Doug Ford will not run as PC candidate in provincial election

Watch the above video: Choosing to be manager for his brother’s re-election campaign, Doug will be removed from politics. Mark Carcasole reports

TORONTO – City councillor Doug Ford will not run as a Progressive Conservative candidate in the next provincial election in order to focus on his brother’s mayoral re-election bid this fall, calming recent speculation on his political future.

“I’m declaring I will not be running in the provincial election. I’d love to. But you have to put other things ahead of your own political aspirations sometime,” Ford told reporters at city hall on Thursday.

Ford, who is also Toronto Mayor Rob Ford‘s brother, currently serves as his campaign manager.

“You can’t wear two hats, you can’t put your butt on two sides of the fence. It wouldn’t be fair to my constituents, it wouldn’t be fair to the people of Toronto,” he said.

In the past, the elder Ford brother has eluded to his desire to seek provincial office and maintains there’s still a future for him at Queen’s Park.

“I have, obviously, political aspirations provincially, but the timing right just now doesn’t work,” he said.

Councillor Ford also declared he has no intention of running for a second term in the municipal election slated for Oct. 27.

WATCH: Doug Ford declines opportunity to run Progressive Conservative Party 

Mayor Ford, who stood beside his brother during the press conference, said he supports the decision and thanked him publicly for his loyalty.

“I respect Doug’s decision. He would have been a fantastic, not just an MPP, he would have been a minister and one day he’s going to be leader of the party,” Ford said.

Earlier this week, the Ontario Legislature resumed sitting for the first time in two months. All three parties are expected to face a political showdown over the upcoming Liberal budget.

Both the NDP and Progressive Conservatives are at odds with Premier Kathleen Wynne over tax hikes to fund public transit in the province and are prepared to force an election over the issue.

Although the Fords said there needs to be a change of leadership at Queen’s Park, they won’t be taking part in any PC provincial campaign activities.

“Rob and myself will not be involved whatsoever in a provincial campaign. We have our own campaign to work on,” Doug said.