Ford addresses new video

It’s not known if this latest video is one of the videos Toronto Police Chief Bill Blair referred to during a media conference last week, and the video which appears to show the Mayor smoking crack has not yet been released. Once again, there’s been a lot of reaction to the latest developments in the Mayor Ford crack-cocaine scandal.   And the Mayor himself was talking about the new video Thursday. Lisa Hepfner reports from Toronto City Hall.

The mayor came out of his office shortly after news outlets started airing the video. He looked red and sweaty. I thought I saw a tear in his eye. And he apologized, but he didn’t really explain himself. Here is his full exchange with the media: “The Toronto Star just released a video. I was very very inebriated. Who were you talking to? All I can say is, I made mistakes, I can reassure the people, I just wanted to come out and tell you I saw a video, it’s extremely embarrassing. The whole world is going to see it, again, I apologize, when you’re in that state. I hope all of you are never in that state. I was extremely inebriated. That’s all thank you.”

After Ford met the media, Councillors started offering their thoughts on this latest development. Mostly we heard shock at language that is clearly unbecoming of the Chief Magistrate of the biggest city in the country.

Toronto City Councillor James Pasternak: “The language is profoundly disturbing…100’s of 1000’s will view it world wide. This is something we don’t need.”

Toronto City Councillor John Fillion: His personal life is out of control, but I don’t think you can remove an elected official for that. I think Mayor Ford should step aside but the more people try to shove him aside, the more he will dig in.”

Toronto Deputy Mayor Norm Kelly: This is obviously a private moment. People in private act differently. He’s obviously agitated but I don’t know why.”

Kelly said that type of language is typical on the football field and he cautions that we don’t know the context of the video. He spoke with the Mayor and came out later saying little other than he’s not disappointed and the Mayor is cognizant of what’s going on. There are a couple of motions proposed at City Hall. One calls for powers to be taken away from the mayor. Another calls for the province to step in and take over. But many councillors say they can run the city just fine for the next year, until the next election. So long as the Mayor isn’t able to sabotoge their work.