Last week the mayor was the only member of council to vote against accepting $100,000 from the provincial government to establish screening programs for syphilis and HIV. Here’s a quick look at how Ford has voted on other issues related to HIV/AIDs.
- August 25, 2010 – Ford is one of seven councillors to vote against a motion by Kyle Rae that saw the city endorse the Vienna Declaration. Rae submits a communication urging council to vote for the (largely symbolic) measure because “research shows that the criminalization of illicit drug users is fuelling the HIV epidemic.” Read the Council Minutes.
- July 6, 2010 – Ford is the lone dissenter in a 33-1 vote that saw the city approve $1,574,960 in funding for 40 programs recommended by the AIDS Prevention Community Investment Program Review Panel and $104,040 to Schools Without Borders “to enhance Toronto’s response to HIV/AIDS globally.” Read the Council Minutes.
- August 5, 2009 – Ford is one of four councillors to vote against a Board of Health recommendation that the city approve $1,544,080 in funding for 40 programs recommended by the AIDS Prevention Community Investment Program Review Panel and $102,000 to Schools Without Borders. Ford also makes a motion that loses 7-26 to “Receive this item for information.” Read the Council Minutes.
- June 6, 2008 – Ford is one of three councillors to vote against a Board of Health recommendation that the city approve $1,513,800 in funding for 47 programs recommended by the AIDS Prevention Community Investment Program Review Panel and $100,000 to Schools Without Borders. Ford also makes a motion that loses 3-23 to “Receive this item for information.” Read the Council Minutes.
- June 19, 2007 – Ford is one of five councillors to vote against a Board of Health recommendation that the city approve $1,513,800 to fund 45 programs as recommended by the AIDS Prevention Community Investment Program Review Panel and $100,000 to Schools Without Borders. Voting on this motion was done simultaneously with several other community grant programs. Ford made a motion that lost 5-20 to “receive this item for information.” Read the Council Minutes.
- May 23, 2006 – Ford is the sole councillor to vote against a motion by Kyle Rae, seconded by Pam McConnell, to put up three welcome banners over roadways for the 2006 International AIDS conference that was held in August 2006. The city did not require any extra funding to install these banners. The motion passed 32-1. Read the Council Minutes.
In fairness, Ford voted ‘no’ a lot. Far more than any other councillor. But his ideology wasn’t such that he mindlessly voted against every measure. The 2006 vote is particularly interesting because, as councillor, he tended to vote in favour of symbolic niceties – things like renaming arenas and streets and so forth.
Also of note: Rob Ford will be the mayor welcoming World Pride to Toronto in 2014.