The original content of Democracy Now! Headlines appears under the Creative
Commons BY-NC-ND 3.0 License (United States). For more, including their other
shows and media, visit www.democracynow.org.
November 6, 2013

Toronto Mayor Refuses to Step Down After Admitting Crack Use 
-------------------------------------------------------------


 
The mayor of Canada's largest city is refusing to resign after admitting
he used crack cocaine. Toronto's Rob Ford has faced months of
controversy following reports of a video showing him smoking from a
crack pipe and making bigoted remarks. Toronto police recently announced
they had recovered the video after arresting a Ford associate on charges
of extortion. On Monday, Ford acknowledged his crack use to reporters.

Toronto Mayor Rob Ford: "Yes, I have smoked crack cocaine. But, no, do
I? Am I an addict? No. Have I tried it? Probably in one of my drunken
stupors, probably approximately about a year ago. I answered your
question. You ask a question properly, I'll answer it. Yes, I've made
mistakes. All I can do now is apologize and move on. I don't know
— woah, guys, woah, woah, OK, can I just — all I can say is
I've made mistakes. And you guys kept referring to alcohol. There was a
couple of isolated incidents. There's been times when I've been in a
drunken stupor. That's why I want to see the tape."

During the course of their investigation, police surveillance documented
Ford exchanging packages with the man ultimately detained for extortion.
At a news conference hours after his admission of crack use, Ford
apologized to Toronto voters but rejected calls to step down, saying he
plans to seek re-election next year.

 

.