A day after Mayor Rob Ford made the stunning admission that he smoked crack-cocaine Toronto councillors are weighing in on the Ford scandal.
Wednesday, Denzil Minnan-Wong urged his fellow councillors to support his motion asking the mayor to step aside and take a leave of absence.
The embattled mayor is again facing calls to step down and to seek treatment for any substance abuse problems he may have.
Wednesday morning Brooks Barnett, a senior policy advisor, resigned less than a day after Ford’s admission of crack use.
Here’s what some of Rob Ford’s council colleagues had to say:
“Rob Ford admitted to smoking crack cocaine while acting as Mayor of Toronto. This admission was a betrayal to many in our city, and likely to many of his supporters.”
– Karen Stintz
“I believe he must resign and put the people of Toronto before his own interests. That would be leadership. If he doesn’t, I will support every effort within Council’s authority to hold him to account and prevent him from doing any further damage to our city.”
– Josh Matlow
“I think that the mayor yesterday has taken the first steps in addressing the controversy and his personal issues that have been surrounding city hall for the last while, and I hope that he will now continue to do that . To take some time off, to be with his family, and to deal with his personal issues.”
– Joe Mihevc
“I actually have told the mayor that I think it’s in the city’s best interest that he should take a leave of absence. I have put a notice in motion on the council saying that council as a whole needs to take a principal position and say that he should take a leave of absence.”
– Denzil Minnan-Wong
“He is still in the role of mayor and we have to look at how we deal with the situation.”
– Janet Davis
“In light of the recent drug use admission from the Mayor I must stress that there is no need to enter into a state of panic at City Hall or across Toronto. We have a very capable Deputy Mayor and dedicated councillors to carry forward with the fiscally responsible agenda we were elected to implement.”
– Giorgio Mammoliti
“The mayor has got himself into a predicament and I wish him well in that. … But he has to make that decision [to resign] himself.”
– John Parker
– Shelley Carroll
“We’re getting a lot of email from residents who are concerned about what is happening and they would like to see him step down. I would prefer for him to step aside and deal with his personal issues. Clearly he is in denial and that is unfortunate. He needs to address these issues in his life and be better for it.”
– Jaye Robinson
“Resignation should be his decision. I do think he needs to step aside and deal with the matter, and either give explanations and deal with it.”
– Mike Del Grande
“I think for everybody’s sake including his own the best move for the city and if he wants to run in next year’s election the move is to step aside and deal with his personal issues. And comeback when he is ready to be mayor without the daily circus.”
– John Filion
“I think the honourable thing to do would be to step down until we get some clarity on the situation. Right now we have a black eye and we don’t deserve it.”
– Gloria Lindsay-Luby
“I am disappointed. I hope that Mayor Ford is able to recognize the seriousness of his situation and work to get better. The conduct of the Mayor, by his own admission today, is serious and must be addressed.”
– Mike Layton
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