Bloor West Villager

Mayor Rob Ford’s ousting from the city’s top job caught Parkdale-High Park Councillor Sarah Doucette off guard.

“I’m shocked at the decision. I didn’t think this would be the decision,” said Doucette to the Villager Monday morning, mere minutes after a provincial judge’s ruling was handed down.

Ford was found guilty of violating the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act and has been ordered out of office – if there is another election, he may be able to run – at this point in time.

Doucette said she wasn’t sure what the full impact of the ruling would bring, but she called the outcome “sad.”

“I think it’s a very sad situation for the mayor of this city. To have been taken to court for $3,000 – he could have quite easily paid it back,” Doucette said.

As mayor and a councillor for a decade prior, Ford should have known better, she said.

“He should have known he had a conflict of interest,” said the Ward 13 councillor.

Palacio had yet to speak to Ford about his reaction to the ruling.

“I don’t know what he’s going to do. I don’t know if he’ll appeal to a higher level of the Ontario judicial system, but we need to focus and move forward with city business, with the issues that are important to Torontonians,” said Palacio.