TORONTO – A new poll suggests Mayor Rob Ford’s popularity is on the upswing.

According to a Forum Research survey over the weekend — before Ottawa announced funds for the Scarborough subway — Ford’s approval rating is at 49 per cent, up from 44 per cent in August.

“That’s pretty much his highest approval rating since the honeymoon period,” said Forum Research President Lorne Bozinoff.

“Back in the honeymoon days he had 60 per cent and then 57 per cent. And then he’s been much lower since then. So he’s on a bit of a roll right now.”

Bozinoff said the progress on the Scarborough subway has helped Ford, whose popularity has dipped as low as the teens.

“It’s safe to say the handling of the subway card over the last week has played into the mayor’s favour, and it’s only contributed to his solid popularity,” Bozinoff said.

Indeed, Ford is most popular in Scarborough, where his approval rating is at 60 per cent. In Toronto-East York on the other hand, only 29 per cent approve of the mayor’s performance.

Forum surveyed 1,082 Toronto residents by phone on Saturday and Sunday.