Rob Ford: Knocking a councillor off her feet and other controversial moments from his time as mayor

The late politician was a colourful character unconstrained by title or office

(Getty Images)

It is highly unlikely that another mayor of Toronto will leave behind a legacy that proves to be anywhere near as provocative or controversial as the legacy left by Rob Ford.

Loved by ardent supporters no matter what the jaw-dropping headline and loathed in equal measure by many forced to work with him, Ford was still a councillor when he died from a rare form of cancer aged 46.

The outspoken politician will be remembered for many memorable moments during his time in office, including admitting to smoking crack-cocaine and being stripped of his responsibilities and the majority of his mayoral budget. He was notorious for partying, binge-drinking and faced accusations of making homophobic and sexist remarks. Yet despite the tide of condemnation constantly slapping against him, he fought all attempts to remove him from office before launching a campaign to get back in.

After eventually conceding defeat and withdrawing from the mayoral race, citing his health, he won back his former job on the Toronto city council in 2014.

His political career was a bumpy and increasingly contentious one, with just a few of those moments listed below.

Smoking crack

Ford repeatedly denied using crack-cocaine following reports from The Toronto Star and Gawker about a video allegedly showing him smoking the drug in May 2013. In November 2013, he admitted to smoking crack in a “drunken stupor” but denies a video of him using existed.

Knocking a councillor over

Ford was filmed charging towards a female councillor and knocking her over after being stripped of most of his powers following his admissions of substance abuse. “I picked her up,” Ford said after. “I ran around because I thought my brother was getting into an altercation.”

Walking straight into a camera, swearing at the cameraman

Ford walked head first into a camera as he tried to escape reporters gathered outside of city hall. After grabbing his face, he told the cameraman: “ “Ah f**k man. Holy Christ. Holy s**t guys, have some respect. You just hit me in the face with a camera.”

Claiming “Oriental people” work “like dogs”

He also refused to apologise for making comments about the work ethic of Asian people while speaking to his fellow councillors: “Those Oriental people work like dogs… I’m telling you, the Oriental people, they’re slowly taking over.

Ford refused requests from Mayor David Miller to address his remarks, saying at the time: “I don’t take my marching orders from the mayor. I take my marching orders from the taxpayers.” He had apparently overlooked the taxpayers who had taken umbrage with his “ignorant” comments.

Using “deeply vulgar” language on camera

As an increasingly exasperated council had resorted to turning their backs on Ford during meetings and condemning his every move, he was busy getting embroiled in more controversy. In 2013, Ford denied claims he had made crude marks about performing oral sex on a former special assistant by making even more crude remarks, this time live on television.

And, despite the furious reaction from all corners, he refused to retract his comments.