Briefing: You think our politicians are bad? Check this guy

In a meltdown reminiscent of Hollywood actor Charlie Sheen, Rob Ford, Mayor of Toronto, is careering from one scandal to another.

After a turbulent couple of weeks, the married father-of-two last week admitted buying drugs and smoking crack cocaine, and then made a crude remark about oral sex in front of the cameras.

Toronto city councillors have voted to strip him of his mayoral powers. But despite the damage limitation exercise by those at City Hall, Ford remains a popular figure.

So who is he and what will happen next in this political soap opera? Amanda Dale takes a look

Ford is the son of businessman Doug Ford Sr, who was a member of Ontario’s provincial parliament. Rob Ford was born in Etobicoke, west Toronto. He studied at Carleton University but did not graduate, instead returning home to look after his sister Kathy, who is a recovering heroin addict.

In 2005 she was shot in the face during an altercation with two men at the family home. One of them, a convicted drug dealer, then threatened to murder Ford last year.

In 2000 he married his longtime girlfriend Renata. He was elected as a city councillor for Etobicoke the same year. Ford promised to “end the gravy train” at City Hall. He became mayor of Toronto in 2010, with 47 per cent of the vote — mainly from the suburbs. He has two children, Stephanie, eight, and Douglas, five.

What happened?

Earlier this year Ford was embroiled in a conflict of interest row after being accused of using his status to attract funds for his football foundation.

The city council tried to sack him but a court overturned the removal order, in January.

In May, reporters reported seeing a video of Ford smoking crack cocaine. He denied using the drug.

In August he appeared drunk at a street festival.

Later that month he said he had smoked “a lot of marijuana”.

Then, on November 5, Ford admitted: “I have smoked crack cocaine”, adding it was during “a drunken stupor”.

Two days later, another video surfaced, showing him threatening to kill an unnamed person.

Last Wednesday he admitted buying drugs. 

Police documents revealed allegations by Ford staff that he had driven drunk, used racially-abusive language, threatened staff, consorted with a woman suspected of being a prostitute and made propositioned to a female staff member.

Confronted by reporters, he crudely commented he enjoyed enough oral sex at home. On Friday Ford, 44, then apologized for his “unforgivable language”.

Why is he still in office?

Toronto City Council voted 41-2 to ask him to take leave. But he can only be removed from office if convicted of a crime.

City councillor Janet Davis said: “This is one of the most stubborn, pig-headed people I think we have ever seen.”

On Friday, councillors voted unanimously to strip him of some of his powers, including the ability to appoint and dismiss the executive committee. 

It also voted 41-two to place emergency powers in the hands of deputy mayor Norm Kelly. On Monday councillors transferred most of Ford’s budget (60 per cent) to Kelly, a move described by Ford as a “coup d’etat”.

Why does he remain popular among voters?

He is seen as an ‘everyman’ to people in the suburbs. The concept of ‘Ford Nation’ is that of “a groundswell of hardworking, beer-drinking people rallying around an ordinary guy”.

What happens now?

Ford and his brother Doug’s Newstalk 1010 radio was cancelled, but this week their first TV show, Ford Nation, was aired on Sun News Network.

Ford looks set to run for re-election in October 2014. On Sunday, he told Fox News: “... One day I do want to run for prime minister,” he said.

The saga continues. 

Sources: BBC News, Canadian media & other news networks