businesses, could therefore have benefitted them financially. With a few exceptions, when a member of council votes on something that affects his or her own bottom line, it’s a legal violation, punishable by removal from office. For that to happen, though, someone would have to sue the Fords—and win the case before the election cycle sweeps one or both of them from office organically.