Pressure ramps up for Toronto mayor to step aside

11/6/2013
ASSOCIATED PRESS

TORONTO — City Councilors are calling on Toronto’s deputy mayor to “orchestrate a dignified exit from city hall” for Mayor Rob Ford, who has acknowledged smoking crack in a “drunken stupor.”

Councilor James Pasternak said today the controversy consuming Canada’s largest city cannot go on day after day. He’s asking Deputy Mayor Norm Kelly to approach Ford again.

After months of evading the question, Ford admitted to smoking crack Tuesday. But he refused to step aside despite immense pressure.

Reports of a video showing Ford smoking what appears to be crack cocaine first surfaced in May, and police said they recovered a copy last week.

Municipal law makes no provision for Ford’s forced removal from office unless he is convicted and jailed for a criminal offense. Police have not charged Ford.