Toronto Mayor Rob Ford is taking a leave of absence to seek help for substance abuse amid reports that two new recordings - one of unruly behaviour, the other of apparent drug use - have surfaced.
'I have decided to take a leave from campaigning and from my duties as mayor to seek immediate help,' Ford said in a statement released shortly before 11 p.m. ET.
'I have a problem with alcohol and the choices I have made while under the influence. I have struggled with this for some time.'
'I know that I need professional help,' he added.
Ford does not plan to drop out of the election, according to his lawyer, Dennis Morris, who spoke to CBC News earlier in the evening.
Morris described the move as 'an opportunity to step back, take a breath and get help' for substance abuse.
The news comes amid reports that two new recordings of Ford have surfaced . The Toronto Sun reported late Wednesday it has obtained a new and 'raunchy' audio recording of Ford 'ranting and swearing' in a Toronto-area bar, while the Globe and Mail claims to have seen a second video, shot over the weekend, of Ford smoking what is said to be crack.
The news comes amid a rocky re-election campaign in which Ford has repeatedly described himself as a changed man who has learned from the mistakes of his first term as mayor.
The Sun posted its recording online. It was reportedlymade Monday night at SullieGorman's, a restaurant in Toronto's west end - deep in Ford's home territory and across the street from a park named for his father, Doug Ford Sr. The mayor is heard being unruly, complaining about his wife, Renata, and making lewd comments about mayoral contender Karen Stintz.
Ford is reported to have said, 'I'd like to f-----g jam her,' in reference to Stintz.
Ford also complains about Ontario's political leaders agreeing to fly a flag 'ahead of our Canadian flag' - presumably alluding to the rainbow flag flown at the provincial legislature during the Sochi Olympics.
Specifically, he criticizes Ontario Progressive Conservative Leader Tim Hudak for voting in favour of the motion to fly the flag.
'Tim Hudak comes out and says, 'Yeah, I agree with all the gays,'' Ford is heard to say. 'Right there, he lost my vote.'
Ford also speaks candidly of the Toronto mayoral race, mentioning that it's really between him and opponent Olivia Chow.
The mayor even entertains the notion of losing the election.
'I'd rather lose to Olivia Chow than lose to anyone, man,' he said.
Ford said then he wouldn't be 'coming back.'
'Once I'm done, I'm done. I'm going to California.'
Stintz's campaign spokesman called Ford's remarks 'deeply offensive' in a statement released Wednesday night.
'The comments released tonight by Mayor Rob Ford are deeply offensive to everyone living in Toronto. That a sitting mayor would make such shocking and bigoted remarks is disgusting,' Karl Baldauf said.
He said Stintz will address the comments directly 'in the coming days.'
John Tory, another contender for Ford's job, said he was 'relieved' to hear the mayor was getting help, but called on Ford to resign.
'Like Torontonians across the city, I am deeply disappointed by these revelations of Mayor Ford's behaviour. For the good of the city, I call on Mayor Ford to resign,' Tory said in a statement. Globe claims second crack video
The Globe and Mail reported Wednesday it had seen a second video of Ford smoking what appears to be crack cocaine, which the paper said was shot early Saturday morning.
The paper said the footage shows Ford smoking from a 'long, copper-coloured pipe, exhaling a cloud of smoke, his right arm convulsing.'
The paper said a man who resembles Alessandro'Sandro'Lisi, the mayor's former driver, can be seen in the background. Ford's sister, Kathy, is seen sitting next to Ford.
The Globe said the videos were offered for sale by a 'self-professed drug dealer.'
Exclusive: New drug video of Rob Ford filmed in his sister's basement; mayor to take leave http://t.co/tonnGFfaKh pic.twitter.com/ai60iYfsUX- The Globe and Mail (@globeandmail) May 1, 2014
The U.S. gossip site Gawker, which, together with the Toronto Star, was at the centre of Ford's original crack video scandal, said Wednesday it had also been offered the video described by the Globe. The site posted a number of stills.
Ford has long denied allegations that he is addicted to drugs or alcohol, though he admits having used crack cocaine during his tenure.
The mayor also admitted he had been drinking during an incident in which he was filmed using Jamaican swear words and other profanities at a Toronto restaurant.
He vowed last year that he had given up alcohol - part of a campaign to rehabilitate his image in light of his admission.
With files from Jamie Strashin and The Associated Press
Post By http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/rob-ford-taking-leave-of-absence-seeking-help-for-substance-abuse-1.2627832
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