Toronto's colorful and controversial mayor returns to work Monday after nearly two months in rehab. Ford comes back to join a mayoral election campaign that is in full swing.It has been quieter than usual at Toronto City Hall these days. The other frontrunners vying for the mayor's job have stirred up little controversy. In fact, some observers say this campaign has been rather dull.
That could be about to change.
The city clerk's office received a letter from Rob Ford saying he would be resuming his duties as mayor as of today, and to please see that his office is ready.
Ford went into a rehab center in cottage country, a couple of hours north of Toronto in May. That was after a year of scandal that included videos of him appearing to be drunk in public, making racist and homophobic slurs and lewd comments, and smoking from what appeared to be a crack pipe.
In November Ford was stripped of his powers and left as mayor in all but name only. But he vowed he would get himself right. Most people believe it will be business as usual, but some still cling to idea of "forgive and forget."
Analysts say Ford is still a political force to be reckoned with in the mayoral election campaign. Enough so that his chief rival for the job released a pair of ads the week before his return. They target Ford's erratic behavior and highlight his scandals over the past year.
Ford has scheduled a news conference for late in the afternoon, but says he will take no questions from reporters.