New Ford videos raising concerns

There are renewed calls for Toronto Mayor Rob Ford to resign, after new videos of the mayor inebriated, surfaced online.

Two separate videos of Ford were uploaded yesterday. In one, the mayor was seen seated with a man who appears to be Alexander Lisi, who is currently out on bail on an extortion charge. In the second, a ranting and slurring Ford was heard rambling and using Jamaican profanity.

When Ford arrived at Toronto city hall this morning, he didn’t answer questions from the media. He also ignored reporter questions as he made his way to the city’s executive committee, which is debating Toronto’s budget today.

Councillor Gary Crawford says the time has come for the mayor to get help. “He has a problem, he has an issue, he has an addiction. It needs to be dealt with, and we’re all in many ways enabling this. You know, supporters, from his family, his brother, are supporting and enabling this, and you’ve seen this reaction. He’s not getting any better. He’s still not getting any better.”

Ford was unapologetic yesterday, saying what he does during his personal time is his choice.

Premier Kathleen Wynne says she worries Ford’s distracting people from what Toronto has to offer.

“What concerns me is that the city of Toronto is a wonderful jurisdiction, a wonderful, vibrant place to live, do business, raise a family, and it’s very important to me that people outside of the city of Toronto and outside of Ontario know that. And so to the degree that we’re not talking about what a wonderful place Toronto is, and the fact that it is a terrific place to bring business, that concerns me.”

Wynne says she hopes ford seeks the help and support he needs.