Toronto Mayor Rob Ford pressed to step down

Pressure is growing on Toronto Mayor Rob Ford to resign, a day after his stunning turnaround admission that he has in fact smoked crack cocaine.

On Wednesday, more than 200 chanting demonstrators protested outside Toronto City Hall as Ford arrived for work. He entered his office via a back stairway to avoid the demonstrators.

“Rob Ford has got to go!” they chanted.

Protesters left colorful chalk messages on walls and pavement outside the city hall demanding that the mayor quit.

“I’m a taxpayer, and I would like you to resign – now,” read one message targeted at the right-leaning mayor, who speaks often about saving taxpayers’ money. Another said: “This wall would be a better mayor.”

Ford has insisted he will not resign, although even his allies are calling on him to do so.

City councilors have called on Toronto Deputy Mayor Norm Kelly to “orchestrate a dignified” departure for the disgraced mayor.

“He has stubbornly refused to listen to everyone across the city to step down,” Councilor Janet Davis said. “The mayor has got to come to the conclusion himself that he has to step down.”

Meanwhile, Ford’s long-time policy adviser Brooks Barnett resigned on Wednesday, continuing an exodus from his office that started in May when news reports emerged of a video showing the mayor smoking crack.

After months of evading the question, Ford admitted on Tuesday he has smoked crack cocaine, probably “in one of my drunken stupors,” but insisted he is not an addict.

Ford also said he was “embarrassed” by his behavior, but vowed to run for re-election next year.

“Folks, I have nothing left to hide,” he said, adding, “I would do anything, absolutely anything to change the past, but the past is the past and we must move forward.”

Last week, Toronto police chief Bill Blair revealed that investigators had recovered a digital video file containing images of the mayor consistent with what had previously been reported by media.

Blair has also said police are in possession of a second clip, but will not describe its contents.

Officials in Canada’s largest city cannot legally remove Ford unless he is convicted of a crime.