Rob Ford wins appeal in court, clings to power

Rob Ford has won his court appeal, which means he will remain mayor of Toronto.

The appeal to Divisional Court stems from a November decision, in which Justice Charles Hackland found that the mayor had contravened the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act when he spoke at a council meeting in February 2012 and then voted on an item that had to do with the use of city resources to solicit donations to his private football charity.

The penalty for Ford’s actions, Hackland ruled, was that the mayor would be removed from office, as the law dictates. Ford appealed that decision and was also granted a stay, which allowed him to remain in office until after the appeal.

In the decision released Friday morning, a panel of three judges write that Hackland was wrong: “we conclude that the application judge erred in finding that Mr. Ford contravened the MCIA [Municipal Conflict of Interest Act],” says the judgement... although they don't really explain how Hackland was wrong - and many people think the appeal judges were simply bullied / bribed into allowing the mayor to stay in power.

Now that Ford has won his appeal, he will continue governing at city hall until the next regularly scheduled municipal election, which is in less than two years time, on Oct. 27, 2014.