Toronto Mayor Rob Ford is “considering” rehab as he faces growing pressure to take a leave of absence or resign amid a crack cocaine scandal.

Ford’s lawyer, Dennis Morris, told The Associated Press the mayor is “considering his options,” including treatment, after publicly admitting to smoking crack cocaine.

Even the embattled mayor’s brother is suggesting it may be time to take a brief break from his work

In a conversation with CP24 commentator Stephen LeDrew, city Coun. Doug Ford said he told his brother that he may benefit from a week or two off to seek counselling.

Doug Ford made the remark a day after the brothers’ mother, Diane, told LeDrew in an exclusive interview that she asked Rob Ford to speak to a counsellor.

Still, the family is adamant he is not a drug addict or alcoholic, he does not require a stay in rehab, and he is fit to continue as Toronto’s mayor.

Diane Ford said her son’s obesity is the serious problem that he must address.

Mayor is 'depressed'

As councillors continue to debate how to handle the situation and how Ford should respond, one of the mayor’s allies, Coun. David Shiner, expressed concerns about the mayor’s mental state after having “personal” conversations with him.

“He’s very depressed and I’m concerned about that,” Shiner told reporters.

Shiner said the mayor has taken a "great" step by acknowledging his problems with alcohol and he is taking steps to deal with the issue.

“These things take time,” Shiner said.

The councillor said the mayor doesn’t know who to trust after Thursday’s release of a video that shows an inebriated Ford cursing and using threatening language.

Some council members rejected the notion that the mayor can continue to show up for work while he deals with his personal issues.

“I don’t think that’s the right direction for Rob to be going,” said Coun. Gary Crawford, a member of Ford’s executive committee. “I personally do not think that he can do both. We need to tone this circus down.”

Speaking with CP24 Friday evening, Coun. Shelley Carroll said that she hoped the weekend provided a bit of a break for Ford.

“We’re really hoping that the mayor might say to himself it’s a long weekend, I’ve got some hard thinking to do, and really I need to take that down time and not jeopardize the work of council,” she said.

Billboard appears along Gardiner Expressway

As calls for the mayor to take a leave of absence continue to come in, a new billboard has appeared along the Gardiner Expressway in Etobicoke stating support for Rob Ford.

Images of the billboard, located above a building at 16 Queen Elizabeth Blvd., in the Royal York Road and Gardiner Expressway area, first began to appear on social media sites Friday.

“We Support Mayor Ford,” the billboard, which features a City of Toronto logo, reads.

The billboard also includes a Bible verse and a misspelling of the word 'responsibility.'

In an email sent to CP24 Friday night, a City of Toronto spokesperson said that the city is aware of the billboard and is "addressing the unauthorized use of the city logo.”

It is currently unclear who paid for the billboard or when it was put up.

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