Wow. Just wow.
I have been following the Rob Ford, This Hour Has 22 Minutes story and wrote up a post last night that I trashed. I don’t think the crew was in the right showing up at his home on a school morning. Previous attempts by the show to contact Ford had been met with silence, and I think the crew could have tried to do the ambush on public property. That out of the way, the Toronto mayor did not want to be on the show. He then lied to media about what happened Monday morning when the crew showed up at his home.
(Listen to the audio at the top of the CBC story)
Turns out he did more than that.
Let me say this: Police do not take kindly to their own being abused, be they uniformed or civilian employees. I’ve no doubt many service members had no trouble unofficially letting media know they are not amused.
CBC:
Toronto’s 911 dispatchers are accusing the city’s mayor, Rob Ford, of calling them “bitches” and hurling a string of profanity at them during an emergency call early Monday.
Ford called for police assistance when Mary Walsh, part of the CBC TV comedy show This Hour Has 22 Minutes, ambushed him in his driveway dressed as the character Marg Delahunty, with cameras rolling.
In the video of the encounter, Ford seems at first to be playing along, but becomes increasingly agitated, asking, “Can I go to my car please?”
Ford eventually walked back inside his home and called 911 — not once, but twice.
Dispatchers sent a crew on high priority, arriving at his Etobicoke home 10 minutes after the call.
Mary Walsh and the This Hour crew were not there when police arrived. They’d left, headed down to City Hall and did an interview with Councillor Doug Ford, the mayor’s brother.
For my not Canadian readers, This Hour Has 22 Minutes is a long running comedy show on the CBC. Mary Walsh is an 18 time Gemini winner, and is a gem in her role of Marg Delahunty, princess warrior.
Walsh says in the years she has been doing ambush interviews with politicians in the role of Delahunty, she has never had a reaction like Ford’s.
Toronto 911 dispatchers probably haven’t either. CBC:
Ford won’t discuss his comments to 911. But he told reporters Monday after the run-in with the CBC TV crew that he called police after his daughter got scared.
“I didn’t know who they were, and obviously I’ve had death threats,” Ford said Monday.
“I’m up for the games. I have no problem, you know what I mean, and I’m open to the media, but when you come to my private house early in the morning and ambush me that’s — I think that crosses the line. I just told the police, and they’ll take it from there.”
If I treated dispatchers that way, I wouldn’t want to discuss those calls to media either. 911 staff have filed a complaint with the police union.
Marg Delahunty and Rob Ford segment This Hour Has 22 Minutes. The show topped the ratings, drawing over 1 million viewers.
Ford has the second lowest approval ratings for Canadian mayors (15 largest cities)
Update: Mayor Rob Ford has issued a sort of explanation with a denial he called the dispatcher names. He acknowledges swearing and said “After being attacked in my driveway, I hope I can be excused for saying the f-word. I never called anyone any names. I apologize for expressing my frustration inappropriately.”
Doug Ford says there were 3 calls to 911, and a Toronto Councillor says the CBC owes the mayor an apology. There are calls for the tape to be released, and Warren Kinsella is offering money for a copy. Toronto’s mayor has serious anger issues from where I sit. The Police Association says no complaints have been filed by members. I suspect the tape will be leaked soon enough.
Update: The QMI Agency version from sources is even more bizarre: the sources say Marg Delahunty can be heard yelling, Ford’s daughter can be heard screaming, he gets the callback from 911 and he’s swearing on his way to City Hall.
The dispatcher asked Ford what is happening, the source said.
“I’m being attacked,” Ford states.
The mayor couldn’t identify who was attacking him and was then asked if the attackers had weapons.
“They’ve got cameras,” Ford reportedly said.
This happened on the eve of the first anniversary of his mayorship.
Ford’s first year has not been an easy go for him and he has been
losing support across the city. It seems only the talk radio station
CFRB still supports him. Some of his councillors who were aligned
to him and distancing themselves from him and finding strength
and support for their dissension to Ford’s agenda.
It gets better.
He has three more years in his term and I believe that if things
continue as they have to date, that Ford will have an excruciatingly
long three-year stretch. He has mentioned that he wants to run
again in 2014 and work is underway in that matter. I don’t believe
that he will run again because the remaining three years of his
current term are going to be one awfully rough ride for him.
A day doesn’t go by that the media reports on Mayor Ford and his brother aren’t bizzare. Clearly this man has issues that would best be worked out in a psychiatrists office.
That said – Toronto voted for him and are stuck with him for three more years. He is an embarrassment to this province and country.
I don’t believe him or trust him about the words claimed.
And I don’t think he is honourable at all. This is a city not a business he owns.
However, I have dealt with 911, after being held at knifepoint on the footbridge crossing to Glen Road at Sherborne station.
I had to phone twice. The first operator was kind. But, the second 911 operator I dealt with was rude, arrogant and yelled and at me. Friends with me heard them raise their voice to me on the phone.
I had to call twice but I’m not
“John f-ing Belvedere mayor of Toronto”. I waited over 45 minutes for officers to come and take statements.
I paid the Toronto police $5.00 to get a copy of the tapes. Who says Mr. Ford didn’t pay or strongarm someone to “edit” any tapes of what his personality truly exhibits.
No appologies but, if the hoof in mouth fits….
PS Mr. Ford and his brother
LIGHTEN UP.
Nope, it’s 2 more years for Ford. Mayoral term is only 3 years long, total.
Thanks N.:^)
For Bene and N,
I hope this link works because it shows that elections are now
every four years–not three, as was the case before.
http://www.ontariotenants.ca/government/election.phtml
I couldn’t find the relevant page from the Ontario website
so, I hope this will suffice for the moment.
This paragraph from WikiPedia may help:
David Raymond Miller (born December 26, 1958) is a Canadian politician. He was the 63rd Mayor of Toronto and the second since the 1998 amalgamation. He was elected to the position in 2003 for a three-year term and re-elected in 2006 for a four-year term. He entered politics as a member of the New Democratic Party, although his mayoral campaign and terms in office were without any formal party affiliation. He did not renew his party membership in 2007.
Police have told media that Ford can get the tape if he wants it, and can do whatever he choses to with it.
From the city of Toronto website:
http://www.toronto.ca/elections/terms.htm
Municipal Elections happen every four years on the fourth Monday of October. The next municipal election will happen on:
Election Day / Voting Day
Monday, October 27, 2014
10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
On this day eligible electors will vote for Mayor, City Councillor (one for each of the 44 Wards) and also School Board Trustee (one for each of the School Board Districts)
Mayor
The Mayor acts as chief executive officer of City Council, leads and represents the City in dealings with residents, elected officials, dignitaries and staff. The Mayor has a duty to conduct the business of the City in ways that are transparent, honest, efficient and inclusive. Responsible to ensure that City Council remains accountable and accessible to the public, the Mayor must uphold and carry out duties outlined in the City of Toronto Act, 2006 or any other Act. Term of Office is four years.
The guy seems to be an all-around jerk. Chris Christie with a potty mouth and no sense of humor. I’m only loosely familiar with 22 Minutes, but I would think that I’d be aware of a female Borat-style faux reporter shtick if I were paying attention to the CBC as a primary network.
I don’t see Ford getting reelected unless the alternative is far worse on the issues of the day. Any reasonable person of the left will get past Ford next-go round unless they are in an ugly anti-Liberal mood or the foe is equally flawed.
I wasn’t aware of his previous behavior – his is one out of control dude, screaming and name calling other spectators at a hockey game, giving a mother and her child the finger while driving using his cell phone (illegal in Ontario) etc. etc. I noticed in his news conference today he doesn’t speak well and doesn’t look at people when he talks.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bk6vauCEBMc&feature=player_embedded
If he was doing a decent job running the city, he could get away with being colourful, past mayors have been. But this guy is a liar and seems to operate in his own reality. He has a history of denial. He can have the tape released, and if he doesn’t ,I hope it’s leaked.
I can accept he has never seen This Hour, never seen Delahunty, princess warrior. I can accept he was startled and perhaps initially scared, but he doesn’t seem to have the ability to self-sooth, talk himself down and move past his emotions.
Rob Ford is an arrogant man and he likes things under his control.
Naturally he is not going to react well to a surprise visit from any media organization.
He does not do well under pressure unless it is of his own creation.
Regardless , he is the Mayor and we shall just have to wait him out until his term ends.
He could be taken out of office for breaking the election rules but this is not likely to happen, maybe a small fine for him and three of his cronies.
Please folks don’t expect class behavior from a man who has none.
Get the facts folks.
Check your biases at the door.
Did the CBC lie?
http://blazingcatfur.blogspot.com/2011/10/cbc-lied-mary-walsh-act-died.html
Sounds like CBC could be lying. The Chief backs up Ford.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/toronto/police-chief-comes-to-aid-of-ford-over-911-call-controversy/article2217981/
I quote: “He also notes that there have been no complaints by any members of the TPS about the 911 conversation” Why do you say there has been?
http://www.sunnewsnetwork.ca/sunnews/canada/archives/2011/10/20111028-204654.html
It’s possible the CBC was burned by it’s sources. And it’s possible Chief Blair who hasn’t let a lie stop him before, is telling the truth.
The way to settle this is to release the tape.