Toronto Mayor Rob Ford urged to take leave by council

Toronto city council voted 37-5 Wednesday in favour of a motion calling on Mayor Rob Ford to take a leave of absence following his stunning admission that he smoked crack cocaine.

The embattled Ford is not bound by the motion and has vowed to stay on the job.

The vote followed a lengthy, and at times heated, debate that included an intense exchange between Ford and Coun. Denzil Minnan-Wong about the mayor’s views on drugs and crime

It was during this exchange that Ford issued another shocking statement, admitting he had purchased illegal drugs in the past two years.

During the debate, Ford continued to deny he is an addict and side-stepped questions about whether he will seek professional help.