TORONTO, Nov. 16 (UPI) -- Toronto Mayor Rob Ford's admitted drug use is posing a problem for national Conservatives who have taken a tough stance against illegal drugs, officials said.
For months, Conservative Party leaders have assailed Liberal leader Justin Trudeau's admission he's smoked marijuana since being elected and promised tough new anti-drug legislation meant to curtail the nation's drug trade, the Canadian Broadcasting Corp., reported Saturday.
Now, with Ford, a Conservative and political ally in the liberal-leaning metropolis, admitting he's smoked crack cocaine, the party's position has been compromised.
Immigration Minister Chris Alexander stopped short of condemning Ford or calling for his resignation -- as members of the city council have done since the mayor's admission, but said the party is opposed to anyone whose actions promote drug use.
"I'll make them [our views] clear about Rob Ford right now. We're not fans of anyone who is promoting, by their behavior, the use of illegal drugs, drugs that are harmful and drugs that are illegal," he said.
