I recently submitted a formal complaint with Toronto's Integrity Commissioner against Mayor Rob Ford. Before Councilor Doug Ford tells me to either go to "hell" or accuse me of being a plant of other mayoral candidates, I would like to clarify a few things.
In the mayoral election this coming October, I intend to vote for John Tory. I have attended few events of his and written a Huffington Post blog endorsing him. However, I am in no way affiliated with his mayoral campaign nor was I asked by his campaign to file my complaint. Heck, I hardly know the man. I am doing this on my own and for the good of a prosperous and multicultural city.
Like many Toronto residents, I have been troubled by Mayor Ford for a while. I am especially disturbed the offensive words he uses to describe certain groups of people. I am hurt when he uses the N-word to describe African-Canadians and calls our youth "f---- minorities". In March of this year, he was recorded uttering painful words: "Nobody sticks up for people like I do, every f---ing k--e, n----r, f---ing w-p, d-go, whatever the race. Nobody does. I'm the most racist guy around. I'm the mayor of Toronto.'
In addition, his former staff members have allegedly told detectives how the mayor used the derogatory word "Paki" to describe a taxi driver. In addition, he has referred to someone as a "f---ing dago" and a "dumb f---ing wop".
How sad. Hasn't anyone told him these words are hurtful to many Canadians? I hope the integrity commissioner will.
The fact is that the relationship between Toronto's black community and the Ford brothers has always been troubling at best for me. For instance, in defense of his brother's tactics, Councilor Ford has always used the black community as a shield to help protect his brother's controversial image. He has often said: "Rob Ford has done more for the black community than the hundreds of black leaders in the community," without much evidence. "No one in this city supports the black community more than Rob Ford. No one. Bottom line. Zing. Done. Okay?"
Nobody seems to know what either Ford brother has done to deserve congratulation.
When Mayor Ford uses poor defamatory words to describe blacks, I cannot help but wonder how the mayor of Canada's largest, most affluent and multicultural city doesn't face any consequences. Saying "it's complicated" when questioned about his racist remarks is not enough. His poor vocabulary is not just troubling on the surface -- it's destroying the image and fabric of a tolerant society.
Enough is enough. The mayor cannot go around embarrassing the city. That is why I have filed my complaint.
That is why I have asked Ms. Leiper to investigate the mayor's use of derogatory words, have him apologize for his racist comments and take diversity training to remedy his shortcomings. However, unlike most complaints, I have not asked for his resignation as I believe the best way to remove Rob Ford is at the ballot box.
I believe my complaint is long overdue to address a slew of troubling behaviors by the mayor. On multiple occasions, he was given the opportunity to discuss his shortcomings and apologize. He has refused. He has blamed all his racist, sexist and homophobic comments to his drug and excess alcoholic use and called his action as "complicated". When confronted, he has said: "I think that goes along with having a disease" because while under the influence, "you do things, you say things that just aren't you".
Just last week, inside the Council chamber, Rob Ford refused a symbolic gesture to give the organizers of World Pride a standing ovation for their efforts. Are we just supposed to excuse his intolerant behavior and conclude he is still under the influence of alcohol and drugs?
I hope the mayor realizes what a bad influence he has become to all of us.
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