Mayor Rob Ford made the following statement to media following his admission that he has smoked crack cocaine:

"With today's announcement I know I embarrassed everyone in this city and I will be forever sorry. There is only one person to blame and that is myself. I know that admitting my mistake was the right thing to do and I feel like 1000lbs have been lifted off my shoulders.

I can't explain how difficult this was to do. I hope that nobody ... has to go through what I have gone through. I know what I did was wrong and admitting it was the most difficult and embarrassing thing I have ever had to do. Folks, I have nothing left to hide. I would do anything, absolutely anything, to change the past. But the past is the past and we must move forward.

I want to be clear, I want to be crystal clear to every single person. These mistakes will never ... happen again.

I kept this from my family, especially my brother Doug, my staff, my council colleagues because I was embarrassed and ashamed.

To the residents of Toronto, I know I have let you down and I can't do anything else by apologize and apologize and I'm so sorry. I know I have to regain your trust and your confidence. I love my job, I love this city, I love saving taxpayers money and I love being your mayor. There is important work that we must advance and important decisions that must be made. For the sake of the taxpayers ... we must get back to work immediately. We must keep Toronto moving forward.

I was elected to do a job and that's exactly what I'm going to continue to do. In 2010 I made a commitment to Toronto voters. I have delivered on that commitment and I will continue ... saving taxpayers money.

But we have a choice. We live in a democracy. On Oct. 27 2014 I want the people of this great city to decide if they want Rob Ford to be their mayor.

Again, I sincerely ... apologize. God Bless the people of Toronto.

Thank you very much."