Colourful Toronto mayor Rob Ford dies

Rob Ford, the pugnacious, populist former mayor of Toronto whose career crashed in a drug-driven, obscenity-laced debacle, has died of cancer, his family said. He was 46.

Wed, 23 Mar, 2016 - 00:00

Mr Ford rode into office on a backlash against urban elites. He cast an image sharply at odds with Canada’s reputation for sedate, unpretentious politics.

His tenure as mayor of the country’s largest city was marred by revelations about his drinking problems and illegal drug use. He was repeatedly videotaped and photographed while intoxicated in public.

Nevertheless, after losing that office he was later elected by a landslide to a City Council seat, a job he held until his death.

One after another, his statements and actions became nightly fodder for TV comedians and an embarrassment to many of the suburbanites he championed.

Among the more notable: n Knocking over a 63-year-old female city councilor while rushing to the aid of his brother, councillor Doug Ford, who was insulting spectators in the council chamber; Threatening “murder” in a profane, incoherent rant captured by video; Swearing and slurring his words, calling the police chief a derogatory name, and trying to imitate a Jamaican accent in a different video.

However, his popularity continued. Even after a scandal broke about Mr Ford’s use of crack, hundreds of people lined up for dolls of the mayor, signed by Mr Ford himself.

As he sought a second term as mayor in 2014, Mr Ford was diagnosed with a rare cancer just two months before the election date.

Malignant liposarcoma in his abdomen forced him to do what months of scandals could not — drop his bid for re-election. He underwent a series of aggressive chemotherapy treatments.

“With heavy hearts and profound sadness, the Ford family announces the passing of their beloved son, brother, husband, and father, councillor Rob Ford, earlier today at the age of 46,” a statement from his family said.

“A dedicated man of the people, councillor Ford spent his life serving the citizens of Toronto.”

Current Toronto mayor John Tory said in a statement that “the city is reeling with this news”. “He was a man who spoke his mind and who ran for office because of the deeply felt convictions that he had,” said Mr Tory.

The international spotlight fell on Mr Ford in May 2013, when the Toronto Star and the US website Gawker reported the existence of a video that appeared to show the mayor inhaling from a crack pipe.

He denied the existence of the video but later backtracked when police said that they had obtained it. Although he became the subject of a police investigation, Ford was never charged with a crime.

According to police interviews, members of Mr Ford’s staff accused the mayor of frequently drinking, driving while intoxicated, and making sexual advances toward a female staffer.