Toronto bylaw officers will be monitoring the festivities at Thompson Memorial Park in Scarborough tonight as the annual Ford Fest kicks off.

The city issued a permit to Mayor Rob Ford and his Councillor brother Doug to hold a party at the park tonight over the objections of Ford’s mayoral opponents.

Both Olivia Chow and John Tory have complained the party is a blatant campaign event.

The Fords deny that’s the case, saying they’ve held the event annually for years. But the city has received dozens of complaints about granting the permit for the park. So bylaw officers will be on hand to make sure the Fords do not use the occasion to promote the Mayor’s re-election bid.

During the last election, the Fords claimed the costs as a campaign expense. And the mayor’s robocall invitation to the event concluded with a call for support.