thanks, matt! we have this one on our FB page — we often put stories we just want to share (without much commentary, because in this case, WHAT CAN ONE SAY) there.

Backstory: Rob Ford wanted to buy an adjacent chunk of City Park to make his personal property bigger. Daniel Dale went to the public property to take a look, and take some pictures for the story he was writing.

Rob Ford comes out, and accuses him of peering over his fence, and threatens him. He then proceeds ask Toronto police to arrest Dale. They look over the available evidence, including footage from Ford’s security cameras, and decline to press charges.

This all happened months ago, and blows over, because, crack…

Then in his infinite wisdom, during an interview with Conrad Black (who is an entirely different fun story) Decides to say this:

Black asked the mayor about the most “offensive events” that have been “perpetrated” on him or his family by the media. Ford didn’t hesitate to bring up the Dale incident.

“I have little kids. When a guy’s taking pictures of little kids, I don’t want to say that word, but you starting thinking you know, what’s this guy all about,” Ford said. “And I
just lost it.”

Ford had the chance to explain over several days, and even more forcefully re-iterated the comments. Dale was “peeking into his house” or “peering over the fence”, when Ford’s own security footage told a different story.

Daniel Dale at this point, said “Fuck it, I can’t have this, I’m suing for libel and defamation”

http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2013/12/12/daniel-dale-rob-ford-sue_n_4435521.html?utm_hp_ref=canada

All he demanded was a full retraction and apology. This is what he got…

Rob Ford’s “apology”
http://www.thestar.com/news/city_hall/2013/12/17/rob_fords_apology_to_daniel_dale_read_the_full_text.html

“I want to take this opportunity to clarify my comments made in an interview with Conrad Black and to apologize to Daniel Dale for the way in which the media has interpreted my statements.”
— It wasn’t me, it was “the media”

“I did not mean to insinuate anything about Mr. Dale personally in my interview with Mr. Black. I certainly did not intend to suggest that he is a pedophile.”

— But that was exactly his intention, in fact he deliberately and obviously didn’t use the word, probably in the hopes that he could avoid being sued by doing everything but say the word. Luckily that is not how the law works.

Daniel Dale’s reaction:
http://www.thestar.com/news/city_hall/2013/12/17/daniel_dale_proceeding_with_a_defamation_lawsuit_against_rob_ford.html