Councillors clash over ‘locker-room comments’
The public spat between doug Ford and Jaye robinson boiled over at City Hall on Friday, with the mayor’s brother suggesting the don Valley West councillor shouldn’t get on the field “without expecting to get hit,” while she denounced his “locker room” language.
The testy exchange occurred during a session of the civic appointments committee. It’s the same committee that Jaye robinson missed earlier this month due to an illness. Councillor Ford claimed her absence forced the meeting to be cancelled, which was not true. On Friday, Ms. robinson — who was recently turfed from Mayor rob Ford’s executive committee — demanded an apology from the councillor, who refused. Ms. robinson had been critical of the way the mayor handled crack allegations, suggesting he take a leave if he wasn’t prepared to answer questions.
“Her comments going out in front of the media all the time just attacking people,” Councillor Ford said in the committee room, according to a report in the Toronto Sun. “don’t dish it out if you can’t take it. don’t get on the field without expecting to get hit — remember that.” He also called her the “king of false accusations” — a comment that Ms. robinson likened to the “pot calling the kettle black.”
She later told reporters his “locker-room comments” take civic politics to a “base level.” She reiterated that doug Ford needs to stop acting as a “spokesperson” for the mayor. Asked if she felt the councillor was trying to intimidate her, Ms. robinson said sharply: “Well, it’s not going to work. It’s not going to work. But it does feel a bit that way.”