ABOVE: (May 4, 2014) The Mayor is speaking out, telling the Toronto Sun that rehab is quote “amazing” and that’s not all. Mark Carcasole reports.
TORONTO – Rob Ford is calling his rehab program “amazing” a week after he took a leave of absence from his mayoral duties to seek treatment for alcohol abuse.
“Rehab is amazing. It reminds me of football camp,” Ford told Toronto Sun‘s Joe Warmington.
The embattled Toronto mayor also said he’ll be back in time for the municipal election and insists his brother, Doug, is not running in his place as speculated on Tuesday.
“Of course, I am coming back and I am going to kick butt,” Ford said.
The mayor’s comments come after nearly a week of silence and questions surrounding his whereabouts after he voluntarily withdrew his application to enter the United States last Thursday.
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The Consul General of Canada in Chicago confirmed to Global News the mayor made his way to Chicago last week to seek treatment but was subsequently turned away at the border.
Ford has taken a leave of absence to seek help for a “problem with alcohol” after multiple media reports surfaced a week ago linking him with drug and alcohol abuse.
The Toronto Sun obtained an audio recording of Ford making offensive remarks in an Etobicoke bar and The Globe and Mail revealed the existence of a second video of Ford smoking what looks like crack-cocaine.
READ MORE: ‘Rob Ford’s comments are gross’: Stintz responds to new audio recording
The Toronto Star also published an article claiming witnesses saw Ford using cocaine at Muzik nightclub on March 15.
The mayor vowed last year that he had given up alcohol – part of a campaign to rehabilitate his image in light of his admission.
His family had previously backed up his assertions and his decision not to resign or take an official leave.
Ford told the Toronto Sun he is working out every day and learning about himself in the rehab program. He also wished he sought treatment sooner.
The mayor remains tight-lipped about where he is staying out of respect for the other patients in the facility.
Ford also said he’s still doing some work by replying to telephone calls from his constituents.
“I am getting help but I still want to help,” he said.
Councillor Giorgio Mammoliti told reporters Wednesday he too spoke with the mayor this morning and says he sounded “pretty good.”
But he reiterated that the public has the right to know where Ford is as he is an elected official.
“I think given he’s still the mayor of the city, I think it’s just warranted,” said Mammoliti.
“You got to tread lightly. I still would think a good explanation would do, by his lawyer, by someone else.”
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