Rob Ford’s poll numbers up after storm: report

Mayor Rob Ford’s poll numbers are up after the ice storm and even more people would vote for him again in October, according to the Toronto Sun.

A Forum Research poll published in the newspaper on Wednesday found Ford’s approval rating went up five per cent to 47 per cent from 42 per cent — after the Dec. 21, 2013, storm.

The storm downed trees and power lines across southern Ontario, leaving 300,000 customers without power for days. In Toronto, some people were without power for 12 days.

Ford held news conferences often during the cleanup and has pledged to ask the Ontario government for funds under the Ontario Disaster Relief Assistance Program (ODRAP).

Ford said the city has spent approximately $25-million so far with another $50-million estimated on top of that. A special city council meeting will be held on Friday to discuss the funding request.

Ford faced much criticism for not calling a state of emergency during the ice storm. His critics believe that cleanup assistance would have been mobilized quicker and more efficiently if an emergency had been called.

The same Forum poll also found that even more people would vote for Ford in the Oct. 27 municipal election. That number climbed to 41 per cent from 33 per cent.

In a five-way mayoral election against Olivia Chow, John Tory, Karen Stintz and David Soknacki, the poll shows that Ford would win. He would take 35 per cent of the vote, the poll found. According to the poll results, Chow would take home 30 per cent, followed by Tory with 22 per cent, Stintz at 12 per cent and Soknacki with eight per cent.

Only Ford and Soknacki, a former city councillor, have filed their nomination papers.

The telephone poll was conducted Monday night. Forum spoke to 1,105 Toronto residents. The poll is accurate within plus or minus three per cent, 19 times out of 20.

 

Top Stories

Top Stories

Most Watched Today