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ON THE FACE of it, Rob Ford is to Canadian politics what Paul Gascoigne was to soccer in the ‘90s. Heavy-set, spiky blonde hair, red-faced, an emotional addict with a dysfunctional personal life. But just like Gazza, Rob Ford is man whom some can’t help but love.
Ford’s popularity is a mystery to the world, to the rest of Canada, and to most Torontonians. And even though his infamy is reflected in one ‘90s icon, his popularity is actually explained by another.
On 1 May this year, the senior producer of our local TV newscast started the morning meeting with a sigh, asking “is anyone else as sick of Rob Ford as I am?” The only surprising thing about this is that it took a year for one of us to say it. We have closely witnessed the most insane, scandal-plagued 12 months that any politician from Canada, or probably anywhere, has ever had.
I don’t really need to list the events for you. He’s a 22-stone global news machine. CNN recently sent our station a platter of food. Just to say thanks. Thanks for the Ford. And for each Ford event that makes the news abroad, there are perhaps half-a-dozen more that make headlines here.
This proud Canadian was born just days before the summer of ‘69. Robbie, as his family call him, was the youngest of four children and grew up in a quiet suburb outside Toronto. His father, Doug Sr, founded a successful printing business and later became a member of provincial parliament in Ontario. It all sounds pretty normal and comfortable, but the Fords had issues. Some alleged, some admitted.
His sister Kathy has reportedly struggled with drug addiction and was once shot in the face. An investigation by The Globe and Mail newspaper last year alleged that both of Ford’s brothers, Doug Jr and Randy, were drug dealers in their youth – something they deny.
As a teenager, Rob aspired to play American football in the US, but after a year warming the bench for a Canadian university team, he dropped out and returned home to work for his dad. In 2000, he was elected a city councillor and spent a decade gaining a popular reputation as the guy who’d get that pothole fixed.
Ford ran for mayor in 2010 on a platform of doing away with controversial junkets, privatising city services and limiting property taxes. It struck a chord in the suburbs – areas where city services are less apparent. Ford romped home. Robbie was now Mayor of Canada’s largest city.
But the election map looked like a micro version of a US presidential election. The expansive ‘burbs went for Ford. The more-densely populated downtown voted for left-wing candidates. Red ‘hoods, blue ‘hoods.
It wasn’t long before the scandal-o-meter began ticking over, but it all really exploded in May 2013, when the crack video was first reported. And it was then that the Ford story began to mirror that of a certain US president. The Rob Ford saga can be understood by remembering Bill Clinton’s escape from impeachment.
Rob Ford and Bill Clinton both went before the media and offered very carefully-worded denials. Ford said “I do not smoke crack cocaine, nor am I an addict of crack cocaine.” Six months later he said that, because the second word of that sentence was “do” rather than “did”, it meant he was not lying. Clinton waved his finger in 1998, saying “I did not have sexual relations with that woman.” The denial immediately refined the euphemistic definition of the term “sexual relations”.
Doug Jr has dutifully played the role of Hillary. Doug – a city councillor – has remained loyal to his baby brother after every accusation, standing by his side during a series of live TV denials. Just as Hillary famously alleged a “vast right-wing conspiracy” over the Lewinsky and Whitewater scandals, Doug has equally alleged a left-wing conspiracy was poisoning his brother’s reputation. When confronted with proof of Rob’s actions, Doug has regularly been forced to backtrack, and has been close to tears when speaking to the media.
As for the evidence itself. Ford’s as-yet unpublicised first crack video is the 2013 equivalent of Monica Lewinsky’s stained dress. Both were very deliberately kept, and eventually found their way into the hands of the authorities. But both are exhibits that failed to hold enough legal weight to bring down men who were convinced that their mandate trumped all scandals.
Clinton’s dalliance with an intern now looks dull in comparison with Ford’s behaviour, but the dynamics of the two scandals have deeply polarised electorates in similar ways. In both cases, each side became less and less willing to listen to the other. Fans of Clinton said they didn’t care what he did in his own time, a long as he got the job done. Ford’s supporters say the the same. To Republicans, Clinton’s actions were morally abhorrent and grounds for resignation. To Toronto liberals, the same argument is used against Ford.
On 7 November, 2000, Americans went to the polls. The choice was Clinton’s Vice President Al Gore, or George W Bush. We all know what happened next. The result ramped-up an era of partisan politics that plagues Washington to this day.
One week after that famous poll, Rob Ford entered politics, eventually driving a similar wedge through Toronto.
This October, city residents return to the ballot box, and no matter who wins, it seems as though one half of Toronto will be shaking an ideological fist at the other.
Redmond Shannon is a reporter and producer for CBC News in Canada.
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SF, PBP, SocDems, I4C and other left candidates can EASILY make up the 80+ seats required in tomorrows vote. All it takes a bit of effort on our part, to get to the polling station and help make it happen
It’s an hour or so of your time, once every 4-5 years, and it can make all of the difference. Left leaning candidates are at the coalface relentlessly campaigning, marching and protesting for the issues that matter to us all. Now IT’S OUR TURN to step up and do our part.
Look left tomorrow, change everything. Vote straight left and left leaning candidates all the way FTW!
@The Risen: In all seriousness, whatever your thoughts are on the current situation, do you really see that many fragmented parties, rag tag groups and independents coming together to form a cohesive government? Not a hope.
@OnlyHereForTheComments: They ran under the right2change policy platform in 2016 for the most part, so yes.
@The Risen: and how is that singular policy platform going? Did everyone stick to it? Doesn’t fill me with confidence regarding a cohesive government. The first item on the agenda for most left wing parties is how they need to split into fragments so that everyone can be appeased.
@OnlyHereForTheComments: Who are you voting for yourself?
@The Risen: Deflect, Distract, Deny, that’s how it goes, isn’t it? Maybe we can all get behind Gemma – you told us she was standing for change too.
@OnlyHereForTheComments: Nice rant. So, who are you voting for yourself?
@The Risen: hahahaha here we go again
@The Risen: No ranting here. I look forward to voting for the candidates in my constituency that I feel will deliver the most at both a local and national level. Unlike some people on here I’m not a member of a political party, nor do I adhere to the sort of tribalism and ‘us vs them’ mentality that sadly seems to be taking over. My original comment was that I fail to see how 80+ TDs from a broad spectrum of parties who have little in common except that they see themselves as ‘anti-establishment’ could ever get it together to form a stable government, and somehow we’ve ended up with tribalism again as people try to pigeonhole others so that they can arrange their muck appropriately.
@OnlyHereForTheComments: Yeah, still haven’t told us who you’re voting for tomorrow though, did you?
I’m voting 1. PBP 2+3 SF $ Left independent, with my other preferences going to left leaning candidates.
So, who are you voting for yourself?
@OnlyHereForTheComments: yea, who are u voting for. haha
@We Love Katamari: All of these blank twitter profiles used by the party hacks don’t have a leg to stand on. If they admit they’re voting FF they can’t open their mouths about what the left would do to the economy, if they admit that they vote FG they can’t open their mouths on the lefts housing policy, health policy and so on. They’re all mouth.
@The Risen: Not a member of a party, not employed by one, bot everyone who has the audacity to question you is a paid FF/FG shill, but don’t let that get in the way of the ‘which side are you on’, ‘who do you work for’ style of interrogation – it’s common with certain political parties, after all.
My criticisms here have nothing to do with economic or health policies, and everything to do with the ability to form a cohesive and aligned government. I suggest worrying less about who I’m voting for and more for whether or not the utopia you’re predicting has a chance of ever becoming a reality. Why not play the ball?
@OnlyHereForTheComments: Very good. So, who do you vote for yourself??
@The Risen: in fairness look forward to my vote for FG tomorrow , would much prefer a party that knows what they are at, imagine the alternative SF, greens, like no thanks. But I’ll give it to you, living in dream land must be fun..thinking we will change ha
@The Risen: Still unwilling (or unable) to debate the matter at hand? No worries fella, take it easy.
@OnlyHereForTheComments: uv all the answers for why not to vote left but too embarassed to say who ur voting for. clown
@OnlyHereForTheComments: You realise that every time you reply without revealing who you’re voting for, you’re just highlighting my point, no?
So, who do you vote for yourself?
@The Risen: There’s a point?!
@We Love Katamari: Hello, welcome to the discussion. Who I’m voting for, and who you’re voting for, and who the risen is voting for, has precisely zero bearing on the ability of a group of 80+ broadly individual TDs to form a cohesive government. Thanks for listening to my Ted Talk.
@OnlyHereForTheComments: In all fairness, the risens leading you around by the nose. He’s done it with a few commenters now. Mouthing out of ye about the left and SF but don’t have the stones to tell everybody who you will vote for. It’s comical. Voting Sinn Fein myself.
@The Risen: He won’t tell you who he’s voting for because of the shame of it and the fact that you’ll pick his thought process apart if he does. Lots of FFG courage on show in the comments section.
@Dermo Adams: If leading someone around by the nose means ignoring the original comment and changing the subject to something more appealing to them, then you’re absolutely right, he’s certainly done that. Except I’m not mouthing about the left or SF. I think they have *some* really excellent policies, and I never said I wouldn’t be voting for them. My original point still stands, despite the diversion tactics.
@The Risen: No chance. We don’t need welfare hoovers in government
@Conan Campbell: Thanks Keith Barry – impressive display of mind reading there. Hilarious seeing just how narked people are when you won’t give them what they want, and just how little they have to fall back on.
@OnlyHereForTheComments: Must have missed you posting who you vote for yourself. Would you mind reposting please? :)
@The Risen: None of your business who he votes for, it’s a secret ballot. & theirs reasons for that. It’s for the ability to vote without one’s choices being revealed to others is considered an essential characteristic of legitimate democratic systems. The secret ballot helps protect voters from fear of intimidation or coercion.
Not that the Socialists parties would engage in such immoral practice? Blaring out Oh Ah up the RA in Cavan during the week, wouldn’t intimidate anyone would it?
@Dom Layzell: Just highlighting the fact that all of these new and nearly new empty twitter accounts posting anti SF and anti left muck can’t even stand by their own party affiliation because of the shameful state they’ve left the country in :)
@The Risen: Regardless, you have no evidence, and innocent until ……………. you know the rest yourself, you’re a Shinner!
But no one should have to explain who they vote for?
@Dom Layzell: As posted many times, I’m proudly giving Gino Kenny from PBP my number one vote. Do try to keep up…
@OnlyHereForTheComments: ming Flanagan campaigning for the greens, pbp, sf and marian harkin during this election campaign says a lot about populism and how it works.
I’m sorry but the FAI money is a bailout. Regardless of how you want to try define it, if you run an organisation into the ground and are at the point of bankruptcy, and the state gives you free money, it’s a bailout. Utterly disgraceful in the same week that some mental health services had a funding cut.
@D walsh: I have to agree 100% its a bailout, no, if’s, but’s or why’s. You are right.
And I hope the people that authorised the Taxpayers money, to be abused like this get their Just rewards tomorrow, and a kick in the ballot’s.
Don’t forget to vote tomorrow. The above article is riddled with Lies from both parties.
Vote Sinn Fein for more affordable public housing and rent.
I’m not putting one number beside a FF or FG candidate. 100 years of their bullshit is enough.
Ignore FG, ff, sf. We’ve seen how they are when in power here and in the north. Vote Left for real change.
@alan: and what left would that be? Labour? Hahaha the only thing left about them is the fact that they left us high and dry when they went into coalition with FG.
@Sam Greene: I was thinking of the larger parties. But you can add lab to that list.
“However separate figures from the World Bank and the European Commission estimate that Ireland is actually responsible for almost 0.1% of global emissions,”
So Ireland, a small windswept island in the North Atlantic, produces on tenth of the world’s CO2 emissions? Baloney. .
@Zak Martin: You think 0.1% equals one-tenth? It’s one-thousandth.
@Zak Martin: one tenth of one hundred… not 0.1 if 1.0 were the whole
@OnlyHereForTheComments:
https://answers.everydaycalculation.com/as-fraction/0.1
@OnlyHereForTheComments:
https://www.asafraction.com/number/0.1
@OnlyHereForTheComments:
https://www.google.com/search?q=Express+0.1+as+a+fraction&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-b
@Zak Martin: thanks Zak. 0.1 represented as a fraction is indeed one-tenth. The trouble is that 0.1% is one-tenth of one percent, not one-tenth of everything.
@OnlyHereForTheComments:
The article claims that Ireland is the source of “almost 0.1% of global emissions”. That’s one tenth.
@Zak Martin: let’s say 1000 = 100%, that would make 100 = 10%, 10 = 1%, 1 = 0.1%, so 0.1% is one thousand of the number. You are mixing up fractions and percentages
@Jim Buckley Barrett: you can’t argue with stupid.
@Zak Martin: jasus, please stop now, take a night course in basic arithmetic
Fact check: Is the Irish electoral system being artificially manipulated? Yes, and while there is a quota system I’d urge people not to vote for any female candidates. Lesser candidates are taking the place of hard working male counterparts due to an unfair rule. Equality for all or equality for none!
Who hired you lads? :-)
47k? Take out civil servants and multi national wages and see what the average worker is on not the lucky few that get work in these areas!
47 k my bleedin hoop
The average worker is earning 47’000 – Mostly True.
Christine Bohan would you ever f**k off with your nonsense -
Vote SF
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