A former mayor of Toronto and one-time political rival of Rob Ford says that his thoughts are firmly with the Ward 2 councillor amid news that his latest round of chemotherapy treatment did not work.
David Miller, who served two terms as the city’s mayor while Ford was still a city councillor eyeing the top job, made the comment to CP24 on Saturday.
“Everybody’s thoughts are with Councillor Ford. I have given my thoughts directly to him and his family,” he said. “I particularly feel for his wife and kids. I just hope everybody is thinking of them and of his health.”
During his successful mayoral campaign in 2010, Ford famously derided Miller for running an administration that he said was built on a “gravy train” mentality where councillors benefitted from lavish office budgets and other perks at the expense of taxpayers.
Then once Ford assumed office he lobbied for the cancellation of Miller’s ‘Transit City’ plan, ultimately convincing council to support a subway extension for Scarborough instead.
Political battles aside, Miller told CP24 on Saturday that any differences he may have had with Ford are insignificant now.
“He is terribly ill and it is really sad,” he said. “My family has been touched by cancer, my mom had cancer and is just an awful, awful disease. He has young children and you really have to feel for them.”
Ford was admitted to Mt. Sinai Hospital in late February as he continued his battle with a rare form of soft tissue cancer and on Thursday it was revealed that he is under 24-hour medical supervision with his family by his side.
A website set up to relay warm wishes to the councillor has already received more than 5,500 messages and on Saturday Ford’s brother Doug posted a message to Twitter to thank those who have posted to the site.
“@TorontoRobFord really enjoys reading them!” he said.
At a fundraiser in downtown Toronto on Saturday afternoon, Don Cherry, who was present at Ford's swearing-in ceremony in 2010, told the Toronto Sun that Ford was "the Donald Trump, before the Donald Trump."
"We're all thinking of him, that's for sure," Cherry said. "I remember when I put the chain around his neck a lot of people thought I should have choked that chain at the time. He's a good friend of mine and I'm thinking a lot of him."
