I sincerely sincerely sincerely apologize. I had intended my Crime Diary two weeks ago ("Ford should not try to dodge another bullet," Yorkton This Week, November 6, 2013), would be my last word on the subject of Rob Ford, but like media, comedians, late night talk show hosts and the general viewing audience around the world, the circus formerly known as Toronto City Hall is simply too compelling not to write about.
I want to deal with one specific aspect of the story that has been largely overlooked because the mayor's behaviour has escalated into such a daily freak-show, it's hard to keep up with all the less sensational, but potentially more disturbing, details.
First, though, some general thoughts. There has been a lot of talk about Ford bringing shame and humiliation on the City of Toronto, and even Canada as a whole. I feel no shame or humiliation whatsoever and neither should anyone else-with the possible exception of the people who continue to support and enable him, especially his equally ignorant brother Doug and Sun News Network, which inexplicably gave the brothers their own TV show after they were rightfully fired from their radio program.
Yes, he is a belligerent, misogynistic, bigoted individual, but he is just that, one man. His disgrace is his own.
Enough has been reported and said about all the sordid details of Fords activities to the extent that perhaps the single most disturbing thing about the case kind of got a little lost in the melee.
Last week, Ontario Superior Court Justice Ian Nordheimer released the 500-page information police used to obtain a search warrant in the case of Alexander Lisi, Rob Ford's friend and occasional driver.
"As a result of the very recent discovery by the police of a video involving the Mayor of Toronto, Mr. Lisi has now been charged with extortion in addition to the drug charges he is facing and to which the search warrants were directed," Nordheimer wrote.
None of this, it must be stated, has been proven in a court of law and I have not found any explicit reference that the extortion is directly related to the mayor-in the same decision the justice upheld the defence position that making details of the extortion charge available to the public could be prejudicial to Lisi's right to a fair trial-but the inference is that, at the very least, Ford has put himself and the City of Toronto in a compromised position.
It has also been reported, again somewhat lost in the bizarre reality show being played out at city hall, that Ford actually wrote letters of reference for Lisi and numerous people who have "broken the law," including Douglas Sedgwick, a tow truck operator who was convicted in 1982 of second-degree murder.
The mayor's ever-helpful brother (you're not actually helping, Doug) defended the mayor's letter-writing.
"Rob, over his term, being down at city hall for 14 years, he's written numerous letters for people that have broken the law," he said, adding his brother "doesn't judge people, he doesn't throw the book at them."
It would be laughable if it wasn't so pathetic because that is exactly what Rob Ford does. Time and again, he has stated unequivocally that he has "zero tolerance" for drugs, guns and gangs. He is the quintessential loud and proud, law and order poster boy for the "tough on crime" ideology, at least according to his words.
Even after one young man he was photographed with was shot dead and others in the photo were arrested as part of a gang raid in June called Project Traveler, even as he was forced last week to admit at Council that he had purchased illegal drugs in the past two years, Ford maintained that "zero tolerance" position.
Say what you will about whether Rob Ford is capable of personal redemption. Believe if you must that his inner demons do not make him unfit to hold public office.
The real issue is his associations with criminal elements. Who knows what else might be lurking in his closet despite his assurances before the Lisi documents were released that had nothing left to hide. Oops.
As it turns out, there were dozens of new allegations in those pages by former staffers and citizens. Ford's reaction? He is going to "take legal action." It is unlikely this threat will ever come to fruition and less likelihood he would win-defamation cases are extremely complicated especially when there may be a question of privilege, as there is here-but you never know with a blustering bully like Rob Ford.
He is also going to sue Council, apparently, for stripping him of much of his powers and budget, thus demonstrating complete disdain for the taxpayers he claims to love so much. "The taxpayers are going to have to pay a fortune for this," he said.
In any event, as I said two weeks ago, any one of these allegations, taken by itself, could be explained away, or at least forgiven providing a sincere apology, one that includes taking corrective action, is offered. Taken together, they can only be explained two ways. Either it is a pattern of behaviour representing a mayor gone wild or it is a conspiracy of the "elites" trying to take down the good guy everyman.
The brothers Ford will undoubtedly go the latter route on their new TV show. Of course it would be a conspiracy that would have to include Ford's own formerly loyal employees, private individuals, City Council, the media, the police and the courts.
It could happen, I guess in a really bad movie.
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