John Tory, a moderate conservative, has been elected as the mayor of the Canadian city of Toronto, defeating the brother of controversial incumbent Rob Ford.
John Tory won 40% of the vote, ahead of Doug Ford, whose brother Rob admitted problems with alcohol and crack cocaine use during his four years in office.
Rob Ford, 45, announced last month that he would not seek re-election as he undergoes treatment for a rare cancer.
However, he did win election to a council seat in the Etobicoke district.
“In four more years, you’re going to see another example of the Ford family never, ever, ever giving up,” he said, hinting at another run for mayor.
John Tory has been elected as the mayor of the Canadian city of Toronto, defeating the brother of controversial incumbent Rob Ford
The results of the mayoral election were announced on Monday night after more than 90% of the votes had been counted.
Doug Ford congratulated John Tory on his victory and said he was proud of his brother.
“I still believe he’s the best mayor ever,” he said.
Earlier this year, Rob Ford began rehab for drugs and alcohol problems after a slew of newspaper reports and videos that depicted him under the influence.
In 2013, Rob Ford admitted he had smoked crack cocaine in a “drunken stupor”.
Rob Ford was stripped of many of his powers by the city council.
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Rob Ford told the Toronto Sun that he is feeling “pretty sick” in hospital as he undergoes testing for tumors in his abdomen and lungs.
Toronto Mayor Rob Ford, who withdrew from his re-election campaign last week, told the Toronto Sun doctors went “into my lungs” to take “another biopsy”.
Rob Ford has been diagnosed with an abdominal tumor.
His brother, Councilor Doug Ford, has replaced him on the October 27 ballot.
Doug Ford has not yet held an official campaign event, saying he wants to spend time with family while his brother is in hospital.
At the same time as he withdrew from the mayoral election, Rob Ford’s name was added to the ballot papers to run for councilor in his old constituency of Ward 2 in Toronto’s Etobicoke North area, signaling his desire to remain a political force in the city.
Rob Ford’s sudden announcement of his illness and subsequent withdrawal from the race presented a remarkable turn in a tumultuous tenure in the city hall of Canada’s largest city.
Toronto Councilor Doug Ford has replaced brother Rob Ford on the October 27 ballot
Over the past year, Rob Ford admitted to smoking crack cocaine while in office, then did a month-long stint in rehab. He resisted pressure to resign even as the city council stripped him of most of his budget and authority.
Rob Ford continued to run for re-election until last week, when he was brought to hospital after complaining of pain in his abdomen.
He has been in hospital since and is reportedly waiting on results from a biopsy test.
“I’m feeling pretty sick,” Rob Ford told the Toronto Sun’s Joe Warmington, who reported the mayor sounded “horrible” and was “coughing and hacking and talking with a heavy breath”.
The mayor said he was trying to get some work done, ringing constituents.
“It’s pretty tricky right now,” Rob Ford said regarding his health, saying he hoped to recover and go back to “helping people” as councilor.
It remains to be seen whether Doug Ford can pick up his brother’s support.
Other top contenders in the race are former NDP MP Olivia Chow and businessman and former leader of the Ontario Progressive Conservative Party John Tory.
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Toronto Mayor Rob Ford turned back after landing in the US last week, shortly after he announced he was entering rehab, say media reports.
The Canadian consulate said Rob Ford “voluntarily withdrew” his request to enter the US after talks with border officials in Chicago.
Rob Ford’s lawyer and brother have said he is now in treatment for substance abuse, but they refused to say where.
He admitted to using crack cocaine in a “drunken stupor” last year.
Rob Ford has already been stripped of many of his mayoral powers but refused calls to step down, running for re-election in October.
Rob Ford turned back after landing in the US last week, shortly after he announced he was entering rehab (photo The Canadian Press)
The embattled mayor announced he was starting a 30-day treatment course on Wednesday.
The following day, he boarded a plane in Toronto and flew to Chicago.
Roy Norton, the Canadian counsel general in Chicago, told the Globe and Mail Rob Ford had “voluntarily withdrew his application to enter the US” and was “not denied entry, per se”.
He told broadcaster CBC Rob Ford turned back after “discussion” with US border officials.
On Tuesday, Councilor Doug Ford confirmed his brother was in a treatment program but would not say where.
“Yes, for the one-millionth time, Rob Ford is in a rehabilitation program,” Doug Ford said, adding if he identified the location, he feared media organizations would stake it out.
Doug Ford refused to comment on what happened when his brother landed in Chicago.
The mayor’s lawyer, Dennis Morris, also refused to disclose his client’s location but said the “bottom line is he’s in rehab”.
“He’ll be there for a number of weeks – and that’s the answer,” Dennis Morris told the Globe and Mail.
“It’s not like he’s at a baseball game in Los Angeles or something.”
Rob Ford has visited the US this year, going to Los Angeles and appearing on a chat show earlier this year.
Deputy Mayor Norm Kelly will serve as mayor during Rob Ford’s leave of absence.
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