Rob Ford

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Rob Ford (born 1969^[1]) is a city councillor in Toronto, Canada representing one of the two Etobicoke North wards, Ward 2. He was first elected to city council in the 2000 Toronto municipal election when he defeated incumbent Elizabeth Brown.^[2]

[edit] Personal life

Ford is a lifelong resident of Toronto. He is the son of Doug Ford a former Member of Provincial Parliament. His family runs a printing business. He volunteers as a football coach for Don Bosco Catholic Secondary School and manages a local summer football league. He resides in Etobicoke with his wife Renata and their daughter and son.^[2]

On March 26, 2008, Ford was arrested by Toronto police and charged with assault and threatening death. He was released on his own recognizance and will appear in court on April 28, 2008.^[3] On May 21, the charges against Ford were withdrawn. The Crown attorney said "there was no reasonable prospect of conviction". She indicated that the allegations by his wife raised some "credibility issues" due to inconsistencies in her statements. Ford said that he is glad the ordeal was over. He also said that he and his wife have sought marital counselling.^[4]

[edit] Political ideals

He is an advocate for deep spending cuts. Ford was one of the council's supporters of Mike Harris. He backed Jim Flaherty in the 2002 Ontario Progressive Conservative leadership election, displaying a sign supporting Flaherty in the window of his office at Toronto City Hall.

While espousing conservative ideals, Ford's voting record has occasionally been progressive. In 2003, he supported increased funding for the TTC. He also supported the inquiry into the MFP scandal.^[5]

[edit] As a city councillor

Ford and fellow councillor Giorgio Mammoliti, who occupies a neighbouring ward, have often scrapped with each other and these exchanges have made headlines in local newspapers.^[6] Controversy erupted when several councillors reportedly heard Ford call Mammoliti "Gino boy" in the debate over the 2002 budget.^[7] Mammoliti filed a complaint for the ethnic slur.^[8] Mammoliti's son Michael filed his papers to run against Ford in the 2003 municipal election but withdrew at the last moment.^[9] In March 2003, in a debate over the budget of the Toronto Zoo, Ford called Mammoliti, who chairs the zoo board, a "snake" and a "weasel" in council.^[10]

In 2002, Ford strenuously objected to the possibility that a homeless shelter would open in his suburban Etobicoke ward.^[11] Later in the same year he was quoted while berating an anti-poverty activist, "Do you have a job, sir? I'll give you a newspaper to find a job, like everyone else has to do between 9 and 5."^[12] In 2005, Ford told a homeless protestor, "I'm working. Why don't you get a job?"^[13]

In 2006, allegations arose of his loud, unsociable conduct at a Toronto Maple Leafs game. Two audience members alleged Ford instigated a shouting match.^[14] Security at the Air Canada Centre later ejected Ford from the venue. Initially, Ford denied involvement, claiming mistaken identity. The following day, Ford confirmed the allegations and announced his apology to the couple.^[15] He cited "personal problems" as a reason for his behaviour.

Further controversy erupted in a Toronto City Council session when Ford argued against the city spending $1.5 million on AIDS prevention programs. Ford stated that "(AIDS) is very preventable," and that "if you are not doing needles and you are not gay, you wouldn't get AIDS probably, that's bottom line."^[16] When given the opportunity to retract his statement, Ford instead replied with respect to the increasing rates of women contracting the disease saying, "How are women getting it? Maybe they are sleeping with bisexual men."^[16]

Ford has been a strong critic of the perks that are afforded to city politicians.^[17] He regularly proposed motions to cut back such spending. All of his proposed cutbacks have been defeated. He has also made headlines by claiming the least amount of money budgeted for councillor office expenses.^[18] Ford has consistently filed an expense budget of $0 or close to it. As of 2007, councillors are allowed a maximum office budget of $53,100. In November, 2007, Ford was investigated by the city's integrity commissioner over his spending habits. In a report to the Executive Committee, the commissioner concluded that Ford had failed to report office expenses that he had paid for out of his own pocket. He also printed flyers at his family's printing business for distribution to his constituents, again at his own expense. City policy requires that these expenses must be paid through the councillor's budget rather than with personal funds.^[19] As of November 27, Ford refused to comply with the city's policy.^[20]

In March 2007, Ford opposed providing city funds to build bicycle lanes on roads. During the 2007 city budget debate, he said, "I can't support bike lanes. Roads are built for buses, cars, and trucks. My heart bleeds when someone gets killed, but it's their own fault at the end of the day."^[21]

Again sparking controversy in March 2008, during a debate at City Hall, Ford had made stereotypes of East Asians. He said "Those Oriental people work like dogs. They work their hearts out ... that's why they're successful in life. ... I'm telling you, Oriental people, they're slowly taking over, because there's no excuses for them. They're hard, hard workers." He has drawn criticism from Mayor David Miller, councillors, and budget chief Shelley Carroll.^[22][23]

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Rob Ford profile on City of Toronto website
• Rob Ford's personal website