VIDEO: Forum Research president Dr. Lorne Bozinoff talks about the latest Rob Ford approval rating poll on The Morning Show.
TORONTO – Mayor Rob Ford’s suburban supporters in Etobicoke and Scarborough remain steadfast following a public apology over the weekend regarding his controversial behaviour, according to poll results released on Tuesday.
A telephone poll by Forum Research conducted on Monday says Scarborough continues to show unwavering support with 55 per cent of those surveyed saying they approve of the job Ford is doing as Mayor of Toronto, up one per cent from a previous poll conducted on Oct. 31.
READ MORE: Toronto Mayor Rob Ford approval rating unscathed by controversy: poll
Meanwhile, voters in Etobicoke/York followed close behind with a 49 per cent approval rating. North York was third with 43 per cent and Toronto/East York was last with 30 per cent.
“Completely divided. Traditional suburbs versus downtown. The downtown politicians versus the suburban politicians, like Rob Ford and Ford Nation,” said Dr. Lorne Bozinoff, Forum Research President on The Morning Show.
Ford on Sunday addressed his substance abuse allegations on his weekly radio show and apologized for his “mistakes” and doing “a lot of stupid things.”
READ MORE: Mayor Rob Ford admits to smoking crack cocaine
The mayor’s statements came just a few days after Toronto police Chief Blair announced he had seen a video “consistent” with media reports of the mayor smoking what appears to be crack cocaine.
The regional divide continued when those surveyed were asked about Ford’s radio apology. Toronto/East York were the most dissatisfied with 74 per cent, North York was second with 63 per cent, Etobicoke/York at 54 per cent and Scarborough with 53 per cent.
When it came to the question of Ford resigning, 73 per cent of Toronto/East York region voters overwhelming said the Mayor should step down, followed by North York at 60 per cent, Etobicoke/York with 52 per cent and Scarborough with 47 per cent.
The mayor’s numbers in Scarborough remain strong due largely to his support of extending the subway line to the east-end Toronto community.
The majority of people polled in the Toronto/East York region also thought the mayor has a substance abuse problem, with 66 per cent saying he does. This is followed by North York at 51 per cent, Etobicoke at 50 and Scarborough at 46.
People in Scarborough were the least likely to think Ford should take a leave of absence with only 43 per cent of respondents saying “Yes.” Toronto/East York had the strongest percentage with 61 per cent saying he should take a leave of absence followed by North York at 56 per cent and Etobicoke/York at 42 per cent.
The Forum Poll was conducted by Forum Research with the results based on an interactive voice response telephone survey of 1393 randomly selected Torontonians 18 years of age and older. The poll was conducted on November 4th, 2013. Results based on the total sample are considered accurate +/‐ 3%, 19 times out of 20.
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