Toronto Mayor Rob Ford thinks Manitoba is next to Windsor

He was trying to convince people in Chicago to visit Canada's largest city when he made the comments

Canadians usually get a big chuckle out of Americans not knowing much about Canada especially when they call Saskatoon the capital of Canada on the quiz show Jeopardy!

But one notable Canadian also seems to be confused about our own geography. Toronto Mayor Rob Ford seems to think when you cross the border from Detroit you end up in Manitoba.

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He made the comments on the first day of a trade mission to Chicago when talking to people on the streets. He was walking around, introducing himself and urging people to visit him at city hall if they are ever in Toronto.

He asked one woman if she had ever been to Toronto and here's the rest of the conversation.

Woman: I've been to Canada.

Mayor: Yeah, whereabouts in Canada?

Woman: I don't know, that part across from Detroit and the river.

Mayor: Oh Manitoba! You were in Manitoba. Winnipeg?

The young woman shrugs as if she didn't know if she was there, as a reporter shouts "Windsor".

Mayor: Windsor? Windsor. Were you in the city? So, that's Ontario. Toronto is about four hours away, Windsor and Toronto. Excellent, well come by Toronto some time."

The encounter starts about 40 seconds into this clip.

I guess only time will tell if this young woman will make her way to Toronto. Let's just hope Ford doesn't give her directions.

Ford is in Chicago to discuss business ties, learn about waterfront development and re-sign a Sisters City Partnership Agreement with Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel. Emanuel was formerly White House Chief of Staff to President Barack Obama, an advisor to President Bill Clinton and a Congressman. His younger brother Ari is the basis for Jeremy Piven's character Ari Gold on HBO's Entourage.

Comedian Rick Mercer shares his insight on the two men:

As for Ford, he can't shake controversy even when crossing the border. During a photo opportunity at Millennium Park's Cloud Gate, also called 'The Bean', Ford was forced to dodge questions about one of his employees and a City of Toronto vehicle being at a football practice even when he wasn't there.

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Ford then asked a reporter, "Am I going to be sleeping with you...tonight?" That was in reference to him saying on his radio show Sunday, he expects to roll over and find a reporter spying on him.

"I hope not," replied the reporter.

Ford isn't the first politician to not be so good with geography. U.S. Congresswoman Michele Bachmann got states mixed up during a New Hampshire visit and Sarah Palin said she could see Russia from her house in Alaska.

The good news for taxpayers is that at least we aren't paying for Ford's trip to Chicago. He has said that he and the business leaders are paying their own way, but some city councillors have said they will expense the costs.

(CBC photo)