Mayor Rob Ford expects “the lefties” on council will hijack the appointment of a new councillor.

Ford made the prediction during his Sunday afternoon radio show as he looked ahead to this week’s meeting of the Etobicoke York community council to select a preferred candidate to fill the Etobicoke Centre (Ward 3) vacancy.

The council seat was vacated when Tory MPP Doug Holyday was elected to Queen’s Park in an August byelection held in Etobicoke-Lakeshore.

While the community council makes a recommendation on who should be appointed, city council will still have the final say on the appointment during a special meeting on Oct. 10.

“Something tells me that city council will not agree with what community council recommends,” Ford said Sunday. “I’ve got this gut feeling they’re not going to.”

The mayor — who can be a sitting member of any council committee — revealed he will be taking part in Tuesday’s community council meeting where councillors are expected to hear from 45 candidates interested in the council seat.

“Why do we even waste our time going to Etobicoke York community council when you know the lefties downtown are just going to laugh at us?” Ford asked. “Let’s just go directly to council with this? Save taxpayers’ money, save staff’s time.”

Councillor Doug Ford, meanwhile, blasted the fact council opted for an appointment rather than a byelection to fill the seat.

“Forty-five people want a freebie,” Councillor Ford said.

don.peat@sunmedia.ca