This is a transcript of Mel Lastman's press conference yesterday, called to apologize for his statement that he feared going to Africa in support of Toronto's 2008 Olympic bid because he might end up in a pot of boiling water.
Q. Mayor, do you think your comments hurt Toronto's Olympic bid? A. I am truly sorry, and I'm going to say it again, I'm sorry that my comments were inappropriate. And I want to apologize to everyone for my remarks, particularly anyone who was offended by them.
Q. Is sorry enough? Should you resign at this point? A. I am sorry I made the remarks.
Q. But is sorry enough? A. I am sorry I made the remarks.
Q. What damage do you think you did to the Olympic bid? A. I'm sorry I made the remarks. My comments are inappropriate.
Q. That's not what I asked. A. That's my answer.
Q. How much damage have you done to a multicultural city as the mayor? A. I am truly sorry.
Q. Are you considering resigning? A. I am truly sorry I made those remarks.
Q. Are you considering resigning as a result of making those remarks? A. I am truly sorry I made those remarks.
Q. Are your considering resigning? A. I am truly sorry.
Q. What else can you add in terms of damage control? Bob Richardson (chief operating officer of the Toronto bid committee) said they are getting calls from around the world. What are you guys doing around damage control, about trying to correct? A. I am truly sorry I made the remarks. My comments were inappropriate.
Q. Are you going to continue to go to Europe and lobby for the bid and stuff within your schedule as planned? A. I am very sorry about the remarks.
Q. Are you very sorry about the remarks you made? (Laugher)
Jim Warren, Mr. Lastman's press spokesman: It's not funny.
Q. In all due respect, there are people in the city who are from Kenya, there are people of African descent in the city. Just to be sorry does not explain why you did this, why did you make this comment? A. I am sorry I made the remarks and my comments were completely inappropriate. And I want apologize to anybody who was offended by them.
Q. Mayor Lastman, did you have a head-slapping moment when you thought you shouldn't have said that? A. It was just the wrong thing to say, and I am sorry I made them. I mean what do you want from me, except I'm sorry? I've apologized. I did the wrong thing.
Q. Did you goof? You made a mistake. A. Of course I did. That's why I'm apologizing.
Q. I think what a multicultural city like Toronto want to know is why you made it in the first place. A. I'm sorry I made the remarks.
Mr. Warren: Thanks.
Q. What can you do to make amends, do you think? A. I'm sorry I made the remarks.
Mr. Warren: Thanks guys.
Q. Mr. Mayor, do you think your comments were racist, and are you a racist? A. I am sorry I made the remarks. And I am again sorry that my comments were inappropriate and I again apologize for anyone that was offended by my comments.
Mr. Warren: Thank-you very much.