Councillor Doug Ford promises two or more FordFests this summer.Mark Blinch/The Globe and Mail
The Toronto father of a man with autism has filed a complaint with the integrity commissioner against Councillor Doug Ford for his comments about people with developmental disabilities.
Tommy Lenathen's complaint alleges Councillor Ford breached the council code of conduct in his May comments that an Etobicoke neighbourhood had been "ruined" by a residential home for developmentally disabled youth.
In his letter to Ms. Leiper, Mr. Lenathen asks that Councillor Ford resign his seat from council, as well as seek sensitivity training and apologize to the staff at the residential home.
"They're not bad like he says. They're not wild in the neighbourhood," Mr. Lenathen said of people with developmental disabilities.
"It's unfair to the kids and the young professionals who are certified to train these kids. For him to go out and yell at them and say they're taking down property values…it's totally unfair."
Mr. Lenathen, a city worker who has held leadership roles within local CUPE unions, said his complaint is personally – not politically – driven. "I'm a dad of an autistic kid against Doug Ford who doesn't have autistic children. He doesn't know what he's talking about."
In May, Mr. Ford responded to criticism of his remarks saying that most people don't want such residential homes in their communities. "It's not the fault of the youth that's in there, it's the system's fault. We need to find a proper location that they have the freedom to do what they do and the help that they need."
Ann Hui