Councillor Doug Ford says he apologizes “unequivocally” to Toronto police Chief Bill Blair, but remains “entitled” to his opinion — an impromptu retraction police spokesman Mark Pugash says the chief will not accept.

Ford’s apology did not satisfy the requirements the chief laid out in a notice of defamation, Pugash said Wednesday following the councillor’s statement to reporters at city hall.

Ford was served Monday evening with the notice, which demanded a full apology and retraction, which was to be agreed upon beforehand by Blair.

“I apologize to the chief,” Ford said, less than 48 hours after being served with the notice. “I retract my statement.”

Last week, Blair took issue with Ford saying police efforts to subpoena his brother, Mayor Rob Ford, in the case against friend Alexander “Sandro” Lisi was “payback” for not having his contract extended by the police board.

Ford also accused police of leaking information about the subpoena process to the Star.

Following his midday statement to reporters Wednesday, Ford told CP24’s Stephen LeDrew that he apologized “unequivocally,” only to immediately add: “Everyone’s entitled to their opinion. And that was my opinion.”

Pugash confirmed that Ford called Blair Wednesday morning to apologize, and said Ford promised to send any statement he planned to make in writing to the chief so it could be reviewed by Blair’s lawyer.

When contacted by the Star shortly after the apology, Pugash said that no statement had been received, and that he was not even aware Ford had made the apology.

“My lawyer’s in the process of doing that,” Ford told CP24 after he had already given a statement to reporters.

Following Ford’s original comments, Blair threatened Ford with legal action and said the councillor was “lying.”

Ford fought back, saying he stood by his comments, and even accused the chief of not following the rules in an interview with the Globe and Mail.

On Tuesday, Ford said he wasn’t scared of legal action and refused to say whether he would apologize.

“If the chief feels that he wants to continue moving forward, I guess he’s going to move forward,” Ford said Wednesday. “There’s a reason I said what I said. We’re going to move forward.”

Ford said he told the chief he wants to “bury the hatchet. Let’s hang up the gloves.”

He went on to say: “If I’ve impugned the chief’s reputation, he feels that, again I apologize. And I don’t know how many more times I have to apologize. But again, we’re going to move forward with the business at hand. It will be up to the chief if he wants to move forward with this. But honestly, deep down, I don’t think the chief wants to move forward with this.”

But the chief, apparently, is not moving past his threats of legal action.

Returning to city hall Wednesday, Ford refused to address that fact. He also would not say whether he planned to reissue an apology in way that was agreed on by the chief.

“I’m done with this,” he told reporters.

The Fords have a history of apologizing in ways others deem unsatisfactory.

When Star reporter Daniel Dale served Mayor Rob Ford with notice for suggesting Dale was a pedophile, the mayor first apologized on the council chambers floor.

“It is unfortunate that the word I did not say has been ascribed to me by the media,” he said. “I certainly did not mean to suggest he is a pedophile.”

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After Dale said the apology was inadequate, the mayor later apologized more fully in a two-page letter.

Last year, after accusing some councillors of being corrupt, speaker Frances Nunziata asked the mayor to apologize for his comments by saying, “I apologize.”

“How about, ‘I am so sorry.’ Is that as good as ‘I apologize?’ ” Ford replied. “Like, ‘super, super, super, super, super, super, super sorry’?”

Timeline of a Ford apology

A dispute between Councillor Doug Ford and Chief Blair began Aug. 1, after the Star reported that police are poised to subpoena Mayor Rob Ford in the extortion case against friend Alexander “Sandro” Lisi. That same day, Ford accused the police of leaking the story and Blair of seeking “payback” for not having his employment contract extended. On Aug. 11, the chief served Ford with a notice of defamation, demanding an apology and a retraction.

Here is what Ford has said during the whole affair:

Aug. 1, after Blair threatened legal action: “I said numerous times, that’s my opinion. I’m entitled to my opinion.”

Aug. 2, in an interview with the Toronto Sun: “I wish it didn’t even happen, to be honest with you . . . I just wish the chief all the best.”

Aug. 3, in an interview on Newstalk 1010: “I’m not scared of any legal action because I didn’t say anything wrong.”

Aug. 12, after being served with notice: “It is unprecedented, isn’t it? Isn’t it unbelievable the police chief would be doing this?”

Aug. 12, subsequently: “The chief’s called me many names I’m sure. What I’d tell him? Enjoy his retirement. Maybe what we’ll do is bury the hatchet and maybe go fishing.”

Aug. 13, just after noon: “I apologize to the chief . . . I retract my statement.” Ford went on to say: “There’s a reason I said what I said.”

Aug. 13, later on CP24: “It’s unequivocally, I apologize to the chief. No strings attached for my comments . . . Everyone’s entitled to their opinion. And that was my opinion.”

Aug. 13, after a spokesperson said Blair won’t accept the apology: “I’m done with this.”

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