David Soknacki claims Fords used city resources for mayoral campaign

David Soknacki may have dropped out of the race, but he's still criticizing Toronto's current mayor and his brother.

Back in September, the former city councillor claimed to have proof Rob Ford was using city resources for campaign purposes. Soknacki's campaign said it filed an Access to Information request to obtain documents to back its claim.

Soknacki released the documents — hundreds of pages divided among seven files — on Friday.

"The attached files show about a dozen instances of the mayor's office and now mayoral candidate Doug Ford using public resources for campaigning," Soknacki said in a statement. Coun. Doug Ford is now running in Rob Ford's place, following the latter's diagnosis with cancer. 

"Examples include the referral of campaign volunteers and projects to the mayor's staff and Councillor Ford's office, acknowledgement that the Ford Nation YouTube project was an initiative of the mayor's office, and making arrangements for campaign events."

Among the examples: 

• An email (see below) from an unknown resident to Integrity Commissioner Janet Leiper complaining that the mayor was using official city email to promote his Ford Nation YouTube show. (File 2, pg. 242)
• An email between the mayor's chief of staff Dan Jacobs and a communications staffer discussing robocalls on Jan. 22. (File 2, pg. 125)
• An email in which the mayor's chief of staff says he doesn't handle campaign issues, but refers it to Coun. Doug Ford's office. (File 2, pg. 310)

While visiting a Toronto Community Housing complex on Friday, Doug Ford dismissed the claims, saying workers are available to help campaigns on their own time.

Rap battles, the White House and Playgirl 

Soknacki set out to prove the mayor was using his office for campaign purposes. And while there is some evidence to back up his claim, his release of schedules and memos from four staffers in the mayor's office revealed other items of interest, including: 

• The editor-in-chief of Playgirl magazine inquired on Jan. 13 about an interview with Mayor Ford. (File 2, pg. 58)
• The many media requests from Toronto outlets include one from the Chinese-language New Tang Dynasty Television Canada which explicitly says it will not ask about the mayor's personal issues.  (File 2, pg. 201)
• YouTube comedian Jus Reign tried to book a shoot with the mayor. (File 2, pg. 388)
• The mayor's office turned down a free wine tasting from a U.S.-based company looking for some free publicity. (File 2, pg. 275)
• Toronto news station CP24 sent a stern email after magician David Blaine claimed he would be at the mayor's office, then didn't show up. (File 2, pg. 368)
• Mayor Ford's office turned down an invitation to the White House Correspondents Dinner. (File 2, pg. 372)
• Mayor Ford wasn't known as someone who was in his office first thing in the morning. Between 8 a.m. and 11 a.m. most mornings is the generic entry “calls.” (File 1, pgs. 2-4)
• While most events on the calendar are gala openings one, on Jan. 24, was for the rap battle Blackout 4. (File 1, pg. 5) ​​

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