Garforth fires broadsides at City councillors, media 'fools'

Philip Garforth made a surprise appearance at Sault Ste. Marie City Council tonight, lashing out at some councillors for what he considered misleading statements and berating local Internet journalists as "fools" whom he plans to sue and bar from his Borealis project.

The Borealis/Gateway developer wasn't on the agenda for tonight's meeting.

But Mayor John Rowswell accommodated him immediately after the developer entered the council chambers, cutting off representatives from Batchewana First Nation as they were about to begin a presentation.

"I only got invited here at 10 a.m.," Garforth said.

"We heard you were coming and we thought it was time we talked," the mayor responded.

Garforth said he was there to dispel negative rumours, to assure councillors and the people of Sault Ste. Marie that his project is on schedule and moving ahead, and that it has financial backing.

"I want to assure everyone that the project is on track," Garforth said. "Bankers are sending in confirmation of all the financing. I've requested them to do that this morning because of the swirling rumours.... So, the project is on track and you're going to be getting confirmation from the bankers."

The mayor told Garforth that the City needs to have his final foundation plan as soon as possible so it can move forward with an environmental assessment on the site that's specific to its planned development.

He then opened the floor to councillor questions.

Ward One Councillor James Caicco got things off to a rocky start by asking whether the City had received confirmation of funding for the project from Garforth, Legacy Quest, or any of the other partners involved in the project.

"There seems to be a bit of communications problem," said Caicco. "We had asked for a confirmation of financing a while ago."

Garforth responded by loudly advising Caicco that there's nothing wrong with communication from his end.

"You've never asked me for anything," said Garforth. "You've got to stop making these kind of comments in public."

"If there is a problem with communication, it is in this room," said Garforth.

The mayor cautioned Garforth to answer council's questions and said he felt the question was valid and fair.

Caicco rephrased his question and directed it to staff and Garforth, asking whether the City had received written confirmation that funding for Borealis/Gateway was in place.

"I, along with the rest of Council, have been very patient and supportive," Caicco said. "I thought we had already asked for a financial statement, did we not?"

Garforth said a letter confirming that has been sent to the City.

Ward One Councillor Steve Butland then asked where that letter was.

"I've seen something to that effect cross my desk some time recently," said Rowswell. "But I believe [Economic Development Corporation President and CEO Bruce Strapp] may know more about this since he has been dealing with Philip on an almost-daily basis."

Garforth broke in at that point, telling Butland: "you are one of the people who always has a lot of questions but never calls me."

He said that independent and reputable firms such as KPMG and Deloitte & Touche have done their due diligence on Garforth and on his project with good results.

Bruce Strapp said that a letter has been received from Garforth's bank, saying that funds have been secured for the project in the amount of $55 million but there is no indication that those funds will be released to Philip Garforth.

"It is my understanding that a letter to this effect is on its way," Strapp said. "This is being addressed."

The mayor asked Butland if he had any more questions.

"I'd like to ask a lot of questions but it's like walking on eggshells," Butland said. "Would you be comfortable to come before council every two weeks to update us?"

Garforth said he was there to make sure the project gets done, that he now has a home in Sault Ste. Marie and just bought a brand-new Volkswagen here in town.

He said he'd be happy to come to council every few weeks for updates if councillors want that.

These people are fools. They're doing nothing to help this city

Earlier in his presentation, Garforth also accused two local Internet companies of attempting to discredit him and said he has consulted legal advisors and will be launching suits against them.

"One thing I have to touch on that is really upsetting me," the developer said. "It's like a bee that's flying around my head."

"It's really annoying. There is a couple of Internet companies that are making it their business to try and discredit me and in this town.

"It's very, very unprofessional and there is no basis for their claims and I'm really fed up with it. I have been in consult with my legal counsel and had them approach them and see exactly what is going on.

"This project is going ahead. This council knows that I've been checked out left right and centre by two accounting firms and I don't need some Internet company that probably works out of their basement trying to discredit me and trying to discredit this council too.

"I want to go on record, and I hope that media.... hears that these people are fools. They're doing nothing to help this city. They're doing nothing to help this project and these personal attacks against me have got to stop.

"I've had enough and I'm taking the action against them. Don't listen to these people, they never check out anything. They're irresponsible and don't listen to them.

"If anybody in this council wants to know anything, they can call me. My door is always open. You don't have to deal with me through stupid Internet companies and you don't have to deal with me through the media.

"I'm here to get this project going. I'm here until October and if anybody in this room, including the media, wants to talk to me, they can talk to me directly.

"As far as the two Internet companies that keep discrediting me, I don't want anything to do with them. I don't want them on my project when it's open. I don't want them anywhere near me."

Garforth did not identify the Internet companies he was referring to.

SooToday.com News has received no complaints or inquiries from his legal counsel.

Garforth said tonight that he's just returned from spending a week in England at the bio-domed Eden Project in Cornwall, England.

"At that project it was a cold rainy day and there were 2,000 people. I'm really excited. I learned a lot from Eden and they are going to give us a lot of help," he said.

"They're absolutely a fabulous organization and the knowledge that I gained from them is valuable and it's very exciting.

"They are going to be coming to Sault Ste. Marie in a little while to meet with me and give me some help. So, the project is on track and you're going to be getting confirmation from the bankers," he said.

Mayor Rowswell told Garforth tonight that the preliminary foundation plans must be in the hands of City staff before the next meeting of Council so that the City can complete its obligations and move forward with transferring the waterfront property for the project to Garforth's development company.

Garforth said construction of the project would begin in August if the land is transferred within the next eight weeks.