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Elizabeth May Wants 'Tough On Crime' Harper To Urge Rob Ford To Quit (VIDEO)

Elizabeth May: 'Tough On Crime' Harper Should Urge Ford To Quit

Green Party Leader Elizabeth May wants a prime minister who fancies himself as "tough on crime" to practice what he preaches when it comes to his "friends."

And to May, that means Stephen Harper should urge Rob Ford to resign — even if the Toronto mayor hasn't been charged with any crime.

May rose in question period on Friday to address the fact that Arthur Porter, the disgraced former head of Canada's spy agency arrested on fraud charges last year, is still a member of the Queen's Privy Council of Canada.

Arthur, whom Harper appointed as chair of the Security Intelligence Review Committee in 2008, is currently behind bars in Panama.

"To be removed from this position all the prime minister has to do is ask the governor general to remove him. Why has this step not been taken?" she asked.

Paul Calandra, parliamentary secretary to the prime minister, responded that he would take May's comments under advisement and get back to her.

May seemed to like that answer, suggesting it will help the government change the perception it is tough on crime, but soft on its friends.

"I'm wondering if the parliamentary secretary could also take a message to the prime minister from one of my constituents that they would appreciate it if the prime minister urged his friend, the mayor of Toronto, to resign because it's an embarrassment to Canada to have someone with these charges against them," she said.

Tories on the other side of the aisle clearly didn't enjoy that remark. The deputy speaker said her question "clearly”" went beyond the government’s administrative responsibilities.

May is not a member of Parliament for a Toronto riding. She represents Saanich-Gulf Islands, a riding in British Columbia.

This is not the first time Ford's name has come up in question period as opposition parties try to link Harper to the controversial leader of Canada's largest city.

During an exchange with Harper in November, Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau said he would "take no lessons in accountability from a man whose fishing buddy is Rob Ford."

But Harper has largely avoided weighing in on the many scandals surrounding Ford.

In late November, Harper said it was up to the voters of Toronto to determine the mayor's future.

"I've heard Mr. Ford's statements to the effect that he would like to become prime minister of Canada. Obviously this is not something I'm in favour of," Harper joked.

Employment Minister Jason Kenney, however, urged Ford to step aside.

"I will say as an elected official that I think Mr. Ford has brought dishonour to public office and the office of mayor and his city," he told a reporter last November.

Kenney's remarks didn't sit well with Finance Minister Jim Flaherty, a longtime family friend of the Fords.

According to CBC News, Flaherty confronted Kenney on the floor of the House of Commons and told him to "shut the f--k up" up Ford. Some Tory MPs reportedly feared the two ministers would come to blows.

Flaherty didn't deny the heated exchange took place and suggested to reporters in December that Kenney, a Calgary MP, crossed into his turf.

"You know, I'm the minister for the Greater Toronto Area. I don't comment on the mayor of Calgary," Flaherty said.

NDP Leader Tom Mulcair has also called on Ford to resign.

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