Who is Doug Ford? All about late Rob Ford’s brother as he reacts to documentary

In 2018, Doug Ford was chosen to lead Ontario’s Progressive Conservative Party ahead of a crucial election. However, his political rise came with heavy personal baggage, most notably his connection to his late brother, Rob Ford. His brother was the controversial former Toronto mayor who made global headlines after admitting to smoking crack cocaine while in office.

Before leading the province, Doug Ford had served as a Toronto city councilor. He often found himself at the center of heated debates, particularly during Rob Ford’s scandal-plagued mayoralty between 2010 and 2014. He was widely recognized as his brother’s fiercest advocate, rarely hesitating to push back against the media or political opponents questioning Rob’s behavior.

That loyalty came with confrontations. According to the BBC, Doug Ford, during his tenure at city hall, publicly clashed with Canadian literary icon Margaret Atwood over proposed library closures. He also accused the then police chief of leaking information about Rob Ford’s drug use. Dough later retracted the claim under threat of a defamation lawsuit.

Rob Ford’s time as mayor ended in 2014, and he died from cancer two years later. Despite the scandals, Doug remained firmly in his corner, publicly and persistently.

Why Doug Ford won’t watch the Netflix documentary on his brother Rob:

When Trainwreck: Mayor of Mayhem dropped on Netflix, it reignited the conversation around Rob Ford. However, not everyone welcomed the renewed attention.

Speaking at a press event in Toronto, Premier Doug Ford didn’t mince words.

“It’s just disgusting, leave the guy alone, let him rest in peace. Let his family rest in peace.” he shared

The film, directed by Shianne Brown, charts Rob Ford’s dramatic rise to power in 2010 and the intense media scrutiny that followed as he battled addiction while serving as mayor. The project relies heavily on interviews with reporters and former confidants, as well as archival footage from those years.

Brown noted in a recent interview with The Canadian Press that Doug Ford had been approached to contribute to the film, but he “kindly declined.”

Doug admitted he hasn’t seen the film and doesn’t intend to. He said someone close to him did watch it and told him enough to leave him “absolutely infuriated.”

From blackout threats to backroom talks: Doug Ford softens trade stance

According to a report by The New York Post, Ontario Premier Doug Ford had backed down from a 25% energy surcharge ahead of talks with the US — after threatening to shut off electricity for America if the trade war escalated.

“It would turn off the lights to a million-and-a-half Americans, If they come at us we have to stand up for Canadians, we have to stand up for Ontarians.” Ford told Global News.

Doug has drawn comparisons to President Trump in recent months, especially with his uncompromising response to the war of words between Washington and Ottawa.

The premier of Canada’s most populous territory announced in March 2025 that he was pulling American-made liquor off the shelves, as well as threatening the US power supply.

“If they start hurting families anywhere in Canada, especially Ontario, well, the lights are going off,” Ford warned.

However, he rode back on the promises later, following “productive” emergency talks with US Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick.

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“Howard Lutnick and Premier of Ontario Doug Ford had a productive conversation about the economic relationship between the United States and Canada. Secretary Lutnick agreed to officially meet with Premier Ford in Washington on Thursday, March 13 alongside the United States Trade Representative to discuss a renewed USMCA ahead of the April 2 reciprocal tariff deadline,” Ford’s office said in a statement posted on X.

“Ontario agreed to suspend its 25 per cent surcharge on exports of electricity to Michigan, New York and Minnesota,” it added.

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