Will he or wont he? A more appropriate question is: Does Rob Ford have a choice?
The former mayor has indicated to integrity commissioner Valerie Jepson that he is prepared to apologize, finally and formally and before council at next weeks meeting, for racial slurs he made back when the crack video shit was hitting the fan.
To wit, his Paki crack to a cabbie in the presence of his staff in one of those alleged drunken stupors and the infamous kike, nigger, wop, dego, rant while cruising around half-baked with his buds in his SUV. Im the most racist guy around. Im the mayor of Toronto. Remember that?
Ah, it seems like only yesterday. But it was 2012, in the case of the remark to the cabbie and March 2014 for the other. Shortly after, news of a second crack video surfaced. The Globe got a hold of a couple of stills. And Robbie, eager to skip town, boarded a plane at Buttonville reportedly for rehab in the U.S. Although its still not clear he was headed for rehab or one of the family condos in Florida to hideout till the latest storm blew over.
Having been turned back at the U.S. border, he eventually surfaced in Muskoka, taking snaps with tourists here and there, before it was announced hed checked himself into a place called Greenstone. He wasnt in a hurry to make amends then for his comments. I seem to recall brother Doug eager to provide cover. He was decidedly slippery on the question of his racial slurs in one-on-one interviews that followed with media upon his return at the end of June 2014 and his re-entry into the mayor’s race. Until, that is, he was faced with a formal complaint filed by Samuel Getachew with the integrity commissioner.
Then Rob offered the following: When I look back on some of the things that I said, some of the things I did under the influence, I’m ashamed. I was wrong, and I have no one to blame but myself. I want to apologize, not just to the people of Toronto but to everyone who was hurt by my remarks and my actions. It was never my intention to embarrass the city or offend my fellow members of council. I deeply regret some of the personal choices I have made.
He added for good measure: While I realize that I am unable to erase the past and the errors I may have made, I have taken full responsibility, and apologize for my hurtful comments.
Was it genuine? There were political considerations for Ford to be mindful of, after all. We were in the middle of a heated election race and Fords future hung in the balance. The complainant certainly didnt think Ford was remorseful enough, noting that Ford hadnt addressed the Paki and other remarks specifically, but was talking in more general terms about past sins. The integrity commissioner agrees, and has ordered that a more specific response is necessary. Fast forward to Robs planned apology in front of council next week.
No telling what well be treated when Rob finally stands up to do that Tuesday. His chief of staff, Dan Jacobs, didnt seem to be in the mood to offer insight when contacted by reporters, offering a terse response that only raises more questions about how honest Ford is about making amends. Or if Ford, as the integrity commissioner put it in her report, will say enough to put the matter on the public record leaving no uncertainty that Council expects its members to meet the highest standards of conduct.
Ford of course has little choice. Because the alternative is to be dragged in front of the Human Rights tribunal and forced to pay a fine for his remarks. Were he to refuse to apologize, other remedies may also be forced on Ford, including mandatory education, which in Fords case is probably more whats required, given his history of racial epithets. That kind of shit is learned, right? How much is an apology going to change what he really thinks?
As Jepson noted in her report, Fords conduct was not just inappropriate it was abusive, harmful and agreed by society to be unacceptable.
Should be a good show Tuesday. Dont expect any tears. It smells again like Rob is taking the easy way out.
enzom@nowtoronto.com @enzodimatteo
