Mayoral candidate Ari Goldkind said Doug Ford swore at him and called him names when he offered to shake his hand after Thursday’s mayoral debate.
Goldkind, the fourth-place contender in the mayoral race at present, participated in the debate with Ford and the other two front-runners, Olivia Chow and John Tory, at Oakwood Collegiate Institute. After the debate, Goldkind expressed his disappointment over what he claims Ford had said.
“Mr. Ford decided to say some things to me that I don’t think have ever been said to me,” Goldkind said.”They involve choice language, they involve calling me names and questioning a whole bunch of things and I said nothing back except ‘I’m sorry that you feel that way.'”
Goldkind said the exchange involved “heavy swearing,” but did not specify what Ford said.
“It was not something I would expect from a person in that position of power and prestige, who is trying to run the city,” Goldkind said.
Both candidates clashed a few times during the debate. Ford described Goldkind as a “big, rich defence attorney” who is “out of touch” with working-class people. This came after Goldkind suggested the city should raise taxes.
“Let me just say this,” Goldkind answered. “Ford, what does it stand for? Falsify. Overstate. Repeat. Deny.”
Goldkind then joked that nobody knew more about defence attorneys than Doug, which prompted Ford to demand that he retract the comment.
“I don’t even know why you’re at the table,” Ford said.
The event was hosted by the Regal Heights Residents’ Association, the Regal Heights Village BIA, the Northcliffe Village Residents’ Association and the Davenport Neighbours’ Association. Former Toronto mayor John Sewell moderated the debate.