Reality check for George Smitherman

From MayorJoe.ca:

On June 23, George Smitherman’s website published his promise to “construct… prisons” if elected Mayor.

On July 16, Joe Pantalone’s campaign drew attention to this in a news release reminding Smitherman that Ontario municipalities don’t actually build prisons, and pointing out that even if they did, prisons would still be lowest on the list of things a growing, progressive city should be building.

By last night, July 20, Smitherman seems to have forgotten he ever said it.

At CP24’s third mayoral debate, Joe Pantalone directly challenged Smitherman on the bizarre pledge, asking, “If you have a hard time finding money to do transit, parks, and housing, why… start building jails in Toronto?”

Smitherman denied even making the suggestion. “I think you should identify the source of these comments, because I never made those comments.” (The section in question begins at the 13 minute mark of Part 1.)

The source, George, is your own website. We assumed you’d been reading it now and then. It states: “We will construct the necessary jails and send the province the bill.”

Is George Smitherman not leading his own campaign policy? How can a Mayoral candidate be so self-contradicting? Toronto deserves an honest answer.