Doug Ford, Jr.

For the politician who was a former Ontario MPP & his father, see Doug Ford, Sr..
Doug Ford

Doug Ford, 2011
Toronto City Councillor for (Ward 2) Etobicoke North
In office
December 1, 2010 – November 30, 2014
Preceded by Rob Ford
Succeeded by Rob Ford
Personal details
Born Douglas Bruce Ford, Jr.[1][2]
(1964-11-20) November 20, 1964
Etobicoke, Ontario, Canada
Spouse(s) Karla Middlebrook
Relations Rob Ford (brother),
Doug Ford, Sr. (father)
Children 4
Residence Toronto
Occupation Businessman
Politician

Douglas Bruce Ford, Jr. (born November 20, 1964) is a Canadian businessman and politician in Toronto, Ontario. Ford was Toronto City Councillor for Ward 2 Etobicoke North in Toronto from 2010 to 2014 at the same time that his brother, Rob Ford (1969–2016), was mayor of Toronto. Their father, Doug Ford, Sr., was a Member of Provincial Parliament from 1995 to 1999 and founded Deco Labels and Tags, a printing business operating in Canada and the United States. The business is now owned by Doug Ford, Jr., who has served as company president since 2002, and his brother, Randy.[3]

Early life

Ford was born in Etobicoke, Ontario, Canada, one of four children of Ruth Diane (Campbell) and Doug Ford, Sr.[4]

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. A quarter pound allegedly cost between $400 and $425. Ford denied the allegations[5][6] and said he planned to sue the newspaper for libel, but failed to do so.[7]

Business career

Ford is one of the owners of the Deco Labels and Tags business which was co-founded by his father.[8] The company makes pressure-sensitive labels for plastic-wrapped grocery products at an estimated $100 million in annual sales.[9] Ford, his mother and brother are directors of the company, which is managed by his brother Randy.[9][10]

Starting in the 1990s, Ford became involved in the running of Deco Labels. In 2002, Ford became president of the company and was personally 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. Since that time, the company has struggled. After the recession of 2008, in 2009–2010, the company lost $1.1 million, but the Chicago division rebounded while the Toronto division's business has declined. Ford fired the manager of Wise Tag, leading to a 2014 lawsuit which is still pending. The Toronto division has also struggled to deliver orders on time.[3]

Political career

On October 25, 2010, Ford was elected to Toronto City Council in Ward 2, succeeding his brother, Rob Ford, as councillor for the ward. Rob had entered the mayoral election and was elected mayor of Toronto in the same election. Upon election, Ford announced that he would donate his $100,000 annual salary to community organizations.[11]

While on city council, Ford served on the board of Build Toronto,[12] an arms-length city body responsible for developing and selling city land. He was also a director of the Canadian National Exhibition, and serves on the Budget Committee, the Civic Appointments Committee and the Government Management Committee at Council.[13]

Ford was a member of the board of Toronto Transit Infrastructure Limited, a corporation set up to finance a Sheppard Avenue subway extension, which was later cancelled by council. 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.[14] Ford's plan was turned down by Council, but Ford's attention led to an agreement to speed up development of the Port Lands.

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.[15] Ford has been speculated as a possible Progressive Conservative (PC) candidate for a future Ontario election, or being interested in the leadership of the Progressive Conservatives.[16] However, 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: "I’ll tell you, I will eventually, one day, run provincially.... The timing right now just doesn’t work."[17]

Ford caused some controversy after revealing information that his brother would be served a subpoena if his brother's friend and driver Alexander Lisi went to court over charges of extortion.[18] 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 that "This is why we need a change at the top," in regards to Blair's contract.[19] 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.[20]

2014 mayoral campaign

After his brother Rob entered drug rehab in May 2014, Doug commented that he would not rule out running for mayor.[21] Rob Ford returned from rehab and continued his campaign for mayor, but withdrew after he was diagnosed with an abdominal tumor and hospitalized. Doug then entered the mayoral campaign in the last hour before the nomination deadline on September 12, 2014.[22] 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.[23]

Provincial and federal leaderships

Following his unsuccessful mayoral candidacy there was speculation that Ford would become a candidate for the leadership of the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario with Ford telling reporters "I’ll be upfront with you. It’s on the table, I would really consider it. I really would" adding "Our campaign is ready to go. Our people are itching to get involved. We are miles ahead of the other candidates."[24] 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.[25]

In the run-up to the 2015 Canadian federal election, Doug's brother Rob Ford, former mayor of Toronto, said that Doug would probably seek the leadership of the federal Conservative Party if Stephen Harper were to step down as leader after the federal election in the event of a Conservative loss.[26]

Personal life

Ford and his wife Karla (née Middlebrook) have four daughters: Krista,[27] 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.[28][29]

Ford became an "ethical vegetarian" after working in a meatpacking plant as a teenager[30] and while this is no longer the case, he still doesn't eat red meat.[31]

Electoral record

2014 Toronto mayoral election
Candidate Votes %
John Tory 394,775 40.28
Doug Ford 330,610 33.73
Olivia Chow 227,003[32] 23.15
64 other candidates 7,913 2.84
Total 980,177 100.00
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%

References

  1. ↑ Canada. "globeandmail.com: FORD, Douglas Bruce". V1.theglobeandmail.com. Retrieved November 30, 2013.
  2. ↑ "The Taylor, Bongard, Baker Family Tree:Information about Douglas Bruce Ford". Familytreemaker.genealogy.com. Retrieved November 30, 2013.
  3. 1 2 "Doug Ford at Deco: The inside story". October 10, 2014. Retrieved November 30, 2014.
  4. ↑ Goldsbie, Jonathan (May 8, 2012). "The Rob Ford walking tour". Thegridto.com. Retrieved November 30, 2013.
  5. ↑ McArthur, Greg (May 25, 2013). "Globe investigation: The Ford family’s history with drug dealing". TheGlobeandMail.com. Retrieved May 27, 2014.
  6. ↑ Hui, Ann (May 25, 2013). "Doug Ford disputes Globe report on family history with drug dealing". TheGlobeandMail.com. Retrieved May 27, 2014.
  7. ↑ White, Patrick (September 12, 2014). "Can Doug Ford win Toronto’s mayoral race?". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved September 14, 2014.
  8. ↑ Daubs, Katie (February 3, 2014). "5 things you didn’t know about Rob Ford’s family: Revelations from the book Crazy Town". thestar.com. Retrieved May 27, 2014.
  9. 1 2 McDonald 2012, p. 43.
  10. ↑ Lorinc, John (April 6, 2011). "Ford's unique approach to campaign financing: Borrow from family firm". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved December 10, 2012.
  11. ↑ Peat, Don (October 26, 2010). "Doug Ford to donate salary to charities". Toronto Sun. Retrieved June 4, 2013.
  12. ↑ Mehler Paperny, Anna (March 11, 2011). "Derek Ballantyne leaves as chief operating officer; formerly served as CEO of Toronto Community Housing Corporation". The Globe and Mail (Toronto, ON).
  13. ↑ "City of Toronto: City Councillors - Councillor Doug Ford". City of Toronto. Retrieved June 5, 2013.
  14. ↑ Rider, David; Dale, Daniel (August 30, 2011). "Doug Ford’s dream waterfront? Ferris wheel, monorail and a boat-in hotel". Toronto Star. Retrieved June 5, 2013.
  15. ↑ Peat, Don (June 12, 2013). "Doug Ford says he won't run for council in 2014". Toronto Sun.
  16. ↑ Di Matteo, Enzo (August 1, 2013). "The real fight in Etobicoke". Now (Toronto, Ontario). Retrieved August 7, 2013.
  17. ↑ "Councillor Doug Ford will not run in provincial election". Toronto Star. February 20, 2014. Retrieved February 21, 2014.
  18. ↑ "Rob Ford friend Sandro Lisi has long history of violence, threats and dirty tricks". Retrieved November 4, 2014.
  19. ↑ "Police Chief Bill Blair rejects Doug Ford's apology". CBC News. Retrieved November 4, 2014.
  20. ↑ "Police Chief Bill Blair accepts apology from Doug Ford for 'tirade'". CBC News. Retrieved November 4, 2014.
  21. ↑ Peat, Don (May 6, 2014). "Doug Ford won't rule out running for mayor". Toronto Sun.
  22. ↑ "Rob Ford drops out of mayoral race, Doug Ford running in his place". The Globe and Mail. September 12, 2014.
  23. ↑ "Ford facing $11,950 fine over illegal signs, Chow and Tory on hook for lesser amounts". Retrieved October 30, 2014.
  24. ↑ "Doug Ford says Ontario PC leadership bid is 'on the table'". The Globe and Mail. October 28, 2014. Retrieved November 20, 2015.
  25. ↑ "Doug Ford won’t enter race for Ontario PC leadership". Toronto Star. November 27, 2014. Retrieved November 20, 2015.
  26. ↑ Wingrove, Josh (August 21, 2015). "Rob Ford Says Brother Would Run If Canada’s Harper Steps Down". Retrieved August 21, 2015.
  27. ↑ Davidson, Terry (April 27, 2011). "Mayor's niece trying out for lingerie football". Toronto Sun.
  28. ↑ Diebel, Linda (October 24, 2014). "Mayoral candidate Doug Ford's cozy domestic side". Toronto Star. Retrieved October 28, 2014.
  29. ↑ "Doubt cast on Doug Ford's claim of Jewish wife". Toronto Star. October 7, 2014. Retrieved March 22, 2016.
  30. ↑ Matlow, Josh (May 15, 2011). "City Hall Diary: Council’s newcomers may surprise you". Toronto Star. Retrieved May 16, 2011.
  31. ↑ "Five things we learned about Doug Ford from Saturday's Globe and Mail". Toronto Life. June 13, 2011. Retrieved November 20, 2015.
  32. ↑ http://www1.toronto.ca/City%20Of%20Toronto/City%20Clerks/Elections/Library/Files/Results%20PDFs/2014%20Election/2014clerksofficialdeclarationofresults.pdf

Further reading

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