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It was the end of a humiliating session of city council for Ford, who was was forced to admit to buying illegal drugs over the last two years, while at the same time saying he “absolutely” had zero tolerance for drugs, guns and gangs.

Later in the afternoon, Ford tried to introduce a motion calling for all councillors to undergo drug and alcohol testing, which the council responded to with derisive laughter.

The mayor was also accused of physically “threatening” Denzil Minnan-Wong, the councillor who is pushing forward a motion calling on him to step down.

Not long afterwards, Mr. Minnan-Wong asked the mayor “have you purchased drugs in the last two years?” After a long silence, the mayor answered: “Yes, I have.”

The developments came as city council debated Minnan-Wong’s motion to ask Ford to step aside and deal with his problems after he admitted to smoking crack cocaine while in a “drunken stupor.” He also admitted to the existence of the notorious video, that police say they now have in their possession. Meanwhile, a judge has ordered the release of redacted documents related to the drug arrest of Ford’s friend and a police investigation into the Ford video.

In a further insult to the mayor, the organizers of the Santa Claus Parade formally asked him not to participate this year. They asked him to be a “spectator” and said he’d be a “distraction.”

After months of controversy and little comment from Ford, city councillors relished the opportunity to directly question the mayor.