Doug Ford's Margaret Atwood diss drives audience comments

Toronto city Coun. Doug Ford, left, and Canadian literary giant Margaret Atwood, right, are locked in a dispute over Toronto's public library system. (CBC, Darren Calabrese/Canadian Press)

Are we the only ones that see the makings of a great novel here?

The setting: Toronto and its libraries.
The villain: City Coun. Doug Ford.
The heroine: world-renowned novelist, poet and essayist Margaret Atwood.

Or, depending on your viewpoint, Atwood as the villain and Ford as the hero.

The two are locked in a dispute over Toronto's 99 libraries.

Atwood, who lives in Toronto, is urging her fellow citizens to sign an online petition to keep the city from closing some of the branches in the Toronto Public Library system as part of a drastic cost-cutting measure.

Ford, who wants to close one of the libraries in his Etobicoke riding, has so far been unmoved by the icon's activism.

"Well good luck to Margaret Atwood," Ford responded, when asked of the petition. "I don't even know her. If she walked by me, I wouldn't have a clue who she is."

CBCNews.ca commenters pounced on that, suggesting Ford might, himself, benefit from a trip to the library.

• "Doug Ford just made the case why library funding should be increased, not slashed," wrote IvanNano. "If you don't know who Margaret Atwood is, maybe you should be spending a little more time reading."
• "Ironically, Ford's answer perfectly illustrates why Toronto needs libraries," added Andrew Of Richmond.
• "Margaret Atwood is one of the most celebrated authors this country has ever produced," wrote robocat. "You should try picking up a book once in a while."

Many commenters acknowledged that they, too, might have a hard time recognizing Atwood on the street - but certainly know of her.

• "Hmm, well I guess I wouldn't recognize Margaret Atwood either if I were to run into her on the street, but I sure as hell know who she is and I'm no academic," FatSadie wrote.
• "As a Conservative and a person who believes the current Toronto government is doing what is necessary to move that city in the right direction (no pun intended), it is very disheartening to see Councillor Ford proudly display his ignorance in such a boorish manner," wrote chmeeeast. "Whether you agree with her politics or not Margaret Atwood is an internationally recognized Canadian icon, and deserves a little more respect than she was shown."
• "Wow. That is extremely appalling," said PaulAArbour. "Certainly I wouldn't know Margaret Atwood if I passed her on the street, likely because she's not famous for her own physical appearance, but certainly if someone introduced me I would be in awe. This woman has likely done more for Canadian culture, likely, than anyone else in our time."

Eventually, what began as a very local story drew comments from across the country.

Some were sympathetic:

• "Proud of being ignorant of who Margaret Atwood is, he compounds his doltishness by saying he would listen to her if she were elected to office," wrote GollyGee. "Heaven help the good people of Toronto."
• "I pity Torontonians if this is typical of the people sitting around the council table," offered TooMuchMeatMaam. "Which country are you living in?"
• "Mr. Ford, shame on you!!!" wrote Peggy Airey, of Nova Scotia.

And some were not:

• "You get the government you deserve, so enjoy idiots," Taebok wrote.
• "On the same day [Mayor Naheed] Nenshi announced the creation of a Poet laureate position for the City of Calgary," added CalgaryAtheist. "Who's full of illiterate rednecks now, Toronto?"
• "Congratulations on your new mayor, Toronto," WilliamMillar wrote. "He sure is smart n' stuff."

If any other Canadian literary giants were thinking of weighing in on the dispute, mollymalone has one suggestion:

"I would love to see him go head to head with Anne Cameron who would eviscerate him verbally," she wrote.

On Wednesday, Ford clarified his initial comments.

"What I was saying is, everyone knows who Margaret Atwood is," he reportedly told Global News. "But if she were to come up to 98% of the people, they wouldn't know who she was. But I think she's a great writer and I look forward to her input."

Thanks so much for your comments!

Related link:

• Doug Ford on Atwood: 'I don't even know her'