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The Economic Club of Canada is refunding everyone who attended Rob Ford’s speech last week after the Toronto mayor was trapped in a service elevator for nearly an hour.

About 180 people attended the speech, which cost $89, bringing the total bill for the elevator malfunction to more than $16,000.

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“Last Thursday’s event was an unusual circumstance but that is no excuse, and as the president of this organization I take full responsibility for any mistakes that were made,” Economic Club of Canada president Rhiannon Traill said in an email Monday.

“I would like to apologize and offer each and every one of you a full refund.”

A number of guests, including an entire table, walked out of the event at the downtown Toronto Hilton after the mayor was a no-show without explanation well after the 12 p.m. start time for his speech.

Ford, who has been avoiding media questions about his inebriated, profanity-laden rant about Police Chief Bill Blair last week, was immediately subjected to much speculation about his late appearance.