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Sorry,thought reason for removal was obvious, its not notable to Ford's BLP what his sister's health condition was 15 years ago.
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*[http://robford.ca/expensedetails.asp Rob Ford's 2010 Council Expenses]
*[http://robford.ca/expensedetails.asp Rob Ford's 2010 Council Expenses]
*[http://www.eyeweekly.com/city/psycho%20geography/article/102880--ford-fest-was-fun Ford fest was fun] in ''Eye Weekly''
*[http://www.eyeweekly.com/city/psycho%20geography/article/102880--ford-fest-was-fun Ford fest was fun] in ''Eye Weekly''

<div class="NavFrame" style="clear: both; border:0px">{{TorMayors}}</div>


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Revision as of 18:21, 26 October 2010

Rob Ford
Mayor-elect of Toronto
Assuming office
December 1, 2010
SucceedingDavid Miller
Toronto City Councillor for (Ward 2) Etobicoke North
In office
November 14, 2000 – October 25, 2010
Preceded byElizabeth Brown
Succeeded byDoug Ford
Personal details
Born (1969-05-28) May 28, 1969 (age 55)
Etobicoke, Ontario
SpouseRenata
Children2
ResidenceToronto

Robert Bruce "Rob" Ford (born May 28, 1969) is the Mayor-elect of Toronto, Ontario. He was first elected to city council in the 2000 Toronto municipal election, and was re-elected to his council seat in 2003 and again in 2006. Shortly after 8:00 on election night in 2010, Ford was declared Mayor-elect of the City of Toronto.

Personal life

Ford is a lifelong resident of Toronto. He is the son of Doug Ford, who was a Member of Provincial Parliament. The Ford family runs a printing business. Ford studied political science at Carleton University but left two credits short of graduating in order to help his sister with personal problems.[1]

He resides in Etobicoke with his wife Renata and their daughter and son. Ford is a supporter, volunteer and/or member of the Salvation Army's Red Shield Appeal, Terry Fox Foundation, Heart and Stroke Foundation, Etobicoke Chamber of Commerce, Toronto Board of Trade and the Toronto West Rotary Club.[2]

Ford actively supports high school football programs in Toronto. He donated $20,000 to equip a football team at one high school and has started a foundation to fund teams at other struggling schools.[3]

Political views

In 2003, Ford supported increased funding for the TTC. He also supported the inquiry into the MFP scandal.[4]

He said, “If I was the chief, I would have moved in Saturday afternoon and cleaned house” about the 2010 G-20 Toronto summit protests. He also said, "I don't think there should be an inquiry or review... . I think our police force was too nice."[5]

City councillor

Ford was elected to Toronto City Council in 2000, when he defeated incumbent Elizabeth Brown.[2] He was re-elected in 2003 to his Etobicoke North seat, with 80 percent of the vote. In the 2006 election, he won again, this time with 66 percent of the vote.[6]

Ford has been a strong critic of the perks that are afforded to city politicians.[7] 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.[8] Ford has consistently filed an expense budget of $0 or close to it.[8] 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 even though this would likely entail Rob Ford paying himself for the use of his own printing facility.[9] As of November 27, Ford refused to comply with the city's policy.[10]

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."[11][12] At the May 25, 2009 Council meeting to discuss reducing Jarvis St. from five lanes of traffic to four, Ford called cyclists "a pain in the ass" for motorists.[13]

In May 2010, the city's integrity commissioner recommended that Ford be reprimanded for breaching confidentiality. In August 2009, he revealed the price of a residential sale on an AM 640 talk show that was still a confidential discussion. Commissioner Janet Leiper wrote in her report that "Ford failed to read the report, failed to check his assumption that the matter had been debated and could be revealed in public, and recklessly revealed confidential information to the public on the radio broadcast." The sale of the house was delayed a year due to Ford's indiscretion. This was the fourth time that Ford has violated council's code of conduct. In the previous minor breaches, Ford was not reprimanded.[14]

Ford brought the tax free status of councillors perks up for discussion at council and also brought it to the attention of Revenue Canada, which looked into the issue and found the perks should have been taxable. Ford, who has long spoken out against councillors' "perks," said the CRA is right to crack down on free passes for councillors. "All these perks, one right after the other. And I've tried to get rid of them at budget meetings and they just laugh at me," he said. "I think it's great that they're forcing us to show who's used [a pass], and how many times you've used it. And if you have used it, you have to pay taxes on it, 'cause it is an income." Mr. Ford said he has filed numerous complaints with the CRA, and, "finally, somebody up there's listening." [15] On April 30, 2010, Gary Webster, the TTC chief general manager said a Revenue Canada audit of the City of Toronto for 2006 and 2007 found they should have been paying taxes on their TTC pass freebie worth about $1,100 a year. Toronto city councillors have now been told to surrender their free Metropasses immediately or risk paying back taxes on them after the Canada Revenue Agency deemed them a taxable benefit. Happy with decision, Ford told the Toronto Star, "It took 10 years but, at the end of the day, councillors will have to pay to get on the bus like everyone else."[16]

Criticism and controversy

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.[17] Controversy erupted when several councillors reportedly heard Ford call Mammoliti "Gino boy" in the debate over the 2002 budget.[18] Mammoliti filed a complaint for the ethnic slur.[19] Mammoliti's son Michael filed his papers to run against Ford in the 2003 municipal election, but withdrew at the last moment.[20] 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.[21][22] In September 2010, Mammoliti endorsed Ford for Mayor.[23]

In 2002, Ford strenuously objected to the possibility that a homeless shelter would open in his suburban Etobicoke ward.[24][25] 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."[26] In 2005, Ford told a homeless protestor, "I'm working. Why don't you get a job?"[27]

In 2006, allegations arose of his conduct at a Toronto Maple Leafs game. Two audience members alleged Ford instigated a shouting match.[28] 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.[29] 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."[30] With respect to the increasing rates of women contracting the disease, Ford said; "How are women getting it? Maybe they are sleeping with bisexual men."[30]

Again sparking controversy in March 2008, during a debate at City Hall, Ford 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 drew criticism for those remarks from Mayor David Miller, budget chief Shelley Carroll and other councillors.[31][32]

In 1999, Ford was arrested in Miami for driving under the influence (DUI) and marijuana possession charges.[33] According to the statement recorded by the arresting officer, Ford was acting nervous, had blood shot eyes and had "a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage on his breath". Ford threw his hands up in the air and told the police officer, "Go ahead, take me to jail."[34] Until he was questioned by reporters,[35] Ford said that the marijuana charge had "completely, totally slipped my mind" because the more serious issue during that arrest was the DUI charge.[36] Ford initially denied the DUI charge, claiming instead he was arrested because he "refused to give a breath sample".[37]

Ford garnered controversy again in August 2010 after endorsing Pastor Wendell Brereton, who is running for city councillor in Ward 6. Pastor Brereton has suggested online that same-sex marriage could “dismantle” a “healthy democratic civilization.” Ford has said in regards to Pastor Brereton that “We’re together. We have the same thoughts." Ford also has noted that he supports traditional marriage, preferring that model to same-sex marriage. "I always have," he stated. "But if people want to, to each their own. I’m not worried about what people do in their private life. I look out for taxpayers’ money."[38][39]

Toronto mayoral election

Main article: Toronto mayoral election, 2010

Ford declared his candidacy for Mayor of Toronto in the 2010 election on March 26, 2010.[40] The Toronto Star's Royson James noted that Ford's was the most raucous, jubilant, and enthusiastic campaign launch of the 2010 Toronto mayoralty race. Councillor Mike Del Grande says of Ford: "He’s very popular with ‘Joe Public.’ He’s definitely a contender, not a wild card."[41] At the campaign kickoff meeting, Ford laid out his platform, organized into four main themes: "putting people and families first, focusing on the fundamentals, reducing waste and eliminating unnecessary taxes." Among his campaign promises, he said that he would repeal the vehicle registration and land transfer taxes implemented by current mayor, David Miller, and make the Toronto Transit Commission an essential service. He said there was "enough fat and inefficiency to slash costs while dramatically improving customer service." He also said he would work to cut the number of councillors on city council by half.[40]

In describing Ford’s vision for Toronto, the candidate said: "It’s going to be spotless. You go downtown now, you see all the graffiti — you aren’t going to have any graffiti there." Ford promised to improve services for residents of the city's low-cost housing, as he has done in his own ward,[citation needed] and to help bring homeless people in off the streets. He said "We’re going to help the people you see laying on the streets. A lot of them are drug addicts or alcoholics."[42]

On May 6, 2010, Ford fired a worker on his campaign team for sending a twitter message. The tweet attacked fellow mayoral candidate George Smitherman over recent comments about AIDS. The message read "Smitherman should spend less time attacking Ford for telling truth about AIDS, more time coming up with actual policies." The message relates to an earlier statement Ford made in council about AIDS sufferers.[43]

On August 17, 2010, The National Post reported that a computer user inside the Toronto Star company made edits to this Wikipedia page that Ford's campaign considered "very serious libel" and copyright infringement. Bob Hepburn, a Toronto Star spokesman, denied responsibility for the edits. "The Toronto Star owns a couple of these IP portals and they come under Toronto Star Newspapers Limited, which is a broader thing. The Toronto Star itself has a separate portal," said Hepburn.[44]

On August 26, 2010, the Toronto Star reported that an E-mail enquiry from a prospective voter was answered through the mechanism of a computerised form letter, and when filling out the form letter, someone apparently forgot to replace a bolded entry field in the second paragraph of the letter reading "Insert vague response on policy".[45][46]

On October 12, Ford was served with papers suing him for $6 million for comments he made during the election campaign. This was in regards to a sole sourced contract signed by city council giving the owners of the Boardwalk Pub a 20 year lease extension to run the restaurant which is in Ashbridges Bay Park in the city's east end. On July 29, Ford was asked about the deal on a radio interview. He said "I truly believe they are, and that’s my personal opinion, and when I see all these donations, going through campaigns, it stinks to high heaven, we tried to re-open it, and they wouldn’t re-open it." On August 12, Ford was quoted as saying the deal "smacks of civic corruption." The owner, George Foulidis, said that he gave Ford a chance to apologize for the remarks but Ford refused to do so. Foulidis said he had no choice but to launch the lawsuit.[47]

A Nanos Research poll, published on September 19, 2010, showed Ford doubling his lead from 12% to 24.5% over second-place candidate Smitherman (45.8% to 21.3% of decided voters).[48] The Nanos Research Poll asked 1021 "likely voters" from September 14 and 16 with Rob Ford receiving 34.4% of likely voters, Smitherman 16%, Joe Pantalone 12% and undecided voters at 25%.[49] A Global News Ipsos-Reid poll released Monday, September 27 showed Ford's lead diminishing at 28 per cent, with George Smitherman at 23 per cent, Joe Pantalone at 10 per cent, and Rocco Rossi and Sarah Thomson (who dropped from the race on September 28) at seven per cent each.[50][51] On October 22nd., an EKOS Research Poll found Ford with an 8 per cent lead over second place Smitherman in decided voters; 43.9% to 35.6%.[52]

References

  1. ^ Diebel, Linda. Rob Ford’s complicated life. The Toronto Star. April 23, 2010.
  2. ^ a b "Toronto city councillors, Rob Ford". City of Toronto, Accessing City Hall. 2007. Retrieved 2007-04-26.
  3. ^ Grossman, David (2009-09-13). "Rob Ford a team player to schools". Toronto Star.
  4. ^ "10 Worst Councillors". NOW Magazine. 2003-07-03.
  5. ^ Bilton, Chris (2010-07-07). "Beware the unmuzzled Rob Ford". Eye Weekly.
  6. ^ Grant, Kelly (25 March 2010). "Right-winger Ford really a social liberal, brother says", The Globe and Mail, p. A12.
  7. ^ "Councillor Blames Politicians' Perks For Your Tax Hike". City News. 2007-04-24.
  8. ^ a b Vincent, Donovan (2007-03-19). "Who are big spenders at city hall?". Toronto Star.
  9. ^ Griffiths, Jeff (2007-11-08). "Councillors Office Expenses – Councillor Ford and Councillor Holyday" (PDF).
  10. ^ Vincent, Donovan (2007-11-27). "Reveal expenses, Ford told". The Toronto Star.
  11. ^ Byers, Jim (2007-03-08). "City decays as debt climbs". Toronto Star. Retrieved 2007-04-26. I can't support bike lanes... {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  12. ^ "Recording of Toronto council session during which Rob Ford comments on cyclists". 2010-08-03. Retrieved 2010-09-24.
  13. ^ Hume, Christopher (May 26, 2009). "One small lane for mankind". The Star. Toronto. Retrieved May 22, 2010.
  14. ^ Grant, Kelly (2010-05-08). "Reprimand Ford for confidentiality breach, integrity commissioner says". Globe and Mail. Retrieved 2010-05-08.
  15. ^ "Ottawa's attempt to tax councillors' perks, expense budgets rejected by city".
  16. ^ Rider, David (2010-04-30). "Councillors ordered to return free transit passes". Toronto Star.
  17. ^ Cowan, James. Ford is known for his outbursts. National Post. February 28, 2003 p. A11
  18. ^ Wanagas, Don. "Sorry, Wrong Number". Toronto NOW online edition. Retrieved 2007-04-26. ...hardcore Conservative Ford allegedly called neo-Liberal Mammoliti a 'Gino boy'...
  19. ^ Lu, Vanessa. City hall verbal scuffle is over. Toronto Star, 15 April 2003, p. B02 The city spent $30,000 investigating Mammoliti's complaint.
  20. ^ No Byline. Ford hopes new team has 'right' stuff. The Toronto Star. October 13, 2003, p. B02
  21. ^ No Byline. Childish behaviour. Toronto Star. March 1, 2003, p.E06
  22. ^ "Recording of March 2003 council session". 2010-09-21. Retrieved 2010-09-24.
  23. ^ ". Mammoliti endorses Ford for mayor". 2010-09-22. Retrieved 2010-10-01.
  24. ^ "Not in My Ward". Toronto NOW online edition. Retrieved 2007-04-26. This is an insult to my constituents to even think about having a homeless shelter in their ward...
  25. ^ "Recording of Toronto council session during which Rob Ford comments on preferring a "public lynching" to having a public meeting to discuss a homeless shelter in his ward". 2010-08-09. Retrieved 2010-09-25.
  26. ^ Moloney, Paul. Councillors to activists: Get a job --- Noisy expulsion follows protest over housing sale. Toronto Star. October 30, 2002, p. B04
  27. ^ Porter, Catherine. Protestors storm council; OCAP denounces homeless plan Clarke shouts, Miller leaves. Toronto Star February 2, 2005 p. B03
  28. ^ James, Royson. Ford can forget his mayoral dreams. He was on private time, Ford says. Toronto Star. May 3, 2006. B05. Ford's statements include, "You right-wing communist bastards," and "My sister was a heroin addict and was shot in the head."
  29. ^ "Ford admits lying to media about drunken outburst". CBC News, Toronto. 2006-05-03. Retrieved 2007-04-26. I reflected on it last night, and talked to my family. I came forward and admitted (that I lied to the media about not being at the game). That's all I can do. I mean, I'm not perfect
  30. ^ a b "Councillor Rob Ford Under Fire Over AIDS Comments". CHUM Television, CityNews, Toronto. 2006-06-29. Retrieved 2007-04-26.
  31. ^ Lu, Vanessa (2008-03-06). "Ford rebuked for Asian comments". Toronto Star. Retrieved 2008-03-06.
  32. ^ Gray, Jeff (2008-03-06). "Ford draws rebuke, saying Oriental people are taking over". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 2008-03-06.
  33. ^ Dempsey, Amy (2010-08-19). "'Go ahead take me to jail,' Ford told police". Toronto Star. Retrieved 2010-08-19.
  34. ^ http://www.scribd.com/doc/36132032/Rob-Ford-Arrest-Report
  35. ^ Jenkins, Jonathan (2010-08-18). "Ford dodges pot bust in Florida". Toronto Sun. Retrieved 2010-08-19.
  36. ^ Grant, Kelly (2010-08-19). "Ford forgot marijuana charge, confuses impaired driving charge". Globe and Mail. Retrieved 2010-08-19.
  37. ^ Lamberti, Rob (2010-08-19). "'Go ahead, take me to jail': Ford during 1999 arrest". Toronto Sun. Retrieved 2010-08-19.
  38. ^ Grant, Kelly (2010-08-05). "'Ford's endorsement of pastor for council stokes fear among gays'". Globe and Mail. Retrieved 2010-09-25.
  39. ^ Alcoba, Natalie (2010-08-04). "'Fundamentalist pastor drops out of mayoral race, endorses Rob Ford'". National Post. Retrieved 2010-09-25.
  40. ^ a b David Rider. Rob Ford kicks off mayoral campaign. Toronto Star. March 26, 2010. [1]
  41. ^ Royson James. Rob Ford proves popular at mayoral campaign launch. Toronto Star March 29, 2010.[2]
  42. ^ David Rider. Rob Ford's bid for mayor will tilt campaign to the right. Toronto Star. March 22, 2010 [3]
  43. ^ Rider, David (2010-05-06). "Ford punishes campaign worker for Twitter message". Toronto Star.
  44. ^ Alcoba, Natalie (2010-08-17). "Computer inside Toronto Star company edited Rob Ford's Wikipedia entry". National Post.
  45. ^ "Yours vaguely, Rob Ford". Toronto Star. 2010-08-26. Retrieved 2010-08-31.
  46. ^ "Rob Ford issues "vague" policy response: Toronto mayoral frontrunner slips up yet again". Macleans. 2010-08-27. Retrieved 2010-09-04.
  47. ^ Ford sued for $6 million by Boardwalk Pub owner Toronto Star. October 12, 2010.
  48. ^ "Rob Ford opens huge lead in mayor's race". Toronto Star. 2010-09-19.
  49. ^ "Ford holds commanding lead in Toronto Mayoral race" (PDF). Nanos Research. 2010-09-21.
  50. ^ "Frontrunner Rob Ford losing steam in Toronto mayoral race: poll". The Globe and Mail. 2010-09-28. Retrieved 2010-09-28.
  51. ^ "Contest grows tighter as Thomson drops out, endorses Smitherman". The Globe and Mail. 2010-09-29. Retrieved 2010-09-29.
  52. ^ ".Ford back in driver's seat, poll says". The Toronto Sun. 2010-10-22. Retrieved 2010-10-23.

External links

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