Rob Ford: Difference between revisions
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'''Rob Ford''' (born [[1969]]) is a [[Toronto city councillor|city councillor]] in [[Toronto]], [[Canada]] |
'''Rob Ford''' (born [[1969]]) is a [[Toronto city councillor|city councillor]] in [[Toronto]], [[Canada]] representing one of the two [[Etobicoke North]] wards, Ward 2. Ford is the son of former [[Member of Provincial Parliament]], [[Doug Ford (Ontario politician)|Doug Ford]]. He was first elected to city council in the [[Toronto municipal election, 2000|2000 Toronto municipal election]] when he ousted incumbent [[Elizabeth Brown]].<ref>{{cite web |
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| url = http://www.toronto.ca/councillors/ford1.htm |
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| title = Toronto city councillors, Rob Ford |
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| accessdate = 2007-04-26 |
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| year = [[2007]] |
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| work = City of Toronto, Accessing City Hall |
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}}</ref> |
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A staunch [[neoconservative]], he was one of the council's few strident defenders of [[Mike Harris]], and an advocate for deep spending cuts. He regularly made headlines by spending the least amount of money budgeted for councillor office expenses. He was a strong supporter of [[Jim Flaherty]] in the [[Ontario Progressive Conservative leadership election, 2002|2002 Ontario Progressive Conservative leadership election]], and was criticized for displaying a sign supporting Flaherty in the window of his office at [[Toronto City Hall]]. Outside of council, he serves as the successful coach of the [[Don Bosco Catholic Secondary]] football team. |
A staunch [[neoconservative]], he was one of the council's few strident defenders of [[Mike Harris]], and an advocate for deep spending cuts. He regularly made headlines by spending the least amount of money budgeted for councillor office expenses. He was a strong supporter of [[Jim Flaherty]] in the [[Ontario Progressive Conservative leadership election, 2002|2002 Ontario Progressive Conservative leadership election]], and was criticized for displaying a sign supporting Flaherty in the window of his office at [[Toronto City Hall]]. Outside of council, he serves as the successful coach of the [[Don Bosco Catholic Secondary]] football team. |
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Revision as of 22:44, 26 April 2007
Rob Ford (born 1969) is a city councillor in Toronto, Canada representing one of the two Etobicoke North wards, Ward 2. Ford is the son of former Member of Provincial Parliament, Doug Ford. He was first elected to city council in the 2000 Toronto municipal election when he ousted incumbent Elizabeth Brown.[1]
A staunch neoconservative, he was one of the council's few strident defenders of Mike Harris, and an advocate for deep spending cuts. He regularly made headlines by spending the least amount of money budgeted for councillor office expenses. He was a strong supporter of Jim Flaherty in the 2002 Ontario Progressive Conservative leadership election, and was criticized for displaying a sign supporting Flaherty in the window of his office at Toronto City Hall. Outside of council, he serves as the successful coach of the Don Bosco Catholic Secondary football team.
Ford has also made headlines for his outbursts in council.[2] Controversy erupted when in the debate over the 2002 budget several councillors heard Ford call fellow councillor George Mammoliti "Gino boy".[3] It was one of several heated and insult-filled exchanges in which Ford participated most with Mammoliti, who represents a neighbouring ward. Mammoliti filed a complaint for the ethnic slur.[4]
In March 2003, Ford called Mammoliti a "snake" and a "weasel" in council.[5] Mammoliti's son Michael filed his papers to run against Ford in the 2003 municipal election but withdrew at the last moment.[6]
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."[7]
No stranger to controversy, in 2002 Ford created a stir by strenuously objecting to the possibility that a homeless shelter would open in his suburban Etobicoke ward. In July 2005, Ford and fellow right-wing Etobicoke councillor Gloria Lindsay Luby got into a verbal spat in the Toronto Council room. A dispute about a pot-hole escalated into name-calling, where Ford was recorded calling Luby a "waste of skin."[8]
Ford has earned some controversy for his statements about the homeless. In 2002 he asked 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."[9] In 2005, Ford told a homeless protestor, "I'm working. Why don't you get a job?"[10]
In 2006, allegations arose of his loud, unsociable conduct at a Toronto Maple Leafs game. Two audience members alleged Ford instigated a shouting match.[11] 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.[12] 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."[13]
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."[13]
Notes and sources
- ^ "Toronto city councillors, Rob Ford". City of Toronto, Accessing City Hall. 2007. Retrieved 2007-04-26.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|year=(help)CS1 maint: year (link) - ^ Cowan, James. Ford is known for his outbursts. National Post. February 28 2003 p. A11
- ^ Don Wanagas. "Sorry, Wrong Number". Toronto NOW online edition. Retrieved 2007-04-26.
...hardcore Conservative Ford allegedly called neo-Liberal Mammoliti a 'Gino boy'...
- ^ Lu, Vanessa. City hall verbal scuffle is over. Toronto Star, 15 April 2003, p. B02 The city spent $30,000 investigating Mammoliti's complaint.
- ^ No Byline. Childish behaviour. Toronto Star. March 1 2003, p.E06
- ^ No Byline. Ford hopes new team has 'right' stuff. The Toronto Star. October 13 2003, p. B02
- ^ Jim Byers (2007-03-08). "City decays as debt climbs". Toronto Star. Retrieved 2007-04-26.
I can't support bike lanes...
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help); Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - ^ "Councillor wants integrity commissioner involved in spat". CBC News, Toronto. 2005-07-20. Retrieved 2007-04-26.
Lindsay Luby says Ford called her a "waste of skin," while Ford accused...
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Moloney, Paul. Councillors to activists: Get a job --- Noisy expulsion follows protest over housing sale. Toronto Star. October 30 2002, p. B04
- ^ Porter, Catherine. Protestors storm council; OCAP denounces homeless plan Clarke shouts, Miller leaves. Toronto Star February 2 2005 p. B03
- ^ 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."
- ^ "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
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ a b "Councillor Rob Ford Under Fire Over AIDS Comments". CHUM Television, CityNews, Toronto. 2006-06-29. Retrieved 2007-04-26.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help)