Toronto mayor Rob Ford's staff have confirmed that he will be addressing his troubles over the last week during his Sunday radio show. (Nathan Denette/Canadian Press)
Toronto Mayor Rob Ford will return to the airwaves Sunday to discuss his scandal-plagued week on his radio show, a station manager says, in the wake of police revelations about an alleged crack-smoking video and a city hall security letter describing the mayor's "intoxicated" behaviour on St. Patrick's Day 2012.
Deputy Mayor Norm Kelly told CBC News that Ford would use the radio forum to make an "announcement," though he would not elaborate.
Mike Bendixen, the station brand program director for Newstalk 1010, confirmed earlier Saturday that Ford and his brother, Coun. Doug Ford, would resume their hosting duties at 1 p.m. ET — their usual slot for his show The City.
In a tweet, Bendixen said the mayor "will address some of the news from this week" during the two-hour program.
At a news conference on Thursday, police Chief Bill Blair confirmed the existence of a Ford video retrieved from a hard drive during a June 20 police raid. Blair said the video was "consistent" with media reports describing the mayor as smoking what appeared to be crack cocaine.
On Saturday, the mayor continued to dodge media asking him to comment on the video scandal. Surrounded by reporters, he grinned as he ducked into an elevator and then drove away in his black Escalade.
"I told you before I'm not going to resign," he said.
Ford held a private meeting in the afternoon with Kelly. It was expected that his deputy mayor would present him with concerns relayed by several councillors about his behaviour.
The mayor also refused on Saturday to answer questions about a letter from city hall security released on Friday. That letter, written by security staff, said the mayor and an "entourage" of staff arrived at City Hall around 2 a.m. following a night out on St. Patrick's Day last year.
'[Rob Ford] has always criticized us for suggesting that 'thugs be hugged', and I think it's time for this thug to get a hug.'- City coun. Adam Vaughan
"It was quite evident that [Ford] was very intoxicated as he had problems walking, was sweating profusely and was swearing at [senior aide Earl] Provost as he walked by the Security desk," the letter states.
At 2:30 a.m., the letter says, "the mayor headed down to the security desk alone with a half-empty bottle of St-Remy French brandy."
Coun. Adam Vaughan reiterated his concerns on Saturday about a "leadership vacuum" at city hall.
Asked if he had any advice for Ford, Vaughan said: "Get help. Clearly, clearly, there are some significant issues in his private life that need attention," he said. "He's always criticized us for suggesting that 'thugs be hugged,' and I think it's time for this thug to get a hug."
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