Toronto Mayor Rob Ford coaches the Don Bosco Eagles on Sept. 11, 2012, with his city hall assistant Andrew Gillis, at right in blue shirt.Peter Power/The Globe and Mail
Mayor Rob Ford is defending his work ethic, saying he is up at "the crack of dawn" and "going non-stop," although his official schedule does not show details of his whereabouts.
Mr. Ford made no public appearances Wednesday, but called radio station CFRB just after 5:30 to respond to a Globe and Mail report on the official record of his activities for the last four months of 2012.
The mayor's schedule, obtained through a freedom of information request, shows Mr. Ford seldom booked public events after 3:30 p.m., when "private" regularly appears in his agenda. "Calls/events" is listed at 7 most weeknights. Only two weekday evening engagements are named on the itinerary between Labour Day and the Christmas break.
Mr. Ford said he felt compelled to defend himself, noting he takes time to coach football every afternoon during the fall. He did not explain why the "private" entries continued into December after the season ended.
Mr. Ford said his schedule does not list his football activities, which also included games for which he left council and executive committee meetings this fall, because "the FOI commissioner took it out." References to the days he spent in court for a libel case also were removed by the commissioner, he said.
Under the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, access to sections of documents can be denied under certain conditions and some entries are redacted from Mr. Ford's schedule provided to The Globe.
Details of a meeting from 9:30 to 10:30 on the four days of Mr. Ford's libel trial have been redacted, although the mayor spent most of his time in court on three of those days and missed one to coach football. On Nov. 1, a day Mr. Ford missed part of council to coach football, details of a meeting from 2 to 4 p.m. have been removed. There is no indication that an appointment has been removed from Sept. 10, the day Mr. Ford left executive committee five hours early for a pre-season game.
The Metro Bowl, where the mayor coached his team in the finals, is not removed from his schedule. The entry appears on Nov. 27 at 8 p.m.
Mr. Ford suggested details of his activities are not made public for security reasons, referring to "a few episodes" and protests. "I don't need that hassle," he said.
He said he is willing to meet "anyone and everyone," adding, "I have nothing to hide. Everyone knows my agenda."