Ford gives no reason for passing on debate on disability issues, Variety Village says
Variety Village has cancelled a Thursday, Sept. 11, evening mayoral debate after Rob Ford sent the recreational facility a message saying he couldn’t attend.
Variety Village has cancelled a Thursday, Sept. 11, evening mayoral debate after Rob Ford sent the recreational facility a message saying he couldn’t attend.
The only exchange planned this month in Scarborough between Toronto’s leading candidates for mayor, Variety’s debate was meant to focus on "transportation and program support for people with disabilities living in Toronto."
Variety received an email from the Ford camp which was discovered on Wednesday but sent on Tuesday afternoon.
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW
"They didn’t give a reason," said a Variety spokesperson, Linda Elmy.
Staff organizing the event made the decision to cancel the debate – planned since July and penciled in long before that - after speaking on Wednesday to John Tory and Olivia Chow, the other candidates who had been invited, Elmy said.
Reached on Wednesday afternoon, a spokesperson for the Ford campaign wouldn’t comment on Ford’s decision.
"I can’t get into that right now," said Jeff Silverstein. "He is unable to attend, and that’s that."
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW
Variety hosted a debate during the last campaign for mayor in 2010, and candidates who attended pledged to get the facility a bus stop outside its front door. Once in office, Ford showed up to open the bus stop himself.
Most candidates at the last Variety election debate, however, weren’t willing to support TTC fares for low-income adults with disabilities, something else which people in the audience requested.
Elmy said mayoral candidates have also been invited to visit Variety as individuals and to meet some of its members.
She said she didn’t know whether the debate could be rescheduled.
This year’s municipal election is on Oct. 27, with advance polls opening on Oct. 14.
Anyone can read Conversations, but to contribute, you should be a registered Torstar account holder. If you do not yet have a Torstar account, you can create one now (it is free).
To join the conversation set a first and last name in your user profile.
Anyone can read Conversations, but to contribute, you should be a registered Torstar account holder. If you do not yet have a Torstar account, you can create one now (it is free).
To join the conversation set a first and last name in your user profile.
Sign in or register for free to join the Conversation