Slob and Thug

Remember Rob Ford, the late Mayor of Toronto?  People who met him used to say that even if you disagreed with his politics, you couldn't help but like the guy.  He may have been a slob, but he was a lovable one.

Lovable is not a word that could ever be applied to his brother, Doug Ford.  When Rob fell seriously ill during the 2014 municipal election campaign, the thuggish Doug stepped into his shoes, only to be beaten by John Tory.  Well, it now looks as if Doug is gearing up to go after the job again in October 2018.  He plans to make a formal announcement to that effect on September 11.

Rob and Doug Ford were cut from the same political cloth.  Though reasonably wealthy, their appeal was and is based on unashamed populism.  Taxes are bad and the politicians at City Hall are riding a "gravy train" that wastes taxpayers money every day.  It's far from true, but as Donald Trump and Nigel Farage could both tell you, the truth doesn't seem to count in politics these days.

John Tory's term as Mayor of Toronto has been considerably calmer than Rob Ford's, but not all that different in substance.  Taxes have been kept low and services have been allowed to erode, with the books only kept close to balance by an endless stream of accounting tricks.  Decisions on transportation, an area in which Toronto is hopelessly underserved for a city of its size, have been blatantly politicized, at the expense of sound planning.

Next year, then, right-leaning voters will in effect have a choice between a real Ford and a scrubbed-up version.  Who is to say they won't opt for the real thing -- Thug Ford -- over the ersatz version, Tory John?  Toronto needs better, and just possibly, better may soon step forward.  The city's Chief Planner, Jennifer Keesmaat, has just announced she will be stepping down from her post in September, to pursue unnamed "new opportunities".

Keesmaat has regularly been overruled by Tory on key planning issues, from the insane Scarborough subway scheme to the rebuilding of the decrepit Gardiner Expressway.  Yet when she told Tory of her intention to quit, he reportedly pleaded with her to stay.  Maybe he realizes what a strong opponent she will be if she decides to take a run at his job.  Torontonians who are not paid-up members of 'Ford Nation" will be hoping that she does just that.

UPDATE, 8pm August 31: Jennifer Keesmaat has already moved to quell speculation that she might run for Mayor in 2018. Pity.