Toronto Star
Daniel Dale, the Toronto Star’s acting city hall bureau chief, isn’t accepting Mayor Rob Ford’s apology. On Tuesday, Ford apologized in a council meeting for insinuating that Dale is a pedophile, but Dale said the apology wasn’t what he’d asked for, and he would go ahead with his defamation lawsuit against the mayor.
The Star’s Betsy Powell wrote about the latest.
On Tuesday, Ford blamed media outlets for putting words in his mouth.
“It is unfortunate that the word I did not say has been ascribed to me by the media but I wish to sincerely apologize … to Mr. Dale if my actual words have caused him any harm or personal offence.”
In Powell’s story, Dale talks about why he’ll pursue the lawsuit, and he did so on Twitter Tuesday, too.
I asked Mayor Ford to 1) retract all of his false claims about my conduct and 2) issue an unreserved, abject, complete apology.
— Daniel Dale (@ddale8) December 17, 2013
His statement today didn't come close. I'm proceeding with a defamation lawsuit.
— Daniel Dale (@ddale8) December 17, 2013
In his "apology," the mayor didn't retract anything at all. Instead, he blamed the media for its reasonable interpretation of his words.
— Daniel Dale (@ddale8) December 17, 2013
He also blamed his neighbour. He used the words "lurking" and "leering."
— Daniel Dale (@ddale8) December 17, 2013
And, crucially, he didn't retract or specifically apologize for the categorically false, malicious, and in-itself-defamatory claim about
— Daniel Dale (@ddale8) December 17, 2013
me taking pictures of his young kids.
— Daniel Dale (@ddale8) December 17, 2013
I didn't ask for an "I apologize if." I asked for an "I apologize because I said false, damaging, and unfounded things, and here they are."
— Daniel Dale (@ddale8) December 17, 2013
So: while I appreciate the mayor's first step, no dad or teacher would accept that apology as sufficient. I would appreciate another try.
— Daniel Dale (@ddale8) December 17, 2013
Also on Tuesday, the Star reported that several councillors support Dale in his lawsuit. You can read the full apology, and see a video of Ford dancing to Bob Marley during a council break at the same meeting.
