Ford denies substance abuse problem, calls Toronto Star accusations a “lie”
Posted March 26, 2013 5:00 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
TORONTO – Mayor Rob Ford is fighting back, calling a front-page Toronto Star report that he was drunk at a military gala an outright lie.
The newspaper claims Ford was asked to leave the gala in February because event organizers were concerned he appeared impaired.
According to the report in the Toronto Star, the allegations are based on first-hand accounts of several people who were at the Garrison Ball — a charity event celebrating the Canadian Armed Forces, held at the Liberty Grand on Feb. 23.
Three military members of the organizing committee told the Star the Mayor was asked to leave because he appeared impaired — either drunk, high, or with a medical condition.
City Hall response
At the George Chuvalo tribute ceremony, Tuesday, Ford responded to reporters’ questions on the Star story.
“It’s an outright lie, it’s the Toronto Star going after me again, again, and again, and again,” Ford said. “I will go head-to-head with the Star any day.”
“It’s just lies after lies and lies,” he added.
Earlier in the day, when asked by reporters if he was forced to leave the gala for being intoxicated, he said, “it’s nonsense.”
He was also asked by reporters if he has a drinking problem. He didn’t comment and went into his office.
Ford’s press secretary George Christopoulos said “for the record he was never asked to leave the gala.”
“It’s not an open secret that’s for sure — I’ve never heard of it and I’ve never seen the Mayor take a drink at any event, ” deputy mayor Doug Holyday told 680News.
Star story details
The Star report states that military guests were offended by his behaviour; however, others in attendance told the paper Mayor Ford looked and sounded fine.
Around 800 military leaders and civilians were at the event, including Defence Minister Peter MacKay, Chief of Defence Staff Thomas Lawson, and one of the mayor’s executive committee allies, Councillor Paul Ainslie.
Councillor Ainslie told the Star he asked the mayor’s chief of staff to get him out of the gala.
Toronto Star reporter Kevin Donovan, who co-wrote the story with fellow reporter Robyn Doolittle, told 680News Tuesday morning that he is confident his sources are telling the truth.
“I personally spoke to six people who were there and who had positions of prominence — celebrated guests or organizers — and they told me this information directly. It was about a one-hour period that he was there; he arrived at 7 p.m. and was gone by around 8 p.m. They witnessed him being incoherent, stumbling, ‘out of it’ was the word used,” Donovan said.
The Star story does imply that many people close to Mayor Ford have acknowledged he does have a drinking problem, but that they don’t want to come forward or be identified for fear of political retribution. However, the report also states the mayor has been urged on several occasions to seek professional help.
Interview
680News political affairs specialist John Stall spoke with Toronto Star reporter Kevin Donovan who co-wrote the story.
Video
Deputy mayor Doug Holyday spoke to reporters at City Hall, Tuesday morning, and said he’s never seen Mayor Rob Ford take a drink.
