Doug Ford, John Tory spar over Goldkind snub

A squabble over candidate Ari Goldkind threw a mayoral debate into disarray on Thursday, as both John Tory and Doug Ford threatened, for different reasons, to drop out. 

The dominoes started to fall at about 6 p.m. when Goldkind was uninvited from the Inner City Union debate, one of two mayoral debates slated for Friday. 

The former fringe candidate who, polls suggest, is now in fourth place in the race for city hall, said via Twitter he had been dropped. 

It soon emerged that organizers had done so at the behest of Ford. 

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"We were forced to comply to Doug Ford's request to exclude Ari Goldkind," organizer Antonius Clarke told CBC News. 

"Doug Ford made the statement that he's not going be in any debate which Ari Goldkind is in," Clarke said. 

Goldkind and Ford have crossed swords a number of times in recent weeks. The noted defence attorney has, at prior debates, attacked Ford’s record and that of his incumbent brother, most recently when he brought up Mayor Rob Ford’s previous use of an anti-Semitic slur. 

Doug Ford, meanwhile, has questioned why the long-shot candidate has been allowed to take part in debates. 

Goldkind said Thursday the incident is another example of Ford bullying to get what he wants.

"If this is how Mr. Ford acts before he may be elected mayor … imagine the nightmare this city will go through if he is elected," Goldkind told CBC News

Tory pulls out

The war of words heated up when Tory pulled out of the Inner City debate in protest. 

What we do not condone is one candidate unilaterally bullying organizers to exclude previously confirmed participants-

"I was disappointed to learn this evening that due to the strong-arm tactics of the Ford campaign Ari Goldkind was disinvited from tomorrow's debate,” Tory said in a statement, adding he was "very disappointed in Ford’s behaviour."

"Doug Ford does not get to dictate the rules and disinvite confirmed candidates from debates," Tory said. 

Ford, in his own statement, then suggested Tory was afraid to take part in the debate.  

"He is making excuses to avoid having to face his leading competitors and answer for his record," Ford said. 

Ford's statement made no mention of Goldkind. Ford added he will not attend the debate if Tory is absent. 

Ford's remarks prompted a response from the Tory camp. 

"John Tory is happy to participate in a democratic debate," the campaign said in a statement. "What we do not condone is one candidate unilaterally bullying organizers to exclude previously confirmed participants."

Olivia Chow added her voice with a call for calm. 

"For heaven's sake — think about the priorities. [The debate] is about listening. It's about answering questions on how we can create a better future for our young people," she told CBC News. 

Tory, Goldkind back in

By late Thursday, Goldkind had been reinvited to the Inner City debate, and Tory indicated he would also attend. It was not known if Ford would be there. 

Clarke said he hopes candidates will attend and focus on the issues. 

"We just hope all these candidate will pay attention to our issues, our needs and put aside their differences," he said.