The Unknown Torontonian - The Little Book of Rob Ford

There has never been a Toronto politician like Rob Ford. Or rather, there hasnt been one for a long time. In the age of PR teams, talking points, and focus groups, Rob Ford is a throwback to another era, when politicians were blunt and when plain-speaking not political spin was the rule.

His candidacy for mayor of Toronto was the classic underdog story, and his victory was, at first, unforeseen by pundits, pollsters, most journalists, and just about everyone outside of the Ford campaign. A Toronto resident could reasonably have woken up on the morning after the election and wondered, Who did we just elect?

Consider this book the answer to that question. Its a primer on all things Rob Ford, straight from the hip and in his own words.

If you cant stand the heat, get out of the kitchen and dont get into public life.

Im a businessman... I know how to create jobs, I know how to meet a payroll. Im going to stop playing games like everyone else plays in the provincial government and the municipal government. Lets get the job done. It comes down to customer service.

There is no trick, there is no magic formula. All it is, is door-knocking, hard work, and anyone has a chance at being elected.

Its teamwork with hundreds of employees, and thats where my leadership skills come into play. I know how to build an empire.

Municipal politics affects your life way more than any level does.

Im just focused on my message and making sure I deliver the message as directly as possible.

People at least know that my message is crystal clear.

I just know the taxpayers want the gravy train to come to an end, and that Rob Fords the guy to do it... Im going to put an end to the wasteful spending and, uh, you know, stop the gravy train and sorry, Im being distracted and thats pretty well it.

Were going to stop the wasteful spending, and not have $12,000 retirement parties, and, you know, all the other nonsense thats been going on for seven years. Anyways, I gotta let you go here and, uh, I cant talk to you right now. Im on a very tight schedule, so I hate to be rude, but Ive got to let you go and we can chat another time. Really nice talking to you, all the best, bye-bye.

I like heritage as much as the next person, but can we afford to hand out $230,000 in heritage grants right now? No, we cant.

A grant, by the way, is free money.

Were spending $3 million, Hydro is, and were making $3,000 a year, and theyre saying were making money. Do the math: it takes a thousand years to break even.

This is the definition of insanity, but this is the city council that were dealing with.

[On the solar panel installation at the CNE]

If you have a problem with any issue in this city, Ill guarantee you call my office you can call me at home, 233-6934, or you can call me at City Hall, 397-9255 and I will return your call and I will get the job done.

Im not worried about what people do in their private life. I look out for taxpayers money.

Its just not fair to force you to cut back on essentials so politicians can enjoy their perks.

Its time to stop the gravy train.

We will reduce the size of city council.

Giving the mayor more power for this council is like giving criminals free guns.

There is a lot of waste at City Hall everyone knows this. Even my competitors are finally admitting this.

Right now I cant say Im really proud of being part of council in Toronto, with all the money being spent and the high taxes.

I wouldnt trust them [fellow councillors] as far as I could throw them.

Ive put on parties, we all have parties. I dont go out and rent bunny suits and Dalmatian suits. And stilt-walking.

[On expenses submitted by fellow councillors]

You have to have business people running the city. People knowing how to create a job, knowing how to meet a payroll, and knowing everything about customer service. Customer service is number one in business, and its missing down at City Hall.

When Im mayor, were not going to have these so-called in-camera meetings unless theyre absolutely imperative. But a lot of these meetings are not imperative. But thats where a lot of skullduggery goes on, thats where a lot of scams go on.

This city has twenty-two MPs, twenty-two MPPs, and twenty-two school trustees. We do not need forty-four councillors down at City Hall.

The city will be spotless. Were going to make sure its clean. And its going to be safe. And were going to make sure the citys, um, Torontos going to be on the map by the time the Pan Am Games get here [in 2015], thats for sure.

There will not be graffiti. Give me six months, and I will guarantee there will not be graffiti.

This is an insult to my constituents to even think about having a homeless shelter in their ward. And you want me to have a public meeting about this? Why dont we have a public lynching?

People do not want more government housing in the City of Toronto. They want roads fixed, more police presence, but they dont want more government housing that will depreciate the value of their property.

I dont like all the graffiti. The dirt. The long grass and weeds. And all that sort of stuff. I hate that stuff. And I know Im going to get it all cleaned up when Im mayor.

Im going to take it year by year. I talked to staff this year, and they seem to think we can come up with a 0 % [property] tax increase and not have any major service cuts.

The roads are worse than theyve ever been, and Ive been all over the place.

People do not want streetcars in this city, they want subways. If you get behind a streetcar, youre stuck! Enough with the streetcars!