Reaction to Mayor Ford’s return

With Rob Ford still in the running for mayor — one of the questions he’s facing is whether the public is willing to forgive and forget — or at least move on from his past episodes. We’re also getting some sense tonight of what it was like for Ford to walk back in front of the public and the cameras after his descent into substance abuse.

At Toronto City Hall it looked like business as usual. But the return of Rob Ford wasn’t far from most people’s minds — and whether he should get a second chance.

“I believe in forgiveness. You fall down, you get back up on your feet and you’re good to go.”

“Because he just keeps screwing up — he’s not a very good representative I dont think.”

“Are you willing to give him a second chance? Me, personally? No.”

Inside city hall, Ford was walking back into the frenzy of media and opponents.

“I think whether he comes back today, tomorrow or next week or has been here for the last two months, he’s not competent as a mayor.”

A tough start to a new life for someone in recovery, with all the emotions going on in his head.

John Vereecke might have an idea of what’s happening in Ford’s head after going through rehab himself and setting up the Habitude Turning Point detox program in Hamilton: “I would say anxious, excited, and scared. I would say that he has to have a lot of emotions. He’s just started the beginning phases of recovery. He’s finished treatment and now the work begins of trying to be able to utilitize the tools he’s learned in treatment.”

Vereecke says recovery is going to be long-term project for Ford.

The key is to be prepared for whatever comes up so it doesn’t trigger the old behaviour. Have support available. And put his recovery first.

“Recovery first, mayor second.”

“Everybody supports him. I think he’ll get back in.”

Even in his home area of Etobicoke, it’s a mixed story for Ford. Voters are divided on whether he can get back into office.

“He wont get my vote. I have no idea about anyone else.”

So, the key for someone like Ford is to wake up every day with a solid plan for how to get through the day. A structure they can follow no matter what challenges come up — even the high-stress situations like intense media scrums. And John Vereecke says that recovery plan has to come ahead of everything else. If it does, he says Rob Ford could become an inspiration to everyone who has gone or is going through this kind of thing.