Coun. Doug Ford says he is concerned for the mayor’s safety after a woman allegedly threw a slushie at him as he posed for photographs in Little Italy over the weekend.
Ford made the comment to CP24 Monday morning, one day after he told listeners on his weekly radio show that it was time for his brother, Mayor Rob Ford, to hire a full-time security detail.
“The concern is does this give the green light to any other crazy person that wants to throw something hot on him or go after a weapon? Don’t forget, it was just a week ago that my kids and my family were seriously threatened, and I mean seriously,” Ford said, alluding to a threatening email he had previously spoke about. “The threats have come through our business, they have come through our house. What have we done so wrong?”
The mayor has balked at the idea of having a bodyguard in the past, but while hosting Newstalk 1010's “The City” on Sunday afternoon, he seemed to leave the door open to such a measure.
Doug Ford then said that he is “100 per cent” in favour of the move, noting that the mayor could utilize the services of a special Toronto police unit in place to help protect visiting dignitaries and other officials.
“At the end of the day, we have to overrule him,” Doug Ford said. “The people have decided you are getting security and you are going to get security. Earl (Chief of Staff Earl Provost), make sure that happens, buddy.”
If Ford does choose to employ a full-time security detail, he’ll be the first mayor in recent memory to do so.
Speaking with CP24 Monday morning, Coun. Gloria Lindsay Luby called the protection unnecessary.
“It is really up to him, but no other mayor in history that I am aware of here has ever had to have a guard. Nobody,” she said. “You know you may disagree with someone’s politics but to my knowledge we are a very peaceful public.”
Asked about the idea as he drove out of the city hall parking garage Monday afternoon, Ford semmed to dodge the question.
"You are my security," he said, before driving off.
Speaking with CP24 later in the afternoon, Ford spokesperson Sunny Petrujkic said that "arrangements are being made," but declined further comment.
"We don't comment on the mayor's security," he said.
The alleged assault over the weekend took place at the Taste of Little Italy Festival, an annual event on College Street between Bathurst and Shaw streets.
Shannon Everett, 27, of Toronto has been charged with assault in connection with the incident.
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