TORONTO – The city’s executive committee plans to address Friday the controversy surrounding Toronto Mayor Rob Ford.
The drafted statement is to remind the public that business at city hall will go on as usual and to ask the mayor to address the allegations of substance abuse stemming from a video that appeared last week allegedly showing Ford smoking what appears to be crack cocaine.
“I would like him to come forward and speak and that’s what the executive members are trying to say in this letter,” Holyday said.
It is unclear how many members will sign the statement, however Holyday said his signature will be on it.
Councillor Gary Crawford echoed the deputy mayor’s comments. “The executives are saying business is happening and we are dealing with day to day issues even in light of this controversy.”
Holyday is scheduled to meet Friday with Ford for an executive briefing with senior staff.
“What I thought was that after that meeting I would have an opportunity to discuss with the mayor the possibility of having this meeting with some of the executive members who wanted to talk to him,” Holyday said.
The meeting comes a day after the mayor fired his chief of staff Mark Towhey.
According to multiple media reports citing unnamed sources, Towhey was fired after asking Ford to seek help for his alleged addiction.
It has not been established that the mayor has an addiction. The deputy mayor could not confirm the reports.
“I don’t know what the mayor’s former chief of staff asked him to do,” he said. “I’m disappointed. Mark worked hard and he did a good job.”
Last week reports surfaced of a video, seen by few journalists, allegedly showing Ford smoking what appears to be crack cocaine. The allegations have silenced the mayor and brought business at city hall to a standstill.
Global News has not seen and cannot verify the authenticity of the video.
Ford called the allegations “ridiculous.”
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