Former Rob Ford ally Coun. Denzil Minnan-Wong is among Toronto city councillors voicing their dismay after Ford's latest remarks, in which he made crude comments on live TV.
Ford later apologized for his words, citing stress from allegations against him that were made public on Wednesday. He said he was seeking help from a "team of health care professions," but for many councillors, it wasn't enough.
"I have message for the mayor: apology not accepted," Coun. Denzil Minnan-Wong told reporters after Ford apologized.
"He's crossed the line and he has to go. He doesn't represent the values of the city. He doesn't represent council's values. He has to step aside, this has to end."
Minnan-Wong pressed again for Premier Kathleen Wynne to step in, referring to his earlier proposal to ask the province to intervene and remove the mayor.
Wynne later told reporters that if city council put forward a request to the province, it would respond by providing council with "new tools, depending on what that request may be." She said she would first consult with the leaders of the other provincial parties to see if the legislature could act "unanimously if required."
Minnan-Wong is among a number of councillors who started turning their chairs in council chambers in protest on Thursday when the mayor rose to speak.
"I think Toronto is disgusted with the mayor's comments, so I support that," he said.
A number of councillors also stood in protest immediately after Ford's crude comments Thursday morning.
On Wednesday councillors voted 37-5 in favour of a non-binding motion for Ford to step aside.
On Friday, council will vote on motions that seek to remove many of Ford's powers, including his power to appoint and fire members of the executive.
Coun. Karen Stintz – who recently announced her intention to run against Ford in next year's mayoral election -- told reporters that if passed, Friday's motions will allow council to "better manage" the city.
"I do understand he's apologizing, but, again, these apologies are becoming fast and frequent and increasingly meaningless," Stintz said.
"He talks about respecting taxpayers, but he doesn't think about respect for every other Torontonian in this city, like my children," she added, noting that she'll again have to explain to her young children the mayor's language.
Coun. Giorgio Mammoliti, who has been a long-time supporter of Ford, told CP24 that the mayor's actions and words are "unacceptable" and he should seek help for his personal issues.
"He's spiralling out of control and the only thing that we can be talking to him about right now is getting better," he said.
Mammoliti said, however, that it wasn't appropriate for other councillors to be "salivating" and "waiting for him to drop dead or something."
"Let's get him help. It's about getting help," he said.
Coun. Mary McMahon said that while her "heart goes out" to the mayor's family, Ford comments went too far.
"Those types of comments are absolutely unbelievable," she said, adding that Ford's remarks were an insult to council and all Toronto residents. "He cannot be trusted with anything, especially his mouth."
She said that council is trying to focus on its work and move forward despite the ongoing headlines.
