Rob Ford: 'Sober as a judge' and 'healthy as a horse'

Rob Ford, for the first time since he returned from rehab, discussed his sobriety at city hall on Thursday.

He previously said in a handful of interviews — including speaking to CBC's Dwight Drummond — that he couldn't guarantee he won't relapse, only that he's taking his recovery one day at a time.

But he was more declarative when asked when asked about alcohol and drugs.

"A lot of people really wish that I'm going to fail, that I'm going to drink, that I'm going to do drugs," said Ford. "Unfortunately, that wish will not come true. Guaranteed that wish will not come true. I'm as sober as a judge."

His sobriety coach, tasked with keeping Ford away from drugs and alcohol, is no longer with the mayor on a day-to-day basis, as he has been since Ford returned from a rehabilitation facility on June 30.

Ford said Bob Marier, the sobriety coach, has not been around for "a few days," and that he is committed to staying clean.

"Rob Ford is not going to fail," he said sternly. "Rob Ford is not going to touch alcohol."

On the subject of his overall health, he said he was fine despite visiting a hospital Thursday morning for a nagging injury to his toe that will require surgery.

"I'm as healthy as a horse," said the mayor.

"The only people that get me upset sometimes are the people I'm looking at and some of the councillors."

Before Ford entered rehab he had made previous assurances he was done with alcohol, telling CBC on Nov. 18, 2013, that he had a "come to Jesus" moment. 

Two months later he admitted he had been drinking after a video emerged on YouTube of him in a rambling, profane rant using Jamaican patois. Ford called it a "minor setback."

Ford calls for Waterfront CEO to 'step aside'

Rob Ford says spending $600,000 on a single public washroom along Toronto's waterfront is the "last straw", and the CEO of Waterfront Toronto, the agency responsible for the contract, must resign.

"We are learning that $600,000 of taxpayers money has been wasted on a single public washroom facility," he said on Thursday. "That is approximately the cost of house in the city of Toronto."

The executive of Waterfront Toronto is John W. Campbell, who has been with the agency since 2003.

Ford quoted figures such as $175,000 for the design of the washroom and other consulting contracts awarded by the agency that oversees the waterfront. The washroom is located at Cherry Beach Sports Fields in the Port Lands area. It opened in 2012, and include a baby change station and accessible stalls.

"You must be kidding," he said at the cost.

Ford reported that, from 2012 to 2013, there were 33 "lucrative" consulting contracts given out by Waterfront Toronto, ranging from $6 million to $20 million.

"How can we trust them to revitalize Toronto’s most important asset?" he asked rhetorically.