Jim Flaherty chokes back tears discussing Mayor Rob Ford

TORONTO – Federal Finance Minister Jim Flaherty, who is a long time Rob Ford family friend, fought back emotions when he was asked about the Toronto mayor on Thursday.

Flaherty paused several times, looking distraught and visibly concerned over revelations that Ford had admitted to smoking crack cocaine.

Continuing coverage of the Rob Ford scandal

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The finance minister was fielding questions from reporters in Toronto following a pre-budget consultations meeting with the Ontario government at Queen’s Park.

Despite Ford’s admission to drug use, he maintains he will not resign and continue his work at city hall.

Meanwhile, some councillors are calling on the mayor to step down and are planning to push through a motion to strip him of certain powers.

This pressure from city hall comes just a week after police said they recovered a video of the mayor that appeared to show Ford smoking crack.