A supervising doctor has confirmed that Toronto Mayor Rob Ford is currently receiving treatment for substance abuse, according to a Toronto media outlet.
The article, which appeared on the CBC’s website Friday night, said that Ford arrived at the facility - located somewhere in North America - late last Thursday night.
Ford subsequently left the facility on Saturday, following a medical exam, and was taken to a hospital where he was admitted for four days before returning to the treatment centre on May 7, the article says.
The doctor's name and the location of the treatment facility were not provided in the article.
Earlier Friday, the mayor’s brother Coun. Doug Ford reportedly told the Toronto Sun that he would be releasing information later in the day that would prove that the mayor is in a rehabilitation facility and “put an end to all the speculation” that has been rampant since Ford announced a leave of absence to seek help for substance abuse last week.
The promise of additional information comes in the wake of several recent reported sightings of Rob Ford in the GTA that have stoked debate over whether the mayor is actually getting help.
“Since the day he went in, he has never been out in public,” Doug Ford told the Sun.
Doug Ford has previously said that the mayor is at a treatment facility “nowhere close to the GTA,” but he has refused to disclose the location, citing privacy concerns.
Star article describes wild Ford night in March
The report confirming Rob Ford’s current participation in a treatment program comes amid a new article detailing an alleged wild night the mayor had back in March.
The article, which appeared on the Toronto Star’s website Friday night, details the alleged activities of Ford on March 5, two days after his appearance on "Jimmy Kimmel Live."
The article, which was written based on “an account from people present of Ford’s behaviour,” describes a “wasted” and “hammered” Ford driving his Cadillac Escalade through the city at around 8 p.m. accompanied by two friends, including Sandro Lisi.
The article goes on to describe a recorded phone call during which the mayor is reported to make comments about blacks, Jews and Italians.
“Nobody sticks up for people like I do, every f---ing k--e, n----r, f---ing w-p, d-go, whatever the race,” the article reads. “Nobody does. I’m the most racist guy around. I’m the mayor of Toronto.”
The article later details Ford and company arriving back to the mayor’s house at around 10 p.m., where Ford allegedly punches a friend in the face twice before getting into a verbal argument with his wife, Renata, in the basement.
New video emerges
Doug Ford’s promise of further information came just hours after a new video emerged showing the mayor slurring his words and using profanities at a Weston Road bar.
The video, which was acquired by the Sun, is believed to have been shot on April 27 and shows an agitated Ford shouting profanities and making apparent references to troubles in his family life.
“I’m in f--- divorce. I'm going f--- doghouse, I'm going hotel,” Ford is heard saying in the video. "I don't know what to say."
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