Toronto Star reporters Robin Doolittle and Kevin Donovan have collaborated in a long, damning “expose” of, they claim, the drinking problem of Mayor Ford. Most of the story is attributed to unnamed sources but at least one source, Councillor Paul Ainslie, has spoken publicly about an incident at the Garrison Ball in February where, it is said, the Mayor was asked to leave because he was apparently drunk. And although the Star story is based largely on the words of people who are not named, there are details which are very specific. The story effectively says that the mayor is a binge drinker and that he is an habitual purchaser of mickeys of Russian Prince Vodka. The information is said to come from those who care about Mr. Ford and wish him well. They are said in many cases to be former staff members. Such information, presented as fact, would most certainly be actionable and would require proof in court if it were not to be very damaging to the Toronto Star. Deputy Mayor Doug Holyday has said that he has never seen the mayor drink, although he says that doesn’t mean that the mayor does not drink. Today the mayor has accused the Star reporters of being “pathological liars” at a news conference at City Hall honouring boxer George Chuvalo. The mayor dared the Star to sue him for this defamatory accusation.
