Toronto mayor says ‘I’m not going anywhere, guaranteed’
Rob Young, Toronto's embattled mayor who has admitted smoking crack cocaine, defiantly rejected calls to stand down on Monday
A defiant Toronto Mayor Rob Ford declared on Monday that he intends to stay in office despite immense pressure to step aside after admitting he smoked crack cocaine.
“I’m not going anywhere, guaranteed,” Ford told a supporter as he walked back to City Hall after giving a speech during Remembrance Day ceremonies honouring veterans.
Later, Ford told reporters, “Let’s get it on,” in response to a question about a motion filed by a City Council member, Denzil Minnan-Wong, who wants the mayor to step aside. A vote on the motion is likely on Wednesday.
Ford’s refusal to resign or take a leave of absence has frustrated both his opponents and allies on Toronto’s City Council, which has no legal way to force him out unless he’s convicted of a crime.
The unprecedented motion would ask the province of Ontario to pass legislation to remove the mayor if he doesn’t agree to take a leave of absence. Some councillors have said they are unwilling to take that step. The provincial government has also expressed reluctance to interfere in Toronto’s municipal affairs.
“I think it’s critically important that council speaks as one voice to say that what he has done is wrong,” Minnan-Wong said. “He should go and take a leave of absence, remove himself from council while he gets the help that he needs, and let the city move forward and not be distracted by any of the future information that’s going to come out.”