Rob Ford first mayor in more than a decade to pass on parade
Mayor Rob Ford will not take part in the Toronto’s annual Pride Parade over the Canada Day long weekend. The mayor will instead spend the national holiday weekend in cottage country with his family, breaking a more than decade-long tradition of mayors marching in the parade. Critics called his decision a missed opportunity, given that in the past he has made comments considered homophobic, including “if you’re not doing needles and you’re not gay, you won’t get AIDS, probably.” Leaders in Toronto’s gay community say the mayor’s decision to skip the celebration that draws about half a million people to the city’s streets sends the wrong message.