Rob Ford’s death came while he held a seat on Toronto council — triggering city protocol for the death of a sitting municipal politician.
Here’s what happens next.
Funeral
Ford’s family determines visitation and funeral arrangements, which would then be shared with the city. The city says state funerals are normally reserved for sitting mayors, but exceptions can be made — such as was done for former councillor and NDP leader Jack Layton.
Funeral plans are to be announced Wednesday, according to Dan Jacobs, Ford’s former chief of staff.
The last sitting councillor to die was Frank Faubert in 1999.
Flags at half mast and book of condolences
Flags at city hall and civic centres have been lowered to half mast in recognition of Ford’s death. Mayor John Tory says they will remain so until the day after Ford’s funeral.
Tory also says the TORONTO sign in front of city hall — which on Tuesday took the colours of the Belgian flag to mourn the terror attacks there — will be dimmed that evening in tribute to Ford.
The Toronto District School Board is also lowering flags at schools.
A book of condolences is also being set up at city hall and at civic centres, letting the public share their feelings on Ford’s passing with his family.
City officials have also created an online book of condolences.
Filling Ford’s council seat
Ford’s Ward 2 – Etobicoke North council seat is now vacant, but won’t be officially declared so until the next council meeting March 30.
Once the vacancy is official, within 60 days council must either appoint someone to the seat or vote to hold a byelection.
There’s a young politician in the Ford family who may be a potential candidate — Ford’s nephew Michael Ford, who initially filed papers for the Ward 2 seat in 2014 but abandoned those efforts when Ford decided to run.
Michael Ford, who is in his early 20s, instead ran for a post as a school trustee and won.