OTTAWA — One of Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s top cabinet ministers is calling on Toronto Mayor Rob Ford to resign after bringing “dishonour” to Canada’s largest city — as some differing opinions emerge on the issue from the Conservative government.
A day after the Prime Minister’s Office called allegations against Ford “troubling” — but avoided saying whether he should resign — Employment and Social Development Minister Jason Kenney on Tuesday took a much sharper tone on the matter.
Kenney said it’s ultimately up to Toronto city council to “sort out this mess,” but he believes Ford — who has admitted to smoking crack cocaine while mayor — has embarrassed the city and should resign.
Immigration Minister Jason Kenney expects the government will appeal a recent court decision that struck down Canada’s human-smuggling law -
and maintains his laws were never meant to persecute those who facilitate illegal migration for altruistic reasons.
“I will say, though, as an elected official, that I think Mr. Ford has brought dishonour to public office, to the office of mayor, and his city,” Kenney told reporters Tuesday in Ottawa.
“I wished he had taken a leave of absence some time ago to go and deal with his personal problems. But not having done that, I personally think he should step aside and stop dragging the city of Toronto through this terrible embarrassment.”
Other cabinet ministers, however, stopped short of saying Ford should step aside.
Public Safety Minister Steven Blaney said it’s “regrettable and deplorable” for people to use illegal drugs, whether they’re elected officials or ordinary citizens.
But when pressed about what Ford should do, Blaney said the mayor should answer that question, carefully avoiding mentioning Ford by name.
“No one is above the law and obviously, I’d add that any person who faces charges or is found guilty must face the consequences. Now our society follows the rule of law in which a person is innocent until proven guilty,” Blaney said.
Justice Minister Peter MacKay also weighed in Tuesday on the matter, taking a shot at Ford and Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau, who have both admitted to using drugs while an elected official.
“My views as attorney general and justice minister on drug use are pretty clear. I think any politician who is active in public life that is admitting to drug use has to do some serious reflection on what message that sends, so that includes Mr. Trudeau, Mr. Ford,” MacKay said.
“It’s very troubling and unfortunate is all I can say.”
On Monday, the Prime Minister’s Office spoke out on the affair for the first time, with Harper’s spokesman, Jason MacDonald, calling the latest allegations against Ford “troubling.”
“Our government does not condone illegal drug use, especially by elected officials while in office,” MacDonald said in an email. But the PMO stopped short of saying Ford should resign or take a leave of absence.
Earlier this month, Finance Minister Jim Flaherty, a close friend of the Ford family, said the Toronto mayor must ultimately decide whether to step aside and seek help after admitting he smoked crack cocaine.
“At the end of the day, he has to make his own decision about what he ought to do,” Flaherty said, choking back tears. “Certainly his family is helping him and wishing him well. That’s all I can say.”
— With files from Mike De Souza, Postmedia News
Twitter.com/jasonfekete
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