TORONTO

Mayor Rob Ford will march in Sunday’s Toronto Santa Claus parade.

Ford’s office confirmed Monday night that he wants to take part in the annual parade despite the ongoing crack cocaine scandal.

The embattled mayor’s confirmation came after parade organizers said earlier Monday that they were told Ford wouldn’t be walking the parade route this year.

Ford’s spokesman Sunny Petrujkic said Monday night that Ford wants to march in the parade.

“He just called me and said, ‘I’d like to be in the parade, order the candy canes,’” Petrujkic added. “He makes the call and it is his decision whether he wants to or not.

“He has indicated that he would like to be part of the parade and he would like to deliver the candy canes to the kids who are going to be at the parade. He has done it in previous years and he would like to do it again.”

A few hours earlier, parade organizers had said Ford wouldn’t be walking the parade route.

Since he was elected in 2010, Ford has taken part in the parade, throwing out candy to the children that line the streets waiting for a glimpse of Santa.

Ron Barbaro, co-chair of the parade, said Ford’s office told him last week that the mayor wouldn’t be marching this year.

Barbaro added Ford has been the only mayor to walk the whole parade route.

“I always thought it was pretty spectacular,” he said. “He decided not to (this year) and it is pretty obvious why — all that controversy.”

Just last week Ford admitted he smoked crack — although he blamed it on one of his “drunken stupors.” Since that admission Ford has been resisting calls from his allies who want him to take a leave of absence to deal with substance abuse issues. When Ford’s office came out confirming the mayor will be marching after all, Barbaro said it was up to the civic leader to choose whether to participate.

“He’s the mayor, what are we going to do? I’m not going to stop him.”