Three of Toronto’s major daily papers have dropped bombshells on Mayor Rob Ford’s re-election campaign, reporting on recordings that show the mayor speaking crudely about his colleagues and once again smoking from a pipe, and eyewitnesses' claims of wild nights at a nightclub.
In a written statement released late Wednesday night, Ford admitted to having a problem with alcohol and announced he is taking an immediate leave of absence to seek professional help. The statement did not refer to drugs.
In an audio tape released by The Toronto Sun, someone reported to be Ford is heard making comments about Ontario PC Leader Tim Hudak, his mayoral rivals Olivia Chow and Karen Stintz, and how he is “sick of politics.”
The audio was recorded surreptitiously at an Etobicoke bar Monday night, according to the Toronto Sun. Several people are heard on the tape speaking to Ford about the mayoral campaign and some of the controversies he has faced.
The first thing we can hear is the mayor speaking about his displeasure with the fact that the rainbow flag was raised at city hall and his disappointment that Hudak supported it.
“They wanted to put the gay flag ahead of the Canadian flag. I said no, that’s bull----. They went to Queen’s Park and they said no way. Tim Hudak comes out and said I agree with the gays and that’s it,” Ford is heard saying on the tape.
“He lost my vote. I can’t vote Liberal because I don’t like what Wynne’s doing. Not because she’s gay but because I don’t like corruption. I’m not left wing. I’m like Tim Hudak but I can’t vote for him. I won’t put a sign up. I might vote (for the Green party).”
Ford then goes on to say that if he has to lose the election, he hopes it’s to Chow.
“I don’t care if they vote against me than not vote at all. I’d rather lose to Olivia Chow then lose to anyone man ‘cause you know that they’re going to get f----- so bad and they’re going to beg and I’m going to say I’m not coming back. I’m done.”
Someone on the tape is then heard loudly asking him about Stintz. Ford then makes lewd comments about his colleague on council.
“I’d like to f------ jam her but she doesn’t want…,” Ford says, as the audio is cut off by the sounds of several people laughing. Ford is then heard apologizing, saying he forgot there was a woman in his company.
At one point, Ford is heard acknowledging that he is rather unconventional for someone in his position.
“I admit, you know what? I am not the normal mayor. I am not the normal mayor,” he says.
He then turns his attention back to the mayoral campaign, expressing his frustration with politics.
“I’m so f------ sick of politics dude. Look at my record. I’m going to win. We’re going to win. You’ve got two choices. You’ve got Olivia Chow. You vote for Tory, you’re voting for Chow because you’re splitting the vote,” he said.
Meanwhile, The Globe and Mail has released a photograph showing the mayor holding a pipe.
Two reporters at the paper say they viewed a video taken covertly by a self-professed drug dealer. The video reportedly shows Ford in the basement of his sister’s house inhaling and exhaling from the pipe.
The dealer told the reporters that the mayor was smoking crack cocaine.
The Globe is reporting that the man is trying to sell three videos for a six-figure sum.
Bieber made fun of Ford: report
The Toronto Star published eyewitness accounts of Ford’s recent visits to an exclusive nightclub that has helped to provide alcohol to the past two Ford Fests.
The report quotes unnamed sources.
According to the Star, Ford met four men outside city hall the night of March 15 – two days before St. Patrick’s Day – and took them back to the house he shares with his wife and two children.
That night, Ford was filmed trying to hail a cab outside city hall. He cursed in front of a minor and appeared to slur his words and be unsteady on his feet.
Once the mayor returned home, he hired a “party bus” to drive him and the men to Muzik nightclub at Exhibition Place, where they were treated to a private booth, the Star reported.
The newspaper claims Ford drank to excess until 5 a.m., told people “I am in over my head” and his wife and children hate him, spent 45 minutes in a bathroom and was ridiculed by pop star Justin Bieber.
Ford reportedly became enraged when Bieber jokingly asked the mayor if he brought crack cocaine to smoke.
Ford returned to the nightclub in April, when an unnamed eyewitness claims to have seen the mayor doing lines of cocaine, the newspaper reported.
The mayor attended a Maple Leafs game April 5 and was denied access to an executive lounge. He went to Muzik after leaving the Air Canada Centre.
Days later, Ford denied claims that he was intoxicated at the hockey game and he disputed claims that security warned him about his behaviour.
