T'is the season to be apologetic - Jeezus not again!

Mayor Rob Ford's 'super'sarcastic apology to council

Don Peat/City Hall Bureau Chief
Tuesday, December 17, 2013

Mayor Rob Ford speaks with Speaker Frances Nunziata during a city council meeting on Monday, December 16, 2013. (Michael Peake/Toronto Sun)

TORONTO - A sarcastic Mayor Rob Ford told council he was "super, super, super, super, super, super, super sorry" on Tuesday for suggesting a day earlier that only the corrupt councillors are allowed to stay in the council chamber.

Ford's mea culpa came shortly after Councillor Giorgio Mammoliti also apologized to council for his behaviour on Monday night - though he later stressed to the media he really wasn't sorry.

The apologies were demanded by Speaker Frances Nunziata Tuesday morning in the wake of the unexpected, chaotic and abrupt end to Monday night's meeting.

"I'll withdraw my comments saying that, I think I said that only the corrupt councillors can stay - I withdraw that comment," Ford told council on Tuesday.

Councillors quickly objected to Ford's apology - arguing he hadn't really apologized for anything and encouraging to withdraw the innuendo of the remark.

"I really wonder if the mayor would like to take another shot at that," Councillor John Parker asked.

That quickly raised Ford's ire. He repeated his statement and then claimed he felt Nunziata "made the wrong ruling" on Monday.

"You need to say I apologize," Nunziata told Ford.

"How about I am so sorry," Ford said sarcastically. "Is that as good as I apologize or so sorry? Which one do you want Madame Speaker? Like super, super, super, super, super, super, super sorry? So sorry?"

Parker said he was looking for a "withdrawal of the meaning of the remark" and added an apology wouldn't hurt as well.

Ford balked at saying anything further.

"I've repeated it three times, I'm going to sit here, if you want to kick me out, kick me out," Ford said.

"Do you want me to withdraw it? Do you want me to say I'm sorry? Do you want me to apologize? Do you want me to dance around? I'm not quite sure what you want me to do."

Councillor Janet Davis shouted she wanted Ford to "mean it."

Nunziata moved on with the meeting.

The mayor was spotted joking around with Mammoliti after the apology session. Ford appeared to mime that he was being led out of the council chamber in handcuffs.

Before the Ford fight, Mammoliti told council that "if I offended anybody, I'm sorry" - before a majority of councillors voted to let him stay in the council chamber.

Minutes later, Mammoliti told reporters he's not sorry at all.

"I can't feel sorry for saying that city staff seem to be running City Hall," Mammoliti said.

"I apologized because there is business to be done here in this chamber. My votes have to be calculated for my constituents and for my colleagues that are trying to move an agenda through and so that outweighs my particular feeling."

Councillor Adam Vaughan also clarified Tuesday that he didn't call anyone in the council chamber a "moron" on Monday.

Vaughan explained that on Monday night, Ford claimed that "Vaughan saving the city money was an oxymoron."

"My response, which was probably not wise on my part, was doing oxy makes you a moron," Vaughan said.
"I would apologize for the misunderstanding."

The Sun is in the council chamber covering all the action.

Keep checking back for updates.