Brian Johnston, who served as policy advisor and council relations officer in Ford's office, was escorted out of city hall Thursday, telling CTV Toronto he left "on his own accord."
Johnston said the "timing is right" and there are "other things" he'd like to move on to at this time.
The mayor's office also confirmed that Kia Nejatian, executive assistant to the mayor, was no longer working for Ford. It wasn't immediately clear whether Nejatian was fired or quit.
Hours later, Ford told reporters that he wished Johnston and Nejatian the best and always encouraged his staff to jump at new opportunities.
“I have a great deal of respect for everyone who works for my office,” he said, adding that he is interviewing potential candidates and will be hiring new staff.
Five staffers have now either quit their jobs or been fired from Ford's office in the past two weeks. Mark Towhey, George Christopoulos and Isaac Ransom had previously left their positions.
But Ford said it’s business as usual at city hall.
“The work is being done. Phone calls are being returned. Emails are being answered.
“Things are going great and things are fine…I’m keeping taxes low,” Ford said while refusing to directly answer questions about an alleged drug video.
“I’m not stepping aside. I’m running in the next election,” Ford said.
Earlier Thursday, Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne told reporters that she is “worried about the situation” at city hall, and told reporters that “as appropriate, we will be involved.”
During a press conference with reporters at Queen’s Park, Wynne said, “I will take action, if and when appropriate,” but did not outline what she would or could specifically do as the controversy unfolds.
Wynne said “the mayor needs to deal with his personal issues,” which she said are interfering with work at city hall.
Ford said Wynne should mind her own problems at Queen’s Park. His brother, Coun. Doug Ford, was more blunt, telling Wynne: “Get your own house in order.”
“I find it ironic…a premier that was unelected, criticizing a mayor that was elected with the largest majority in Canadian history,” Doug Ford told reporters.
He said Wynne is “up to her eyeballs in scandal, wasting billions of tax dollars.”
Earlier, Doug Ford said Torontonians are tired of the scrutiny on his brother, saying "it's not the media that makes the determination if Rob stays in office. We live in a democracy, it's up to the people. The quicker we get to this election the better it is for the people."
When asked why the mayor himself hasn't met with reporters on a daily basis, leaving his brother to speak on his behalf, Doug Ford said the mayor "has answered question after question after question for 10 days or 12 days."
"I think the people of the city are getting fed up with this, they really are. We want to move forward in making sure we save tax dollars," Ford said.
He added: "How long can (Rob) handle the scrutiny? All the way to the next election, October 2014. They have six months to come after us and then the election starts."
New allegations
Meanwhile, new allegations have emerged in the ongoing controversy surrounding Rob Ford, with a report saying Ford told staff he knew the whereabouts of a video reported to show him smoking from a glass pipe.
The Toronto Star reported that Ford told his senior aides nearly two weeks ago not to worry about the video, before listing two units in a Dixon Road apartment complex as its likely location.
Ford reportedly said "contacts" had provided him with the information, according to the Star report that cited "insiders" familiar with the May 17 meeting in the mayor's office. The meeting took place a day after news of the alleged video broke.
Senior staff were reportedly shocked by the implication of Ford naming such a precise location, the Star suggests.
The only thing Ford has ever said publicly about the alleged video is that it doesn't exist.
The U.S. website Gawker and the Star first reported on the video, with reporters describing a man they said resembled Ford sitting in a chair in a room, smoking from a crack pipe and answering questions about Justin Trudeau and coaching high school football.
Ford has called the reports "ridiculous" and at first avoided answering questions about the video allegations. After eight days of refusing to speak with media, he held a news conference late last week during which he said he does not smoke crack cocaine and is not addicted to the drug.
Arrest made in Anthony Smith probe
Meanwhile on Thursday, Toronto police confirmed they have made a new arrest in connection with the killing of Anthony Smith.
Smith, who was fatally shot in downtown Toronto on March 28, has been linked to the Ford drug video controversy via a photograph that appears to show him with Ford and a third man. The image was released to Gawker and the Star by the people reported to be trying to sell the alleged video.
Hanad Mohamed, 23, of Toronto, was arrested on May 24 in Fort McMurray, Alta., with the help of the RCMP, police said in a statement. Mohamed has been charged with first-degree murder in Smith's death.
He will return to Toronto for a scheduled court appearance on Friday.
Another suspect, Nisar Hashimi, 23, already faces first-degree murder charges in Smith's death after turning himself in last month.
Original Article
Source: ctvnews.ca
Author: CTVNews.ca Staff
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