Michael Ford (politician)

Ford was born in 1994 to Ennio Stirpe and Kathy Ford in Toronto, Ontario. He attended Richview Collegiate Institute in Etobicoke, graduating in 2012.[1]

In the 2014 municipal election, Ford was initially a candidate for Toronto City Council in Ward 2 Etobicoke North, but dropped out when his uncle, Rob Ford, withdrew from the mayoral race after being diagnosed with an abdominal tumour.[2] Rob Ford then registered to run for the council seat, while Michael transferred his candidacy to the school board race.

During an interview with The Globe and Mail, Michael Ford acknowledged that his last name helped him get elected, but stated that he is his own man, and unlike his uncles. His colleagues on the Board of Trustees were very concerned when Ford was elected due to his uncles' public lives in politics, but one of his colleagues, Marit Stiles, told the Globe that Ford was a hard worker, eager to learn, and wasn't afraid to ask questions.[3] He also quickly earned a reputation for being more politically moderate and conciliatory than his uncles — including expressing admiration of Justin Trudeau, whom both of his uncles were known for criticizing, and attending Toronto's Pride Week parade.[4]

Rob Ford died on March 22, 2016, at which time the council seat in Ward 2 was declared vacant.[5] After city council declared on May 6 that a by-election would be held to fill the seat, Michael Ford announced he would resign his trustee position to run for council.[6]

He won the by-election, winning 69.53 per cent of the vote over 11 other challengers.[7][8] At 22, he is the youngest person in recent history to be elected to council.[8]

Ford ran for re-election in the 2018 municipal election in the newly expanded Ward 1 Etobicoke North. The new Ward 1 had the same boundaries as Etobicoke North. He defeated fellow incumbent councillor Vincent Crisanti.

In April 2022, Ford announced that he would run in the upcoming June provincial election in York South—Weston, for the Progressive Conservative Party.[9]

Ford's father, Ennio Stirpe, was convicted of manslaughter in 2009 and convicted of attempted murder in 2012. He is currently incarcerated and serving an 18-year prison term for attempted murder.[10] In 2014, Ford changed his surname from Stirpe to Ford, and removed Aldo from his given name.[3]

Ford is the nephew of Rob Ford, the 64th mayor of Toronto and Doug Ford, the 26th premier of Ontario. He is the grandson of Doug Ford Sr., who was a member of Provincial Parliament.

In June 2020, Ford tested positive for COVID-19.[11]