Toronto Mayor Rob Ford was under heated questioning by a councilor from his own office at a City Council meeting on Wednesday when he admitted to buying illegal drugs in the past two years, the Associated Press reported.
Councilor Denzil Minnan-Wong asked Ford to take a leave of absence after news submerged of a video tape which shows the Mayor smoking crack from a glass bowl. The tape, among accusations from members inside Ford's own office of his drug and alcohol problems, led Wong to file a motion for his removal last week, the AP reported
Wong asked Ford if he's bought illegal narcotics in the past two years, and after a pause Ford answered "yes I have," the AP reported.
Ford also publicly admitted last week that he smoked crack cocaine last year in a "drunken stupor," but his Wednesday confession is the first time he acknowledged buying drugs, according to the AP. Another video leaked last week shows the Mayor in a drunken rage yelling about harming someone, using words like "kill" and "murder."
"I understand the embarrassment that I have caused," Ford said. "I am humiliated by it."
Despite the embarrassment, Ford refuses to retreat from his position. The 44-year-old stated he would not cease to be the Mayor of Toronto, even after his confession.
Ford insisted that although he confessed to buying drugs, he's not an addict of any sort and neglected any suggestions from the council which encouraged him to step aside, according to the AP. He insisted he is a "positive role model for kids who are down and out."
"I'm most definitely keeping this job," Ford told the council. "I am not leaving here. I'm going to sit here and going to attend every meeting."
Ford's announcement came after all but two of 43 councilors voted to accept the motion Wong put into place in a more symbolic than legal act as the City Council does not have the authority to remove Ford unless he has been convicted of a crime, the AP reported.
In another effort to convince Ford to step aside, an open letter read by Councilor Jaye Robinson at the hearing called on Ford to accept the leave of absence so Toronto's politics can move on and tackle real challenges, the AP reported.
"Over the last six months and especially the last few weeks we have grown increasingly concerned by the seemingly endless cycle of allegations, denials and belated admissions about your behavior," the open later read by Robinson said, according to Reuters.
The mayor of Toronto has limited powers in comparison to United States' mayors with only vote counted in council. His power as a city councillor elected by the people of Toronto is to build consensus and to set an agenda, but council members say this has been lost since the crack scandal began, according to the AP.
"We really just have to build a box around the mayor so we can get work done," Councilor John Filion, who has introduced one of two motions in the council designed to isolate Ford, said, according to the AP.
Long-time ally of Ford, Deputy Mayor Norm Kelly, also supports Wong's motion for Ford to step down, saying he is "publicly advising the mayor to take some time," the AP reported.
Since the council has no way of removing Ford until the next election, Wong said he will put an amended motion asking Ontario to pass legislation that would allow them to remove Ford from office, the AP reported.
Councilor Giorgio Mammoliti, a known Ford ally, called the Minnan-Wong's motion a waste of time, and said voters will decide if he is removed during the next election.
"We can't tell him what to do. Only the electorate can tell him what to do," Mammoliti told the council, according to the AP. "Most of us that care have already spoken to the mayor or relayed it to the mayor's family. I think that's what's needed. The rest is up to the electorate."
