John Tory and Rob Ford continue to bicker long after election
Current and former mayors taunt each other during first week of council
Mayor John Tory and his predecessor Rob Ford have engaged in a vibrant back-and-forth this week in and out of council, reminding each other who won the fall election.
The taunts about the election results began early in the council term, and could signal a long, protracted battle between Tory and Ford, who were once conservative allies.
It began on Tuesday, with Tory telling Ford, "Look, we had an election. I won." He said he would not be a "punching bag" for the Etobicoke councillor and former mayor.
These Fords, they are constantly reliving old elections- Mayor John Tory
Ford replied his name was not on the ballot, and therefore he did not lose the election, but won a seat in Ward 2, where he is now councillor. "I think I would have beaten him, you know, if I would have stayed on the ballot," he said on Wednesday. Ford said if he had more time, election results would be different.
Even though it was Tory who brought up the election, he appeared to be distancing himself from the debate.
"These Fords, they are constantly reliving old elections and living the next one years before it's happening," said Tory Friday morning on CBC's Metro Morning. "I think people expect we are going to do things in a more business-like way and behave better."
But later that same morning, Tory took yet another shot at Ford, comparing him to the perennially losing Maple Leafs hockey team. He said Ford's claim that he could've won election is like saying Leafs could've won the Stanley Cup if they had extra players.
Rob Ford had sought re-election as mayor, but withdrew from the mayoral race after he was diagnosed with cancer. He then put his name on the ballot on Ward 2 and returned to council as its representative.
His brother Doug Ford ran in his place, but was defeated by Tory at the ballot box last October.
After the election results, Rob Ford said that he intends to run for mayor again, as long as he is healthy.
Until then, the back-and-forth between Tory and Ford appears to be ongoing.