Rob Ford boots last woman, Jaye Robinson, off executive committee
Mayor Rob Ford’s 13-member executive committee is now composed of 13 men.
Ford removed the committee’s last remaining woman, Councillor Jaye Robinson, in a Monday leadership shuffle in which he targeted two councillors who have challenged him over his apparent substance use.
Robinson, seen as a centrist, had publicly urged him to take a leave of absence to deal with an ongoing crack cocaine scandal. Ford also demoted Councillor Paul Ainslie, who angered Ford in March by confirming to the Star that the mayor was asked to leave a February military ball at which organizers were concerned that he was intoxicated.
It’s been three weeks since the Star revealed two reporters had seen a video of the mayor appearing to smoke crack cocaine and uttering a homophobic slur.
Robinson, who had been arguably the most liberal member of the executive, was ousted as chair of the community development and recreation committee. Ainslie, a staunch Ford ally in 2011 and 2012 who drifted noticeably in 2013, was ousted as chair of the government management committee and made the chair of the less powerful parks and environment committee.
Ford did not offer a reason for the moves. In a statement, he said, “These changes will help my administration continue delivering results for the taxpayers of Toronto.”
The executive is a powerful cabinet-like body that gets the first chance to vote on many major issues. A major city report on the casino issue, for example, was submitted to the executive for consideration, not council itself.
A record 15 women were elected to the 45-person council in 2010. Two of the three conservative women continue to serve in prominent positions for which Ford chose them: Frances Nunziata is the council speaker, Karen Stintz is the chair of the TTC.
But Ford has repeatedly castigated Stintz, and he has called his decision to appoint her a “mistake.” He has also criticized Gloria Lindsay Luby, a moderate conservative from Etobicoke. Michelle Berardinetti, a Liberal who had been allied with him, resigned from the executive late last year, citing what she said was excessive vote-whipping.
Ford appointed Councillor Norm Kelly, a loyal ally, as the new chair of the government management committee. He named Councillor Anthony Perruzza, a former NDP MPP, the new chair of the recreation committee — the first time he has given a leadership position to a left-leaning critic.