Toronto Mayor Rob Ford opposes publicly-funded healthcare

Toronto Mayor Rob Ford says he still has plans to become Canada’s prime minister and claims his brother will be Ontario premier some day. And when those days come, don’t be surprised if the first order of business is to kill Canada’s healthcare system.

Ford panned America’s move toward universal healthcare and promoted a two-tier healthcare system in Canada during a wide-ranging interview on a sports radio show in Washington, D.C. called “The Sports Junkies.”

While first declining to discuss anything but sports, Ford eventually shared his thoughts on Barack Obama, who he likes as a person, and his criticism on public healthcare.

"I’d be a Republican if I was down in the states. So I don’t believe in all this public-funded health care, because we gotta pay for it. (Canada) can’t afford it," Ford told the sports radio show.

“If you want health care, you pay for it. It’s going to cost you guys a fortune to put in Obamacare.”

[ Related: Mayor Rob Ford calls latest allegations an ‘outright lie’ on Washington sports radio ]

It is not the first time he has publicly opposed public healthcare. During an appearance on Fox News’ The O’Reilly Factor last month he was asked whether he supported Obamacare and responded, "Come on, some of the stuff you guys are doing down there, to me, are you crazy?"

Ford’s family is worth millions thanks to a successful company established by his father. So perhaps his preference as a one-per-center for privatizing health care should be obvious. Still, it is notable considering he intentionally appeals to low-income voters, who likely rely heavily on public healthcare.

Here is Ford’s comment in full:

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