Rob Ford has apologized to Toronto Star reporter Daniel Dale for comments he made in his recent televised conversation with Conrad Black, but Dale says he’s going ahead with the defamation lawsuit.

The mayor stood up in the council chambers this morning and read from a prepared statement.

”I do not mean to insinuate anything about Mr. Dale personally.  In my interview with Mr. Black, I certainly did not intend to suggest that he (Dale) is a pedophile.   I was merely commenting on the thoughts that went through my mind on the night of May 2012 before I had any idea that person, my neighbour told me he saw peering over my fence, was a reporter on assignment from the Toronto Star … It is unfortunate the word that I did not say has been ascribed to me by the media, but I wish to sincerely apologize again to Mr. Dale if my actual words have caused him any harm or personal offence.  And if Mr. Daniel Dale is here I want to personally apologize to him”.

Dale said he’s proceeding with the libel suit because today’s statement by Ford did not come close to an apology.