Toronto City Councillor Doug Ford.Deborah Baic/The Globe and Mail
Toronto Councillor Doug Ford expects politicians from across the country will be thanking him for calling city hall reporters a "bunch of pricks."
Mr. Ford made the declaration on a Toronto radio station Monday after a terse exchange with the media that morning. Reporters from several news organizations asked Mr. Ford to explain why he claimed the media "lie through their teeth" on the weekly Sunday talk show he hosts with his brother, Mayor Rob Ford, on Newstalk 1010.
Mr. Ford, who was walking to his office from a budget committee meeting, declined to stop for reporters.
"All you guys have burned your bridge, so I have no comment," he told reporters. "At least I'm accurate, unlike you guys."
Mr. Ford continued to walk away, as reporters asked more questions. He muttered "bunch of pricks" as he walked through a glass door into an area that leads to his office.
The councillor appeared to later regret those comments, telling the Toronto Sun they were made "in the heat of the moment and out of frustration. I didn't mean to offend anyone."
But within hours, Mr. Ford had changed his tune, standing by his characterization of the media.
"What I said today, every politician in the country is probably going to write me a letter thanking me for what I said," he told AM 640's Arlene Bynon.
"For calling them pricks?" Ms. Bynon asked.
"They are," Mr. Ford responded. "It's very simple. In my opinion, they are."
Mr. Ford has accused the media of subjecting his brother and his family to undue scrutiny.
Renata D’Aliesio