Toronto’s deputy mayor said Rob Ford will make an announcement on his radio show Sunday, as the embattled mayor faces continued pressure to step aside to deal with personal issues over the latest allegations linked to an alleged crack video.
After meeting privately with Ford on Saturday, Deputy Mayor Norm Kelly told CP24 that the mayor will state his position tomorrow on his weekly radio show, Newstalk 1010’s “The City.”
Kelly, who met with Ford at the Scarborough Civic Centre for about an hour Saturday, did not say what was discussed at the meeting but said it was positive, and he was satisfied with the outcome.
The deputy mayor had been expected to convey to Ford concerns raised by several council colleagues after police said they have recovered an alleged video that appears to show the mayor smoking crack cocaine.
On Friday, Kelly told reporters that he hoped Ford would make "the right decision," but wouldn't elaborate on what that decision would be.
Earlier Saturday, Newstalk 1010 program director Mike Bendixen said in a tweet that Ford’s office confirmed that the mayor would “address some of the news from this week” on the show he co-hosts with his brother, Coun. Doug Ford.
“The City” will proceed as scheduled, starting at 1 p.m. ET.
Stopping by Toronto’s city hall earlier Saturday, Ford remained steadfast amid calls for him to step down, telling reporters he’s not going anywhere.
"I told you before I'm not resigning," he said, as he entered an elevator.
Ford had said Thursday he has "no reason to resign," speaking hours after Toronto Police Chief Bill Blair announced that a video had been recovered in which the mayor appears and that is "consistent with what has been described in the press."
Ford has been facing controversy since May, when U.S. website Gawker and the Toronto Star reported that some of their staff members had been shown a video in which the mayor appears to be smoking out of a glass crack pipe.
Ford has previously said he does not use crack cocaine and that the video does not exist.
Speaking to CTV News Channel on Saturday, Coun. John Parker said he’s already passed on his concerns to the deputy mayor.
Parker reiterated his view that it's important that Ford address the latest police revelations. "He needs to tell us exactly what's been going on," he said.
He added that while the work at city hall continues, the entire ordeal has been damaging to the city as a whole.
"I think Toronto will survive all of this, but it certainly is another reason why this whole thing has to be brought to a close," Parker said. "And a mayor who cares about his city would take the steps necessary to close it."
Also on Thursday, a police document was made public revealing that the alleged video was the focus of a police investigation that led to the arrest of Ford's friend and occasional driver Alexander Lisi on Oct. 1.
On Friday, Lisi, 35, was released on bail after being charged with extortion. Police allege that Lisi attempted to retrieve the alleged video.
Ford said Thursday that he can't defend the allegations against him because the matter is before the courts.
With files from CP24's Katie Simpson and The Canadian Press
