Doug Ford strongly criticized potential mayoral candidate John Tory on Wednesday for Tory's comments about professional women, calling Tory's words “chauvinistic” and calling Tory “one of the elites of the 1 per cent.”

Tory, the wealthy former Rogers executive and former leader of the provincial Progressive Conservatives, is considering a run against Rob Ford. Doug Ford, a city councillor, is the campaign manager for his brother.

Doug Ford is a millionaire conservative businessman. He has not previously used the “1 per cent” rhetoric of the Occupy movement to attack a rival.

Tory said Monday on CP24 that the pay gap between men and women might exist because “the women don’t come as often to complain.” Addressing the subject again on his Newstalk 1010 show later in the day, he said, “Young women, right now, learn how to play golf...It’s immensely advantageous to your career.”

Doug Ford told reporters Wednesday: “I don’t agree with his comments. Since he’s part of the 1 per cent and he’s part of the establishment, and he’s one of the elites of the 1 per cent, that’s his theory of being successful. Join the golf course, join the private club, be with the elitists, be with the establishment and then you’ll all be rich after. Well, that’s a bunch of nonsense.”

Ford added: “He should stick with the radio, that’s what he should be doing. I think it’s just a chauvinistic comment. I have four girls. None of them golf. All the women out there that don’t golf, they aren’t going to be successful? I think it’s a biased, chauvinistic comment and I think he should stick to his radio show.”

Rob Ford has consistently fared better in polls with males than with females, and he has himself faced criticism for comments related to women. He offered in April to explain to women “how politics works,” a suggestion some women took as condescending. In December, he declared on radio that “women love money.” In November, he made a lewd remark about his sex life with his wife.

He has also been criticized for having an executive committee made up entirely of men. Police have been called to his home at least twice during his mayoralty over alleged domestic incidents; he has not been charged. A 2008 assault charge was dropped due to alleged inconsistencies in his wife's account.

The only prominent female candidate to declare so far, Councillor Karen Stintz, said in the text of a January speech that Ford's “conduct towards women in his public statements have been reprehensible.”

Tory represents a threat to Ford's prospects. Ford’s camp made a deliberate effort in 2010 to attempt to keep Tory out of that election, in which Ford defeated Liberal George Smitherman. Doug Ford's words likely represent a preview of their planned line of attack against Tory if he runs this time: despite their own wealth, they portray themselves as outsiders who take on the establishment on behalf of average people.

Tory did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Wednesday.

Councillor Jaye Robinson will support Tory if he runs. She said Tory’s “unfortunate” comments were “off the cuff” and do not reflect “how he is as a person.”

“I’ve seen him advocate for women throughout his career in both business and politics, and I know John is a strong supporter of equal pay for equal work,” she said.

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