Toronto mayor apologizes for sexually explicit remarks

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Toronto mayor apologizes for sexually explicit remarks

(Xinhua) 09:06, November 15, 2013

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TORONTO, Nov. 14 -- The embattled mayor of Canada's largest city of Toronto apologized on Thursday after he shocked the public once again for an outburst of sexually explicit language on live television earlier in the day.

Rob Ford quickly summoned a formal press conference to apologize for his graphic language.

He said he was now "receiving support" from a team of health- care professionals for drinking alcohol in excess, adding that allegations of cocaine use and prostitution in some previously redacted court documents released just the day before had pushed him "over the line."

"I acted on complete impulse in my remarks," he told reporters around noon with his wife standing by his side. "When you attack my integrity as a father and a husband, I see red."

Ford shocked reporters in a media scrum earlier in the day when he attempted to refute allegations in the documents that were collected through police interviews with his former staffers and some others.

He specifically addressed the claim in the documents which stated he talked obscene language to a former female employee.

"I've never said that in my life to her, I would never do that. I'm happily married, I've got more than enough to eat at home," Ford told reporters in the morning.

Ford also responded to other allegations, including that former special assistant of communications Isaac Ransom told police Ford was seen consorting with a suspected prostitute.

"It hurts my wife when they are calling a friend of mine a prostitute, Alana is not a prostitute- she's a friend," Ford said. "It makes me sick how people are saying this."

Ford also threatened legal action Thursday morning against his former staffers and others who had made those claims, saying that their allegations were "outright lies."

It's been a week of controversy, shock and humiliation for Ford, who last week confessed to smoking crack cocaine. It was a day of protests and a heated council meeting on Wednesday when council members voted 37-5 in favor of a non-binding motion calling on the mayor to take a leave of absence to deal with his personal issues.

The motion was largely symbolic since city council does not have the power to remove the mayor from office. Ford told local media he planned to ignore the motion.

The city council will hold two special meetings on Friday in an attempt to strip the mayor of some of his powers, which include his ability to hire and fire his executive committee, and deal with city emergencies.

Calling the Toronto mayor's unraveling scandal as "truly disturbing," Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne said Thursday that the province could step in at the council's request.

"The events continue to move quickly and the things that we are seeing and hearing about Mayor Rob Ford are truly disturbing," she said.

In reassurance to Torontonians, she said, "Toronto is more than one politician, it's more than one government." "I want the people of Toronto to know that we will not be defined by this and we will work together to ensure that people's interests are served."