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'The Red States, We're Going to Hit Hard': Canadian Politicians Vow to Make MAGA Pay for Trump's Trade War (www.commondreams.org)
submitted 1 month ago by to c/world@lemmy.world
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[–] 4 points 1 month ago* (3 children)

Comrade, I don't understand your comments. Are you saying these things to disagree with my reply here?

And where are you getting your information? I mentioned in another reply that I lived through the Ford years in Toronto. I don't know anything about you so maybe you did too, but your facts are wrong.

He was a hash dealer who inherited his father's printing company,

Yes, true.

which was built up on conflicted printing contracts with the City of Toronto,

I can't say I know first hand about the business before Rob and Doug were on City Council (it's a private company) but I wasn't aware of any accusations until 2011, after Doug Ford Senior's death.

where Dofo Sr was on city council.

Doug Ford Senor was never on City Council???

That led to conflict of interest guidelines.

You are thinking about Rob and Doug.

Doug Jr was elected to his father's seat because the lawn signs only had the name "Doug Ford" and the dimwits in Etobicoke thought they were electing his father.

Doug Ford Senior died in 2006. Doug Ford Junior didn't run until 2010. No denying that this part of Etobicoke loves the Fords and that name recognition isn't a huge part of their suggests.

Maybe this is helpful: Douglas Bruce Ford Sr. (b. 1933) had several sons including Douglas Robert Ford Jr. (b. 1964). His other son, Rob Ford has a son also named Doug Ford, but he is currently 18 so he has not run for office (yet?). You may be thinking of Micheal Ford, who is Kathy Ford's son. She is the daughter of Douglas Bruce Ford Sr. Micheal Ford was a school trustee and then a city council member, and was elected an MP in 2022 but he's on a leave of absence and will not run again.

It's not clear what Deco even was...as they opened a series of US branch offices that famously did no printing., but coincidentally were on the drug road from Florida to Toronto.

Is. The company is still in business. And what makes you say that? Its a private company so I'm not going to claim to know anything about their operations but they are incredibly well known in Etobicoke. Their manufacturing plant has signage along the highway and they were a common sponsor for local events and sports teams. I say were because I moved away about 5 years ago so idk if they still do that as much.

It's well known that Doug Holyday (who used the company) was an influence on Doug. I remember sitting in the now demolished Dundas Street Grill while Holyday was making the rounds during his 2013 campaign for MP just praying he wouldn't come talk to us. (He didn't lol).

Renata Ford's lawsuit against Doug indicated DECO was close to broke.

I don't know that you read the lawsuit correctly. The claim was that Doug and Randy improperly used a portion of their fathers estate that was intended to be held in trust to support their mother Dianne to sustain the businesses. When Dianne died, the remainder was to be split between the three sons (or their estates). Because the money was spent, when Diane died in 2020 there wasn't much coming to Rob's estate (Renata and her children). Them being incompetent is kind of secondary to the misuse of the funds.

There is a third Ford brother in the attic no one talks about... Randy.

Not sure why Randy (or Kathy if we are naming problematic Ford's) have to do with current events? I can assure you, people talked about Randy quite a bit when Rob was mayor.

Congrats on triggering my inability to let obviously incorrect info just sit there, I guess.

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  • [–] 2 points 1 month ago (2 children)

    Doug Ford Senior was MPP for Etobicoke Humber, 95-99. Voters in 2010 thought they were voting him into city council because of weak signage rules that were subsequently changed after this election, specifically because of this ruse.

    DECO was started by Doug Ford Sr and Ted Herriott. When Doug Ford was a Toronto city councillor, an integrity commissioner report censured him for "mixing business and politics," noting he used his influence to try to connect printing and business associates with municipal officials, this is carried over from His father's deals that built DECO. During COVID lockdown, millions of floor spacing decals were sold to Ontario institutions, with the strange lack of any indication who printed them. Of course, DECO worked with 3M Canada, the company who got the exclusive contract to print new license plates for Ontario in 2018, which could not be seen in the dark.

    Right after the Renata Ford lawsuit, DECO shut down all US branches, sold off Chicago to a company employed a VP who then went on to be involved in the Toronto lakefront "spa" deal, which of course, is secret to Ontario taxpayers.

    Adrian Ion—who previously worked as a finance director for Ares Management—later became the Chief Financial Officer (and executive) for Therme Group, the private company contracted to build the controversial mega-spa and waterpark at Ontario Place.

    The claim that DECO was a front for marijuana smuggling was in a 2014 Globe and Mail article. Note the sale of US branches of DECO started in 2018, with the legalization of cannabis in Canada.

    Fords were always corrupt with 23 division police, namely Inspector Ron Taverner.

    The Globe also tried to contact retired police officers who investigated drugs in the area at the time. One said he had no recollection of encountering the Fords. Another, whose name appeared on court documents in relation to allegations of assault and forcible confinement committed by Randy Ford, said he could not recall the incident. Several did not respond.

    Ford tried to appoint Ron Taverner head of OPP -he was strongly rejected because of Taverner's known history with corruption.

    [Doug Ford] frequently mentions the many sports teams that the Ford family business, Deco Labels and Tags, has sponsored over the years. Funny how you did the exact same thing. hmm.

    Randy's role at DECO with marijuana smuggling was covered in a second Globe and Mail article.. They also covered how DECO was almost broke under Doug and yet made a miraculous recovery after 2018.

    The Fords’ foray into New Jersey has been a drain on the company, former Deco employees with knowledge of the acquisition told The Globe and Mail. Wise Tag has not been turned around and Mr. Ford turned to his family for a cash infusion to keep it afloat, according to one source. Also, the son of Wise Tag’s former owner is suing Councillor Ford for $179,654.27 related to alleged unpaid loans, credit-card debt and compensation.

    confirmed by a police official with direct knowledge of the incident, a former Deco employee and a source close to the Fords – about two decades ago, police officers spotted Randy walking out of Deco holding a garbage bag in one hand and a weigh scale in the other. They suspected the bag was filled with marijuana. When Randy Ford spotted the officers, he ran into the office. The officers chased after him and wrestled him to the ground. But when they turned to collect the evidence, the bag was gone. Police believe someone disposed of it during the commotion.

    This is exactly why old Toronto families want nothing to do with the Fords.

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  • [–] 1 point 1 month ago

    Wow I hate myself so much but maybe someone reading this foolishness of mine can see how easily accessible municipal information is and that will help them in the future.

    Doug Ford Senior was MPP for Etobicoke Humber, 95-99. Voters in 2010 thought they were voting him into city council because of weak signage rules that were subsequently changed after this election, specifically because of this ruse.

    • The 2011 amendment to Chapter 629 was about advertising on the TTC (public transit).
    • The 2017 amendment to Chapter 629 had a few changes but nothing related to names. It added the concept of election signs that were "erected and displayed without the authorization, direction or involvement of a candidate". I didn't compare the 2011 and 2017 versions to get the specifics about changes to sections about where signs could be posted so I don't know if there were material changes or they were just updating the language to include the new definitions. The timing for when signs could be displayed changed. Here is an article about the changes

    The only rule about names in the current bylaw is that the name must be clearly visible and readable. Using just "FORD" is permissible.

    I do remember the Fords getting in to trouble about their signs (and I may have called bylaw a few times myself...) but in 2014 it was mostly about where they were placed in.

    In 2010 specifically Rob Ford was found to have broken spending rules related to his signs. , including loans from DECO. Maybe Doug did shit too but I can't find anything.

    Anyways, I wonder if you are thinking about Rob's first successful run in 2000? His dad was still alive at the time unlike in 2010. Doug Sr wasn't able to run in the 1999 election because the ridings got consolidated and someone else got the party nomination. Doug Sr was MP until June 1999 and the municipal election where Rob was elected Councilor was October 2000 so I could better understand if there were accusations about fooling voters at that time. Rob lost a 1997 election so it wasn't exactly like he came out of no where, but still.

    Or maybe the musical chairs of the 2014 election?

    • Rob registered to run as mayor, ended up running as councilor in Ward 2 as a result of his cancer diagnosis.
    • Michael Ford was running for councilor but switched to school board trustee so he wasn't running against Rob
    • I don't think Doug Jr was registered until he registered to run for mayor in his brothers place. He was the incumbent in Ward 2, but I guess the idea was for Michael to take over.

    That makes more sense with the focus on signage. Jonathan Kay touched on that in an article. Lol yes, that Jonathan Kay.

    Rob’s “Ford”-branded banners, T-shirts, bumper stickers and podium signs — those were all easily co-opted by Doug. And last week, more than 10,000 people showed up at “Ford Fest” — they didn’t have to change that name either — where they pledged their generic support for “Ford Nation” in the October 27 vote. No fewer than three Fords are up for election — Doug for Mayor, Rob for City Councillor and “Mikey” for school trustee.

    [Doug Ford] frequently mentions the many sports teams that the Ford family business, Deco Labels and Tags, has sponsored over the years. Funny how you did the exact same thing. hmm.

    Yeah, because I lived there and saw the logo everywhere? I don't understand what you are implying? You make it sound like I am defending him for some reason which is really odd to me? I brought it up because you said that "It’s not clear what Deco even was" and I guess sure having a factory and being involved in the community doesn't have anything to do with what the business was but it certainly wasn't trying to fly under the radar.

    I didn't say these people were upstanding citizens. I just think some of the info you posted is factually incorrect, and replied with corrections. If you think my facts are wrong I'm happy to hash that out but otherwise I don't know what you are looking for from me. I gotta stop wasting my time on unsourced statements.

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