Two councillors who argued nose-to-nose in front of the media Wednesday morning apologized in council chambers for their role in the dramatic showdown.
Coun. Giorgio Mammoliti was the first to stand up, apologizing for his comments regarding an Ombudsman report that was up for debate.
"I asked that members receive a copy of the Ombudsman's mandate before the debate,” he said before reading out the comment he made that raised the ire of his council colleagues.
"The report, in my opinion is a very politically driven report."
Mammoliti explained that he believed some people interviewed for Ombudsman report were politically motivated.
"At no time did I intend to say the Ombudsman is politically driven,” the councillor said during his apology. “To anyone who has misconstrued or taken that out of context, I apologize."
When Mammoliti first made that comment, several other councillors, including Council Speaker Frances Nunziata, asked him to apologize. Mammoliti refused, asking for the speaker to read back his comments first.
Nunziata refused and Mammoliti walked off the council floor and up the stairs of the chamber into the media deck.
That’s when Coun. Gord Perks followed him up the stairs and demanded he leave in an intense confrontation in front of reporters.
“Shame on you! Get out of this chamber, get out of this chamber,” Perks said, his hand gesturing inches from his face. “You’re a bully, you’re trying to destroy the public service. You said you were leaving, so leave this chamber.”
Mammoliti stood still before him, asking him to move back.
“Please stop touching me, I will defend myself if you keep touching me,” he said to Perks. “Get away from my space. I’m asking you nicely, get away from my space.”
Perks, who was standing toe-to-toe with Mammoliti, did not appear to be touching the councillor.
Before stepping back he told his colleague, “You don’t have the courage to go down there and debate this. Leave. You use your bully pulpit to try and intimidate the public service.”
“I think you are bullying me right now,” Mammoliti said.
When council convened, Mammoliti told council he would be filing a report with the integrity commissioner if Perks did not step forward and apologize.
Perks took the opportunity to say he’s sorry for the exchange.
“Today of all days is a day I should have remembered to treat this member with more respect and my fellow councillors with more respect. I apologize,” he said.
In the meantime, the Ombudsman’s report was indeed deferred until Thursday morning due to the fact that the Ombudsman was feeling ill.
Plastic bag ban stands
Once the controversy was resolved, councillors set their attention towards the plastic bag ban.
Council members voted 27-18 against reopening the issue of the plastic bag ban.
Coun. Peter Milczyn had asked council to reconsider the ban.
The city may face legal action if the ban is implemented Jan. 1.
The Ontario Convenience Stores Association contends the ban violates the Charter of Rights and Freedoms and has already announced plans to pursue legal action if the decision isn’t reversed.
The plastic bag ban was introduced by Coun. David Shiner in June, when council voted to eliminate a five-cent plastic bag levy.
Shiner tacked the motion onto the plan to eliminate the fee, and council passed it 24-20.
Concerns were raised that council moved too hastily and did not seek public consultations when they approved the motion.
The meeting is set to continue tomorrow. the hot topic will be the debate over the future ownership of the Toronto Zoo.
At the meeting, councillors are scheduled to discuss the possible sale of the city-owned zoo – the largest facility of its kind in Canada – and vote on a councillor’s motion that aims to block such a move.
During Tuesday’s session, Coun. Paul Ainslie introduced a motion to suspend the search for a private operator.
In another hurdle, board members of the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority, which owns much of the land the zoo is situated on, are also opposed to the sale or lease of the zoo to a private operator.
Earlier this week, the city issued a request for expressions of interest to find out if the private sector has any desire to buy, lease or operate the zoo in Scarborough.
The request asks respondents to come up with a financially sustainable plan that incorporates the Rouge National Urban Park adjacent to the zoo.
Last year, faced with a budget deficit, city council voted to sell or lease the zoo to help alleviate operating costs.
Proposals are being accepted until Nov. 26.
The Toronto Zoo is home to more than 5,000 animals, and attracts more than one million visitors each year.
Wednesday’s meeting was the second day of council’s first session after their summer hiatus.
Council members were busy during Tuesday’s session, voting to sell the city’s stake in Enwave and stick with a plan to scrap the Jarvis Street bike lanes, at a cost of $300,000, in favour of bike lanes on Sherbourne Street.
As for the city's share of the Enwave sale, Ford wants the money to be spent on new streetcars, but other councillors suggested it go towards TCHC operations, basement flooding damage and other things.
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