FORD'S NEW MODEL

Who is Doug Ford, what were the Ontario election results and what has he said about his late brother Rob Ford?

THE brother of crack-smoking mayor Rob Ford is about to take office as premier of Ontario, Canada's most populous province.

Doug Ford has been compared to Donald Trump for his plain speaking campaign style and popular appeal. Here's what you need to know.

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Doug Ford's populist style has propelled him to one of the highest political offices in CanadaCredit: Reuters

Who is Doug Ford?

Doug Ford, 53, is a Canadian businessman turned politician.

He and wife Karla have four daughters, Krista, Kayla, Kara and Kyla.

Doug Jnr, whose father Doug Snr was also member of the Ontario provincial assembly, took over the family's label printing business in 2002 and helped it expand into the US.

His late younger brother Rob was the larger-than-life mayor of Toronto who was filmed smoking crack cocaine then went into rehab.

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Doug, a city councillor, was one of Rob's chief defenders through the drug abuse scandal that was made into a film starring Damian Lewis.

When Rob fell ill with cancer, Doug took his place in the 2014 mayoral election but lost.

Undeterred, in September he announced he would run again in the 2018 mayoral contest, declaring: "This one's for you Robbie" in tribute to his brother who died in 2016.

But following the resignation of Ontario's centre-right Progressive Conservative Party leader in January 2018, Doug set his sights on higher office.

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He narrowly won the party leadership contest and secured the candidacy in a local seat in the Etobicoke district where he grew up.

Doug's populist campaigning style drew comparisons with Donald Trump as he loudly attacked the media and the "champagne drinking elites".

He promised to fight for "the little guy" by slashing petrol prices, cutting taxes and boosting jobs.

Just days before the election, it emerged Doug Ford was embroiled in a $16million legal battle with Rob's widow who accused him of "negligent mismanagement" of the family business which is now run by another brother, Randy.

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Businessman Doug Ford was compared to Donald Trump after vowing to fight for 'the little guy'Credit: Rex Features

What was the result of the Ontario election?

On June 7, voters in Ontario - which includes a third of Canada's 36million population - elected their representatives in the provincial parliament.

Ford's party stormed ahead, defying polls that had placed them neck and neck with the left-leaning New Democrats.

The Progressive Conservatives won a decisive majority of 76 seats while the NDP took 40.

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After 15 years in power, Justin Trudeau's Liberal Party were humiliated. They won only seven seats and lost their official status as a recognised party in the assembly.

Ford told supporters at a rally in Toronto: "This victory belongs to the people."

He also paid tribute to his late brother, saying: “I know my brother Rob is looking down from heaven. I’m just getting chills talking about him right now.

“I know Rob is celebrating with us tonight. We owe so much to Rob’s legacy.”

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Mr Trudeau, prime minister of Canada, congratulated Ford on Twitter and said he was "looking forward to working together to create jobs & opportunity."

Previously unseen video of ex-Toronto mayor Rob Ford smoking crack

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