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Prime Minister’s office ‘pleased’ Rob Ford plans to enter rehab

Prime Minister Stephen Harper shakes hands with Toronto Mayor Rob Ford after announcing funding for new subways in Toronto, Sunday, September 22, 2013. Harper appears to be among the few living souls with no opinion on the Toronto mayor's spectacular fall from grace.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper shakes hands with Toronto Mayor Rob Ford after announcing funding for new subways in Toronto, Sunday, September 22, 2013. Harper appears to be among the few living souls with no opinion on the Toronto mayor's spectacular fall from grace. Mark Blinch/The Canadian Press

TORONTO – The Prime Minister’s office has weighed in on Mayor Rob Ford’s leave of absence from his role to seek rehabilitation for an alcohol problem.

Stephen Harper’s office issued a brief statement, saying “the mayor’s comments and behaviour are very troubling.”

“We are pleased to hear the mayor has entered rehab to seek treatment for his addiction.”

WATCH: Some MPs were flat out disgusted by Rob Ford’s comments

Read More: Doug Ford stands by his brother Rob during leave of absence

Ford had closer ties than most with Harper’s inner circle being a close family friend of the former finance minister, Jim Flaherty. Through Flaherty, Ford was able to secure over $600 million in federal funding for the Scarborough subway.

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Ford left Toronto Thursday morning after numerous reports linked him with a racist, rambling audio recording believed to be made Monday night at a local bar in Etobicoke and a second video allegedly showing the mayor smoking what might be crack cocaine in his sister’s basement.  That video is believed to have been recorded Saturday.

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