Rob Ford

Rob Ford in chains.

By law, as I understand it, an Ontario mayor can only be stripped of office if he is convicted of a serious crime or if he is found guilty of a conflict of interest.

Rob Ford should remain in office unless and until one of these two conditions are met. They are currently not met.

Yes, the provincial government could amend the law to get him out. But this would set a terrible precedent: retroactive laws are an automatic violation of human rights, and could be used to take out anyone some future government finds inconvenient.

Removing an elected officeholder by non-democratic means is also a terrible precedent. It could be used in future by a ruling elite to end democracy for all practical purposes.

Rob Ford's personal life is, in principle, none of our business. He has the same right to privacy as a common citizen. He also has the same right to freedom of speech.

Of course, he also has the right to resign if he so chooses. His call.