Doug Ford

For his father, a former Ontario MPP, see Doug Ford Sr.

Doug Ford
Leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario
Incumbent
Assumed office March 10, 2018
Preceded by	Vic Fedeli (ad interim)
Toronto City Councillor
In office December 1, 2010 – November 30, 2014
Preceded by	Rob Ford
Succeeded by	Rob Ford
Constituency	Ward 2 Etobicoke North
Personal details
Born	Douglas Robert Ford Jr. (1964-11-20) November 20, 1964 Etobicoke, Ontario, Canada
Political party	Progressive Conservative
Other political affiliations	Independent (municipal) Conservative (federal)
Spouse	Karla Middlebrook
Relations	Doug Ford Sr. (father) Rob Ford (brother) Michael Ford (nephew)
Children	4 (including Krista)
Residence(s)	Humberwood, Ontario
Occupation	Businessperson, politician

Douglas Robert Ford Jr. (born November 20, 1964) is a Canadian businessman and politician serving as the 26th and current Leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario since March 10, 2018. He is the older brother of Rob Ford (1969–2016), the Mayor of Toronto from 2010 to 2014.

Ford was Toronto City Councillor for Ward 2 Etobicoke North from 2010 to 2014 at the same time that his brother, Rob Ford, was Mayor. Their father, Doug Ford Sr., co-founded Deco Labels and Tags, a printing business operating in Canada and the United States, and was a Member of Provincial Parliament from 1995 to 1999. The business is now owned by Doug Ford Jr. and his brother, Randy.

Ford ran for the 2014 Toronto mayoral election, where he placed second behind John Tory. In March 2018, Ford won the Ontario PC leadership race, in which he defeated Christine Elliott, Caroline Mulroney and Tanya Granic Allen. On March 27, 2018, Ford was acclaimed as the party's candidate in Etobicoke North.

Early life and career

Ford was born in Etobicoke, Ontario, Canada, the second of four children of Doug Ford Sr. and Ruth Diane (née Campbell). He attended Scarlett Heights Collegiate Institute.

In the 1990s, Ford became involved in the running of Deco Labels and Tags, a business co-founded by his father in 1962. The company makes pressure-sensitive labels for plastic-wrapped grocery products. Doug Jr became president of the company in 2002, and was responsible for the company's expansion into Chicago. Nearing his death, his father divided up the company leaving 40% to Doug Jr, 40% to Randy and 20% to Rob. In 2008, Doug Jr launched the purchase of Wise Tag and Label in New Jersey and fired Wise Tag's manager. Former Deco employees suggest that the company was well-managed under Doug Jr and that he was well-liked in Chicago, but that the company declined under Randy's leadership after Doug Jr entered politics in 2010. As of 2011, Ford and his mother were directors of the company, managed by his brother Randy.

Ford's first involvement in politics came when Doug Holyday approached Deco to print "For mayor" stickers for signs for his 1994 campaign for mayor of Etobicoke. Ford took it upon himself to canvass for Holyday. He then assisted in his father's campaigns as a PC candidate for MPP in 1995 and 1999.

Municipal politics

On October 25, 2010, Ford was elected as councillor to Toronto City Council in Ward 2. He succeeded his brother, Rob, who ran successfully for Mayor of Toronto. Upon election, Doug Ford announced that he would donate his $100,000 annual salary to community organizations.

Doug Ford in 2011

As a city councillor, Ford voted to privatize garbage pickup west on Yonge Street, declare the TTC an essential service, reduce the office budget of city councillors, and eliminate the vehicle registration tax.

Boards and agencies

While on city council, Ford served on the board of Build Toronto, an arms-length city body responsible for developing and selling city land. He was also a director of the Canadian National Exhibition, and served on the Budget Committee, the Civic Appointments Committee and the Government Management Committee at Council.

Ford was a member of the board of Toronto Transit Infrastructure Limited, a corporation set up to finance a Sheppard Avenue subway extension, which Council later cancelled. In 2011, Ford promoted an alternative plan for the Port Lands district of Toronto, including a monorail, a boat-in hotel, the world's largest Ferris wheel and a mega-mall. The plan was ridiculed in the media and council voted it down—including by members of the mayoral executive committee.

Other events while councillor

Ford caused controversy after revealing that his brother Rob would be served a subpoena if Rob's friend and driver Alexander Lisi went to court over charges of extortion. Ford commented that the subpoena was in "payback" of Toronto Police Chief Bill Blair not getting a contract renewal with the Toronto Police Service, saying "This is why we need a change at the top", in regards to Blair's contract. Blair filed a defamation lawsuit, demanding a written apology in exchange for dropping the suit. Ford apologized verbally and then later apologized and retracted the comments in writing.

An investigative report by The Globe and Mail published in May 2013 alleged that Ford sold hashish at James Gardens for several years in the 1980s, based on interviews with anonymous sources. Ford, who had never been charged with an offence, denied the allegations and accused the newspaper of unfairly targeting his brother, then-Mayor Rob Ford. The newspaper defended its report and its use of anonymous sources at an Ontario Press Council hearing, which dismissed complaints against the newspaper and found that its coverage was "fair and ethical". Ford said at the time that he planned to sue the newspaper for libel. When asked in a 2018 interview why he had not sued, he replied that he had decided a lawsuit would be a "waste of time".

Ford opposed proposed housing for autistic children in his ward, saying such homes had "ruined the community".

Aspirations for higher office and 2014 mayoral candidacy

In June 2013, Ford announced that he would not run for re-election as councillor in the next Toronto election, scheduled for 2014: "I won't be running next time, at least down here I won't be running, I'll be running away from this place in 16 months", expressing his frustration with municipal politics. It was speculated at the time that Ford may be a Progressive Conservative (PC) candidate for a future Ontario election, or interested in the leadership of the Progressive Conservatives. On February 20, 2014, after meeting with Progressive Conservative leader Tim Hudak, Ford announced that he would not be a candidate in the next provincial election, which was called for June 12, 2014, so that he could focus on his brother's re-election campaign. Ford added that he did intend to be a candidate in a subsequent provincial election, saying: "The timing right now just doesn't work."

After his brother Rob Ford entered drug rehab in May 2014, Doug Ford commented that he would not rule out running for mayor. Rob Ford returned from rehab and continued his campaign for mayor, but withdrew after he was diagnosed with an abdominal tumour and hospitalized. Doug Ford then entered the mayoral campaign in the last hour before the nomination deadline on September 12, 2014. Comments Ford made during the campaign received criticism for alleged bigotry, such as misogyny and antisemitism, and critics accused him of conflict of interest and of drug dealing in the past. Though voters viewed the brothers as having the same ideological stance and gave them similar levels of support, Rob's drug scandal received little attention with regard to Doug's campaign.

Ford's campaign got the attention of Last Week Tonight's John Oliver who closed an episode begging Torontonians to vote for Doug Ford for the world's amusement. Doug Ford maintained the support that Rob had in the polls, and made no significant ground against frontrunner John Tory, but maintained his lead over Olivia Chow. Ford lost the election to Tory, having 34% of the support compared to Tory's 40%. Ford's campaign was fined $11,950 for placing 478 illegal lawn signs during the campaign, including placing signs on the Don Valley Parkway, the Gardiner Expressway, and on civic buildings and parks.

Following his unsuccessful mayoral candidacy there was speculation that Ford would become a candidate for the leadership of the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario. Ford told reporters: "It's on the table, I would really consider it", and added: "Our campaign is ready to go. Our people are itching to get involved. We are miles ahead of the other candidates." On November 27, 2014, Ford announced that he would not be a candidate for the position and endorsed the candidacy of family friend Christine Elliott.

Integrity Commissioner ruling against Ford

In December 2016, the City of Toronto's integrity commissioner concluded that Ford broke the city's code of conduct when he was a councillor finding that Ford improperly used his influence in municipal matters pertaining to two companies that were clients of his family's company. Integrity Commissioner Valerie Jepson ruled that: "Councillor Ford took no steps to establish clear lines of separation between his responsibilities as a member of Council and his duties as a principal of Deco."

Since Ford was no longer a councillor by the time the ruling was issued, the commissioner did not recommend any sanctions for Ford.

2018 mayoral candidacy

File:Doug Ford Jr. on Political Blind Date with Jagmeet Singh.jpg

Doug Ford/Jagmeet Singh

On September 9, 2017, Ford announced at his family's annual barbecue that he would run for mayor of Toronto in the 2018 election. He said, "this one's for you, Robbie", referring to his younger brother Rob who had died the previous year. Ford said that his opponent, John Tory, was "all talk and broken promises". In an episode of the TVOntario series Political Blind Date which aired in November 2017, Ford was paired with then Ontario NDP MPP for Bramalea—Gore—Malton Jagmeet Singh. The pair explored different forms of transportation, with Singh taking Ford on a bicycle ride in downtown Toronto, and Ford driving Singh along the dedicated streetcar right-of-way on St. Clair Avenue. Ford said of the experience that the two became friends, and Singh said Ford was "very warm and friendly".

Ford announced on February 1, 2018, that he no longer planned to run for the Toronto mayoralty in 2018 because he intended to focus entirely on his campaign for PC leader.

Provincial politics

2018 Progressive Conservative leadership campaign

Ford for Leader

Candidate	Doug Ford
Affiliation	Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario
Status	Won
Headquarters	Toronto
Slogan	Strong Party, Strong Ontario
Website	fordforleader.ca

Following the sudden resignation of Patrick Brown, leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario, Ford announced on January 29, 2018, that he would seek the leadership of the party ahead of the 2018 Ontario general election. On January 31, 2018, Ford announced he would seek the PC nomination in Etobicoke North and run for the seat in the 2018 election. He was one of the four official candidates running for the PC leadership along with Christine Elliott, Caroline Mulroney, and Tanya Granic Allen.

Ford promised to represent the interests of Northern Ontario in Queen's Park. He called his opponents "insiders" and "political elites", who did not represent the interests of the residents of Northern Ontario like he could. Ford pledged several northern-focused policy initiatives including moving forward with resource development in the Northern Ontario Ring of Fire and reinstating the Ontario Northland Railway's Northlander train service.

Ford called the Ontario health care system "broken" while relating the hospital experience of his brother Rob. He explained that Rob fell while being guided to a chair, and as the hospital was understaffed Doug had to rush down eleven floors to find security guards to help. He stated that the province should support transportation to allow Northern Ontarians to travel quickly and easily to the south to receive medical care and should increase provincial support for Ontario's small and medium-sized hospitals.

Polling results ahead of the leadership ballot were mixed. A February Ipsos/Global News poll found that Ford had the most support of all the PC Leadership candidates in Toronto and would beat the Liberals in the city by nine points, but a Mainstreet poll showed him doing only marginally better than the other PC candidates except Patrick Brown, and a Forum Research poll suggested he would have less support than the other candidates.

On March 10, Ford won the PC leadership on the third ballot. The results were too close to call and there was a dispute over whether some votes were allocated to the correct electoral districts, so the announcement was not be made at the originally scheduled convention. A news conference was held later that night after a recount was completed.

Ford became party leader but former interim PC Leader Vic Fedeli continued to serve as Leader of the Official Opposition in Ontario for the remainder of the legislative session as Ford did not have a seat in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario.

2018 Ontario general election

On March 13, 2018, Ford told The Globe and Mail he wanted to implement a populist agenda if elected. He said he was open to greater privatization of marijuana and alcohol sales in Ontario as well as abolishing the relatively new "foreign-buyers tax" on real estate. Ford said he would condense the party platform adopted under former leader Patrick Brown, reducing about ten percent of it, into a five-point plan focusing on health, education, creating jobs, getting rid of the province's cap-and-trade program for carbon emissions, and reducing electricity rates. Ford's position on the carbon tax has been criticized for overlooking the fact that if the province does not accept a price on carbon, the federal government will impose one and on the basis that by dropping the carbon tax, the province would lose $4 billion in revenues leaving a Ford government unable to fund it's provinces. Ford has responded claiming that he would make up the shortfall by finding "efficiencies" in government spending.

Ford stated that he would allow the introduction of a private member's bill requiring minors to consult with their parents before obtaining an abortion. When asked about it later he said it was not "on the top of [his] priority list". He was critical of the sex education curriculum introduced in Ontario in 2015, and has stated that he believes it needs to be revised. Liberal campaign co-chair Deb Matthews accused Ford of wading into "divisive social conservative issues" with his remarks.

Ford held a rally in Hamilton, Ontario, on April 3, 2018, where he announced that if elected his government would allow Hamilton City Council to reallocate the $1.3 billion allocated for the city's proposed rapid transit system to roads or other infrastructure if the council and people of Hamilton so decided. Hamilton mayor Fred Eisenberger responded saying that city council had already decided the issue and that cancelling the LRT would mean $100 million would "be thrown away". Ted McMeekin, a local Liberal MPP, criticized Ford's announcement saying "He paints himself as a responsible fiscal person but sees nothing wrong with writing a blank cheque for $1.2 billion."

Ford blamed Ontario's high hydro rates for the loss of manufacturing jobs and blasted the Liberal Party for "cronyism". Ford has said he would revive manufacturing in Ontario by easing regulations, cutting taxes including the planned carbon tax, and ensuring competitive electricity rates. When asked what he would do to lower hydro rates, Ford did not outline any concrete proposal, saying that he would need to conduct a proper review.

In regards to Northern Ontario, Ford criticized the Liberal government for not proceeding quickly enough to develop the Northern Ontario Ring of Fire, saying that he'd get on a bulldozer himself if necessary. His comments in regards to Ring of Fire development have been criticized as being "simplistic" and disregarding the patience required to negotiate with Indigenous peoples in regards to land claims and ensuring Indigenous communities receive a share of any economic gains.

Personal life

Ford and his wife Karla (née Middlebrook) have four daughters: Krista, Kayla, Kara and Kyla. Doug has stated that Karla's maternal grandparents were Jewish and immigrated to Canada from Europe to flee persecution, though records indicate the family was Russian Orthodox Christian.

Ford became an "ethical vegetarian" after working in a meatpacking plant as a teenager, and while this is no longer the case, he still does not eat red meat.

In 2016, Ford announced the release of a book written by himself and his brother, Rob, titled Ford Nation: Two Brothers, One Vision — The True Story of the People's Mayor. The book was released on November 22 and Ford held a small book tour across the Toronto area.

Electoral record

2010 Toronto election, Ward 2

Candidate	Votes	%
Doug Ford	12,660	71.68
Cadigia Ali	2,346	13.28
Luciano Rizzuti	828	4.69
Rajinder Lall	736	4.17
Andrew Saikaley	637	3.60
Jason Pedlar	455	2.58
Total	17,662	100%

2014 Toronto mayoral election

Candidate	Votes	%
John Tory	394,775	40.28
Doug Ford	330,610	33.73
Olivia Chow	227,003	23.15
64 other candidates	7,913	2.84
Total	980,177	100.00

2018 Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario leadership election

Candidate	Ballot 1		Ballot 2				Ballot 3
Name	Votes	Points	Votes	+/−	Points	+/−	Votes	+/−	Points	+/−
Christine Elliott	TBD	4,187 34.13%	TBD	TBD	4,394 35.82%	207 1.69%	32,202 51.74%	TBD	6,049 49.38%	1,655 13.56%
Doug Ford	TBD	4,091 33.35%	TBD	TBD	5,652 46.08%	1,561 12.73%	30,041 48.26%	TBD	6,202 50.62%	550 4.54%
Caroline Mulroney	TBD	2,107 17.18%	TBD	TBD	2,221 18.11%	114 0.93%	eliminated
Tanya Granic Allen	TBD	1,882 15.34%	eliminated
Total	64,043	12,267	63,545	−498	12,267	0	62,243	−1,302	12,251	−16

References

Works cited

• Anderson, Cameron D.; McGregor, R. Michael; Moore, Aaron A.; Stephenson, Laura B. (December 6, 2015). "Economic Voting and Multilevel Governance: The Case of Toronto" (PDF). Urban Affairs Review. 53 (1): 71–101. doi:10.1177/1078087415617302. {{cite journal}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
• Caruana, Nicholas J.; McGregor, R. Michael; Moore, Aaron A.; Stephenson, Laura B. (March 2018). "Voting 'Ford' or Against: Understanding Strategic Voting in the 2014 Toronto Municipal Election" (PDF). Social Science Quarterly. 99 (1): 231–245. {{cite journal}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
• Towhey, Mark; Schneller, Johanna (2015). Mayor Rob Ford: Uncontrollable: How I Tried to Help the World's Most Notorious Mayor. Skyhorse Publishing. ISBN 978-1-63450-048-7. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)

Further reading

• McDonald, Marci (2012). "The Incredible Shrinking Mayor". Toronto Life (May 2012): 40–54. {{cite journal}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
• Doolittle, Robyn (2014). Crazy Town: The Rob Ford Story. Viking Press.

External links

• Official website
• Doug Ford for Mayor – 2014 Toronto Mayoral Collection – Web archive created by the University of Toronto Libraries