Some of Mayor Rob Ford’s colleagues and rival mayoral candidates were quick to call for his resignation after Ford announced he will take temporary leave from office and the campaign.
Minutes after Ford’s lawyer Dennis Morris confirmed to CTV News that Ford would be taking a break from his re-election campaign to seek help for personal issues, Coun. Josh Matlow, a frequent Ford critic, tweeted: “Goodbye Mayor Rob Ford,” and “Rob Ford must resign. Now.”
Ford’s announcement came after The Globe and Mail reported Wednesday night that two of its reporters have seen a video that appears to show Ford smoking from a pipe. The video was allegedly shot in Ford’s sister’s basement early Saturday morning.
CTV News has not been able to verify the authenticity of the video image or the audio recording.
The Toronto Sun, meanwhile, obtained what it says is an audio recording of Ford making lewd comments about another mayoral candidate, Karen Stintz.
In a statement on behalf of Karen Stintz's campaign, spokesperson Karl Baldauf said the comments made by the mayor are "deeply offensive to everyone living in Toronto."
"That a sitting mayor would make such shocking and bigoted remarks is disgusting," Baldauf said, adding Stintz will be addressing the comments directly "in the coming days."
Matlow said Ford’s “bigoted comments and vile remarks about Karen Stintz are inexcusable.”
Another mayoral candidate, John Tory, said he is “deeply disappointed” by the new revelations about Ford’s “latest behaviour.”
“For the good of the city, I call on Mayor Ford to resign from his office as mayor,” Tory said in a brief statement to reporters Wednesday night.
The Olivia Chow campaign would not comment. “Olivia's campaign just learned of this development, and has no comment this evening,” her media office said in a statement.. “An announcement of Mr. Ford's nature deserves a considered response, and we will not prematurely speculate.”
Coun. Jaye Robinson, another vocal Ford critic, tweeted: “Toronto’s had enough deception, enough denial and enough lies. Our city deserves more! Toronto deserves dignity, honesty and respect.”
In a tweet, mayoral candidate David Soknacki called Ford a “disgrace,” adding it’s “time for him to go. Now.”
Other public officials wished Ford well.
In a brief statement, Ontario NDP Leader Andrea Horwath welcomed Ford’s decision to take leave from city hall to seek help. “Taking a break to deal with his health issues takes courage,” Horwath said. “I wish him and his family well.”
Former MPP George Smitherman told CP24 that as someone who had “been down that path” he offers “anyone struggling with addiction my complete support.”
Allies and council foes have been urging Ford to seek help since nearly a year ago following reports of a video that showed the mayor smoking what appears to be crack cocaine. In November, Ford admitted to smoking crack cocaine.
Late-night talk show host Jimmy Kimmel, who has frequently poked fun at Ford and had the mayor on the show as a guest in March, tweeted Wednesday night: “All jokes aside, I hope @TOMayorFord really does get the help he obviously needs.”
As news emerged that Ford would be taking a break from the campaign, Mark Towhey, his former chief of staff, also weighed in, tweeting:
“Good for him, if it’s true. Wish he’d done it sooner. Life would have been a lot easier for so many. So much opportunity squandered.”
