Mayor Rob Ford marked his return to city hall Monday with an emotional apology to Torontonians and an adamant refusal to answer any questions from the city’s frustrated media.
During a press conference with hand-picked media outlets at city hall Monday afternoon, Ford described his personal struggle with substance abuse, admitting a drug problem for the first time.
"For a long, long time I resisted the idea of getting help… I was in complete denial," Ford said. "It soon became obvious that my alcohol and drug issues were having a serious, serious impact on family, my health and on my job as mayor."
Ford said the "intensive" treatment program he underwent at the GreeneStone rehab facility in Muskoka over the past two months “saved” his life.
The embattled mayor told reporters he is "ashamed" of some of his past behaviour.
"When I look back on some of the things I have said, and some of the things I did when I was using, I am ashamed, embarrassed and humiliated. I was wrong and I have no one to blame but myself," he said. "I want to sincerely, sincerely apologize, not just to the people of Toronto but every single person who was hurt by my words and my actions. It was never my intention to embarrass the city or offend my fellow members of council."
While he spoke in general terms about his actions, he specifically apologized to mayoral candidate Karen Stintz, for making what he called “degrading” remarks about her while at a bar with friends. Those remarks were surreptitiously taped and an audio recording of them was leaked to the media on April 30. Ford announced that night he would be entering rehab for treatment.
But on Monday, Ford assured the public that he is no longer "blind to the dangers of some of the company" that he kept.
"Those associations have ended," he said.
After apologizing for about 11 minutes, Ford quickly launched into campaign mode, listing off his accomplishments and re-affirming his goal for re-election.
"We've come a long way despite my personal troubles and I'm extremely proud of my public record," he said.
"I look forward to serving you for many, many more years."
Mayoral candidate John Tory was quick to respond to the mayor’s comments Monday.
Tory renewed his call for the mayor to resign and said Ford has “massively” embarrassed the city.
"Results are almost impossible to achieve," Tory said, citing differences Ford has with his colleagues on council.
Mayoral hopeful Olivia Chow also took aim at Ford’s speech Monday, saying she expected more from his apology.
Chow noted that the mayor did not specifically apologize for racist and homophobic remarks he allegedly made on tape.
The former NDP MP also couldn’t pass up the opportunity to pitch her platform during the speaking engagement, criticizing Ford’s “failed policies.”
“The question is not whether Rob Ford is clean and sober, the issue is that he is a failed mayor,” she said.
“He has failed the thousands and thousands of young people who are desperately looking for a job. Under his watch as a mayor, more than one out five young people cannot find a job.”
Chow said she is not calling on the mayor to resign but rather wants to leave it up to the public to decide on October 27th, the day voters return to the polls.
Some media shut out
Ford's planned address stoked controversy, with some outlets complaining that they weren’t allowed to attend. While broadcast oulets, including CP24, were given a spot at the address, some photo news agencies and print outlets -- including Reuters, The Canadian Press, NOW Magazine, Toronto Community News, and city hall bloggers were not included.
The move effectively banned the head of the city hall press gallery, David Nickle, who reports for Toronto Community News. The Toronto Star, whom the mayor has heavily criticized in the past, was allowed into the news conference.
In an open letter sent to Ford’s staff, Nickle said the small size of the venue appeared to be a pretext for shutting out some media.
“As Toronto's own Strategic Communications department has pointed out to you and to us, there are many spaces at Toronto City Hall where the mayor can speak in front of all the interested Toronto media,” Nickle wrote.
In an email to CP24, Ford’s press secretary, Amin Massoudi, said he had done his best to accommodate a range of media.
Nickle told CP24 he learned on Friday that he had been shut out of the event and contacted the mayor’s office the same day. He said he hasn’t yet heard back.
He also said he has no idea why he was shut out of the event.
“I haven’t been told why so I can only guess,” he said, noting that while he’s been critical of the mayor in the past, so have other outlets who are allowed to attend.
Grid TO Senior Editor Ed Keenan said the move sends a bad message.
“There’s not much I gain by being there, but I think there is a principle at stake here when news outlets like (The Canadian Press), like David Nickle… are excluded,” said Keenan, who has also been shut out of Ford’s speech. “It sends a bad sign about turning over a new leaf.”
Ford can’t avoid controversy
The embattled mayor has kept a comparatively low profile since leaving for rehab April 30. He checked himself into the facility after a new video and audio recordings surfaced which reportedly depict the mayor doing drugs and making derogatory remarks towards women and ethnic groups. CP24 has not seen or heard the tapes and cannot independently confirm their contents.
However, Ford has not been altogether silent during his absence. He has been spotted out and about with locals in Muskoka, taking photographs with several people in the region looking trim. In a number of phone interviews with the Toronto Sun, the mayor has said that he’s returning constituents’ phone calls and that he will return to “kick butt” in the mayoral race this fall. He also told the Sun that he reached out to Premier Kathleen Wynne to congratulate her on her win in the provincial election.
And despite his absence from public life, Ford couldn’t completely dodge controversy.
In May, Ford’s SUV was impounded by police in Gravenhurst after a 36-year-old woman was pulled over and arrested for impaired driving while operating the vehicle. Ford was not in the vehicle at the time, though police confirmed that he had given the woman permission to use his SUV.
More recently, Democracy Watch filed a complaint with the city’s integrity commissioner about alleged business dealings by the mayor and his brother. The complaint follows a report in the Globe and Mail alleging that the Fords lobbied on behalf of two companies that have ties to their family-owned business Deco Labels. The allegations have not been proven.
Ford to dive in to campaign with Canada Day events
Ford is also expected to get right back to work, focusing on the October election and his quest to become mayor for a second term. The mayor’s brother, campaign manager and colleague on council, Coun. Doug Ford, said they will attend several Canada Day events on Tuesday.
In the meantime, his challengers are voicing their doubts that Ford will re-emerge as a new man.
Nearly all the top contenders for the mayor’s office either released statements about Ford’s return or promised to comment afterward.
According to a poll released last week, Ford has gained ground in the mayoral race since he left for rehab. He currently sits in second place with 27 per cent support, behind frontrunner Chow (34 per cent). Tory has dropped to third place at 24 per cent support. David Soknacki (6 per cent) and Karen Stintz (3 per cent) occupy third and fourth place respectively.
