Rob Ford wins top priority motion


 Posted on April 5th, 2013

Rob Ford’s failures are easy pickings; they’re numerous and obvious. But every once in awhile, he also registers a victory which would be incredibly disingenuous of me not to mention.

Like yesterday’s vote, for example.

That Council item, made a top “priority” by Rob Ford, centered around the food concessions in the currently-under-renovation Nathan Phillips Square. Up until recently, those consisted of chips, chocolate, and fizzy drinks offered while the skating rink had blades on it. The rest of the time, the place was shuttered and the only place to grab a bite was at one of the food trucks parked on Queen Street.

But yesterday, led by Ford, Council flipped on a previous decision to not allow a local food chain to move in, and essentially greenlighted Hero Burgers for the location.

I need to point out that I have nothing against Hero Burgers. After Big Smoke and Gourmet, Hero is easily my third choice for tasty burgers (within walking distance). So I don’t have any issues with another Hero location opening up in front of City Hall. But it is interesting to point out the context…

Rob Ford made fatty fast food a top priority and managed to shove it down the City’s throat in record time. His push for subways was, and continues to be, a dismal failure. His repeated “guarantees” to remove or reduce the Land Transfer Tax are a lesson in how not to get things done. His constant threats to sic “Ford Nation” on various politicians is more or less a joke. And so on.

But let’s give credit where it’s due: when it comes to accessibility to greasy foods, you can expect Rob’s full support, undivided attention, and unrelenting determination. Rob also works tirelessly in other areas, like helping homeless Torontonians with a few temporary beds — and by that I mean being the sole dissenting vote against the simple, humanitarian measure.

4 Comments on “ Rob Ford wins top priority motion ”

  • Daniel J. Christie
    April 5th, 2013 5:31 pm

    A burger joint. On Nathan Philips Square. This is a ‘priority’? This picayune little detail would never have appeared on any other Mayor’s radar. It’s a Less Than Zero issue, a nothing. Then, flushed with the success of a nine-year old he celebrates by hiring his former football coach as his ‘logistics’ co-ordinator. Nary a day goes by. Nary a day….


  • Daniel J. Christie
    April 5th, 2013 8:03 pm

    Unless…..Hero Burgers is where the “thousands of jobs” generated by the Chicago junket will be headquartered. Wow, that’d be an awful lot of burgers being flipped, wouldn’t it?


  • Patrick
    April 5th, 2013 8:48 pm

    Well, Daniel, Ford’s diet pretty much guarantees that the requisite number of burgers will be flipped, resultant jobs created, etc. Add to this additional food orders (other than Ford), and this promises to be an extremely successful venture!


  • Daniel J. Christie
    April 6th, 2013 1:58 pm

    The bragging begins at 1PM Sunday. CFRB1010. The Mayor&The Spare Show moderated by Francis ‘Perfectly Frank’ Nunziatta.