Sole-sourced contracts uncovered behind that Ford Ferris wheel

A report by Patrick White of the Globe and Mail has revealed that the city-owned Toronto Port Lands Company spent over $50,000 on a pair of sole-sourced architectural contracts relating to Councillor Doug Ford’s monorail and Ferris wheel dreams. While the Globe says a competitive bid wasn’t technically required for the smaller of the two contracts, the Fords are notorious for their hatred of sole sourcing (indeed, it was a centerpiece of Rob Ford’s election campaign). Of course, the attempt by the brothers Ford to seize control of waterfront development eventually collapsed under its own poor planning, so some might argue that the money went to waste. Still, it’s starting to look like some of the items on the Ford wish list might end up finding a home in the new waterfront plan. Just what lesson the rookie councillor will learn from all this is anybody’s guess. Read the entire story [Globe and Mail] »