An advocacy group for TTC riders is “furious” after mayoral election
frontrunner
John Tory dropped out of Monday’s debate less than four hours before it
was to take place.
Open policard for
CouncillorDoug Ford
Open policard for
MayorRob Ford
Tory, trying to preserve a lead he has held since July, announced Monday
afternoon that he has withdrawn from the TTCriders debate scheduled for
5 p.m. Monday, plus two debates planned for Tuesday. He is still
participating in Monday’s second debate, at 7 p.m. at St. Andrew’s
Church.
“With
Doug Ford
entering the race and less to six weeks to go until election day, we
have entered a new phase of the campaign,” Tory’s campaign said in a
statement. “John has extraordinary demands on his time and,
unfortunately, we are unable to accommodate every event and request.”
The TTCriders event, held in conjunction with the Ryerson University
student union, will now be a question-and-answer session with candidate
Olivia Chow, executive director Jessica Bell said. A capacity crowd of
180 people was expected to attend.
“We are so furious right now,” Bell said in an interview.
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“It’s absolutely, absolutely disrespectful to the million transit riders
who are squashed into TTC cars every single day. It is so
disrespectful,” she said. “We organized this debate as volunteers so
that people can get up to speed on the candidates’ transit platforms. He
doesn’t even have the courtesy to turn up; he doesn’t even have the
courtesy to give us advance notice.”
Tory’s campaign announced that he is withdrawing from both Tuesday
debates, one organized by Better Living Health and Community Services
and one by the York Quay Neighbourhood Association and Bathurst Quay
Neighbourhood Association.
There are five debates between Wednesday and Friday,
more than 30
between now and the election on Oct. 27.
Tory has generally been a strong debater. At a debate on Sunday, Chow
attacked him over
what she said is a “faith-based” proposal
to fund a third of his SmartTrack surface rail line using tax increment
financing. Her campaign argued Monday that he is attempting to duck
further criticism.
“It’s clear John Tory can’t compete with Olivia’s knowledge or her
transit plan,” spokesman Jamey Heath said in a statement. “It’s no
wonder why he ran away. I’d run away too, if I had to pass
back-of-the-napkin silliness off as a real plan, up against someone who
knows far more.”
Rob Ford
skipped
several debates
before he quit the race on Friday after he was diagnosed with an
abdominal tumour. Doug Ford, who has yet to hit the campaign trail, has
not confirmed his attendance at any of the debates this week.
Last week, when asked about its plans in light of Rob Ford’s health
situation, Tory’s campaign said he would stick to its previous schedule.
“Dozens of groups across the city have worked hard to put together
events, many of which we confirmed months ago. These groups have
hundreds of people coming out to hear from candidates (be it mayoral,
councillors, school boards, etc),” the campaign said in an email on
Thursday. “These organizations are encouraging us to continue with our
schedule and we intend to honour our commitments.”