Pronouncing himself “ashamed, embarrassed and humiliated,” Mayor Rob Ford acknowledged a substance abuse problem, offered a general apology to Toronto residents, and said he is changing his life. Then he delivered a campaign speech.

In his first address after a two-month leave of absence, on Monday, Ford spoke more frankly than ever about his use of drugs and alcohol. He said he accepts sole responsibility for “poor judgment” and for a “hurtful and degrading” comment about rival Karen Stintz. He admitted for the first time that his addictions have affected his work.

He soon pivoted to politics. After showing rare contrition and emotion, he returned to his standard rhetoric on taxes, subways and “the gravy train.” He took no questions.

“I think that his refusal to answer questions today is a further indication that he doesn’t get it,” said candidate John Tory, who repeated his call for Ford’s resignation.

Ford did not mention his racial and homophobic slurs. He was silent when pressed about his dealings with accused gun and drug traffickers, whether he was involved in efforts to obtain the first video of his crack cocaine use, and other issues and incidents he has ignored over the last year.

The invitation-only address was controversial even before Ford delivered it. He barred several media outlets from the room — an unprecedented move at Toronto’s city hall — and his office announced he would not accept any questions. Ford’s press secretary threatened to evict a reporter who asked Ford about his racial slurs before he had finished speaking.

Candidate Olivia Chow criticized Ford for declining to discuss his “homophobic remarks or his racist remarks”; she said he is a “failed mayor” promoting poor policies. Councillors scoffed at his decision to devote a substantial portion of the speech to political boasts.

“I thought he was doing really well for the first part. It sounded very sincere and heartfelt and full of acknowledgements that he had to make. And then, unfortunately, it morphed into a campaign speech, which kind of cast doubt on the whole thing,” said Councillor John Filion, one of the leaders of the November move to strip Ford of most of his powers.

“It is completely inappropriate for the mayor of Toronto to repeatedly be homophobic, sexist and racist, and until he properly addresses that he’s not doing his job as the mayor of Toronto,” said Councillor Gord Perks.

Ford said his time in “intensive” rehab in Muskoka taught him that he has a disease that will require lifelong care. He said he had previously been in “complete denial” about his issues, which he said included “uncontrollable cravings.”

“Thanks to my treatment, I can proudly say today that I have begun the process of taking control of my life. But folks, this is a long, long road to recovery, and no matter what I do, no matter what I do, I will never be able to change the mistakes that I have made in the past,” he said.

“When I look back on some of the things I have said and some of the things I did when I was using, I am ashamed, embarrassed and humiliated. I was wrong, and I have no one, but no one, to blame but myself. I want to sincerely, sincerely apologize, not just to the people of Toronto, but every single person who was hurt by my words and my actions.”

He specifically identified only Stintz, who he had said he wanted to “f----g jam,” and “fellow councillors.” He did not mention blacks, gays, Jews, Italians, or South Asians, all of whom he has referred to using slurs. And he did not specifically say what actions he believes were wrong.

Tory denounced Ford again for socializing with members of the criminal “underworld.” Ford said he has “ended” certain “associations” he did not identify.

“I now realize that I was blind to the dangers of some of the company I kept,” he said.

Ford had always insisted that his drinking and drug use were “personal” matters. In his speech, he conceded that his substance abuse impeded his ability to run the city.

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“It soon became obvious that my alcohol and drug use was having a serious impact on my family, on my health, and on my job as mayor,” he said.

Ford now has just under four months to win back voters he has lost. Recent polls put him in second or third place, within striking distance of the lead. But he faces a difficult path to first: his approval rating is hovering around 30 per cent, a dismal figure, and more than half of people polled want him to resign.

Stintz lambasted Ford in a post-speech statement.

"If the mayor wants to apologize to me, he's got my number and he can call,” she said. “It's a private matter for him to discuss with me directly. Mayor Ford has a lot more to apologize to the public for. I'd rather he apologize to the city of Toronto for years of dereliction of duty, abject failure to trim the budget, zero leadership on transit, and years of offensive antics, bigotry, and racism.”

With files from Jennifer Pagliaro and Paul Moloney

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