ABOVE: Watch Rob Ford’s full apology.
TORONTO – Former Toronto mayor Rob Ford formally apologized to members of city council Tuesday morning for a list of racial slurs he made in March 2014 as council reconvened its monthly meeting today.
Ford is alleged to have repeatedly used slurs in front of his staff and visible minorities on St. Patrick’s Day in 2012 and on March 5, 2014.
Valerie Jepson, the city’s integrity commissioner, found the mayor’s actions breached the city’s code of conduct policies despite him not being at work at the time – he was with city staff, and that was enough, she wrote in an eight-page briefing on her findings.
Jepson had called on Ford to make a public apology which he did at the beginning of the council session.
“I’m aware of the hurtful nature of my comments and that they are unacceptable,” Ford told council members.
“I’m deeply ashamed of what I said and I recognize they bring discredit to council and myself. I wish to offer heartfelt apology for my words and actions.”
On Tuesday afternoon, Mayor Tory said he was satisfied with Ford’s apology and it’s time to move on.
“I’d like to see this whole thing put behind us in every respect,” the mayor said. “This was not a happy chapter that speaks of the kind of commitment to diversity that we prize so highly in this city.”
Meanwhile, the two-day council session will also discuss the controversial expansion of gaming options at Woodbine racetrack.
The city’s executive committee last week approved further consultations on bringing a wider variety of games at Woodbine beyond slot machines.
Social housing with also be on the agenda as council will vote on asking for the federal and provincial government to reconfirm their support for persons with mental health and addiction issues and other disabilities.
Council will also look at approving a report to examine options to improve project delivery, including procurement and project management, at the Toronto Transit Commission.
A report released by the Toronto’s transit agency earlier this month said the Spadina subway extension is currently $150 million over budget and will be delayed by at least two years.
The TTC said funding delays, problems found underground, contractor delays, and a worker death attributed to the extra costs.
You can view the full agenda for the two-day council session here.
With a file from James Armstrong
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