Millionaires Doug and Rob Ford are “dead against” city councillors getting any kind of pay increase

Doug Ford says he and the mayor won’t be accepting a pay raise in 2012, ostensibly an act of selfless devotion to protecting the public purse—or, you know, another self-promotional stunt by a wealthy businessman. Technically, the minor pay hike is actually a cost-of-living increase, but Doug told the Toronto Sun he couldn’t wait to see which of his colleagues rides the gravy train all the same. Of course, Ford already donates his salary to charity (a solid gesture, no doubt). But we still find it a little rich for a pair of millionaires to be taking a stand over what’s essentially pennies to them. Read the entire story [Toronto Sun] »
How much will the millionaires, Rob & Doug Ford, get in salary, bonuses, dividends, options, expenses, etc. from their label company? Its a private company, so we will not know.
Robbie should take his increase. He’s going to need it to pay the $6 mil he’ll owe when he loses the Boardwalk Pub lawsuit. He could also use it to pay back the illegally obtained donations to his little football team, as he has been ordered to by the Integrity Commissioner. Ford, of course, is thumbing his nose at that one.
It’s all consistent with the Ford brothers’ populist stances that breed ignorance. Fair pay raises provide a decent wage that will attract a wide variety of citizens to see the tough job of city councillor as a viable living to support a family. We don’t expect our councillors to be moonlighting just to make a living when their attention should be focused on the city’s issues. We’re not talking 6-figure sums or exorbitant packages. Just a salary that is commensurate to the position. Millionaires with daddy’s business as a silver spoon up their butts need not be the only ones to apply.
A year later – he won the case.