Councillor Doug Ford is temporarily putting his provincial ambitions aside so he can focus on getting his brother re-elected.

The elder Ford has been openly toying with the idea of running for the Progressive Conservative Party since 2011. With a possible spring election on the horizon, and the councillor’s recent announcement that he was done with municipal politics, many believed he’d be making the jump this time.

But at a Thursday morning news conference outside the mayor’s office, the councillor ended that speculation.

“I’m declaring that I will not be running in the provincial election. I’d love to, but you have to put other things ahead of your own political aspirations sometimes. I’ll tell you, I will eventually, one day, run provincially,” Ford said.

“The timing right now just doesn’t work. I’d be letting my brother down. I’d be letting our whole team down. And I can’t wear two hats, being a candidate for the PC party and being a campaign manager.”

Ford told reporters he still intends to run for the provincial Conservatives some day — as his late father Doug Ford Sr. successfully did in the mid 1990s — but that he’s got enough on his plate with his brother’s campaign. “The world will be watching,” he noted.

Ford also said he wouldn’t be running for re-election in Ward 2, Etobicoke North — a seat that’s been in the family since 2000 — although his nephew Michael will “maybe” be on the ballot.

Curiously, Ford said that while he won’t be running again municipally, he “wouldn’t rule out coming down here (to city hall),” adding “I can assure you, I’ll be by his side 100 per cent moving the agenda forward.”

Those close to the Ford administration say Doug Ford has always had his eye on the chief of staff job.

Asked if Mayor Rob Ford’s recent trouble had anything to do with his decision, the councillor was adamant it didn’t. He said he “had a long talk” with Tim Hudak and that the Conservative leader fully understood the timing problem.

Ever since the crack scandal made international headlines, there have been rumours of iciness between Hudak and the Ford family. The councillor said as far as he knew, things were fine.

However, while both Ford brothers said they believe Hudak would make an excellent premier and they wish him well, they indicated they would not be knocking on doors for the party this spring.

“Rob and myself will not, I repeat, will not be involved whatsoever in a provincial campaign. We have our own campaign to work on,” the councillor said. “We’ll be supporting Tim but we will not be out there working on the campaign.”

The mayor added: “I will not be active in the provincial campaign at all. . . . I’m going to concentrate — if I’m going to be knocking on doors it will be for Rob Ford.”

The mayor thanked his brother for his “friendship” and “loyalty” and said he has no doubt the councillor will one day run and win.

“One day he’s going to be leader of the party,” said the mayor.

‎At Queen’s Park, the relief was palpable in the Progressive Conservative caucus after Doug Ford’s announcement.

Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading...

During the morning question period, Conservative MPPs beamed at reporters in the legislature and good-naturedly deflected Liberal barbs about the councillor.

“What about Doug Ford,” heckled Rural Affairs Minister Jeff Leal.

“He’s available,” shouted back Conservative MPP Todd Smith (Prince Edward-Hastings).

“A free agent,” added an unidentified Tory MPP.

Hudak was not in the house but has quietly made it known for months that he was not interested in the Ford psychodrama coming to Queen’s Park.

Hudak backed Premier Kathleen Wynne’s call to empower city council to deal with Rob Ford if need be after the crack cocaine scandal and has said the mayor should seek help to get healthy.

Sources say Tory officials met with Doug Ford last Friday to discuss his provincial aspirations and he told them he would be too busy with the municipal campaign to run.

One high-ranking Hudak insider said it was Ford’s decision.

“This doesn’t come as a surprise to us,” the official said, adding he was not concerned the Fords would be unable to stump for the Tories in an election campaign.

“They can’t do two things at once. They’re going to be busy on the municipal election.”

Said another Tory staffer: “It’s hard to campaign for Rob Ford and Tim Hudak at the same time. We wish him well.”

Read more about: