Photo caption: Pictured above is Doug Ford. He is the brother of embattled Toronto mayor Rob Ford.

THE FOLLOWING IS VIA CBC.CA

Rob Ford isn’t seeking another term as Toronto’s mayor, but discussion of his past behaviour derailed a debate for mayoral candidates last night.

Olivia Chow, Doug Ford, Ari Goldkind and John Tory all participated at the debate at the Anne and Max Tanenbaum Community Hebrew Academy of Toronto, sponsored by the UJA Federation of Greater Toronto and the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs.

Initially, Tory’s SmartTrack plan came under fire.

But it was Goldkind’s response to a question about ending anti-Semitism that set off a firestorm.

“I would start on the issue of anti-Semitism by not having a mayor who refers to us — the Jewish people in this room — with a derogatory name that starts with ‘k,’” he said. “We cannot have a mayor like that because that is where it starts.”

Goldkind was referring to the mayor’s use of the offensive word after an alleged night of drinking and drug use in March.

‘It was unacceptable’

The comment provoked a spirited reaction from the crowd, where Rob Ford sat watching the debate as the focus of the conversation shifted to the controversial mayor.

On stage, his brother Doug Ford — noticeably deflated — tried to change the subject.

“Ari, I’m not going to address your comment. But you know something? My doctor — my Jewish doctor — my Jewish dentist, my Jewish lawyer, accountant…” Ford said to raucous booing from the crowd.

The comment did little to win over the crowd or Ford’s fellow candidates.

Doug Ford, for his part, insisted he doesn’t approve of his brother’s use of the slur.

“I have told him very clearly that it was unacceptable and inexcusable,” Ford said.

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