Toronto Mayor Ford Stripped Of Some Powers

Toronto's City Council has voted overwhelmingly to strip Mayor Rob Ford of some of his powers as he rebuffs huge pressure to resign.

The vote came a day after another series of antics from Mr Ford that angered city councillors, anti-drunk driving advocates and even city's Canadian Football League team.

In the span of a few hours on Thursday, the leader of Canada's largest city used obscene language to deny that he pressured a female employee for oral sex, admitted that he had driven while drinking and then apologised for his vulgarity and said he was seeking professional help, though he refused to give details.

Councillors turned their back on Mr Ford as he talked on Thursday

Most city councillors are frustrated by Mr Ford's refusal to step aside since he admitted last week to smoking crack cocaine, but they lack the authority to force him out of office unless he is convicted of a crime.

John Filion, the councillor who introduced the motion on Friday, has said the goal is to prevent Mr Ford from firing executive committee members who speak out against him.

The vote suspends Mr Ford's authority to appoint and dismiss the deputy mayor and his executive committee, which runs the budget process.

A subdued Mr Ford has vowed to fight the motion, which was approved in a 39-3, in court.

Mr Ford made an offensive statement while wearing an Argonauts jersey

"I can't support this and obviously I have no other options but to challenge this in court," the mayor said.

The vote came as it was announced that Mr Ford it will be hosting a new weekly TV show with his brother.

Ford Nation will air on Monday on Canada's Sun News Network, following the cancellation of the pair's radio talk show just days ago.

Doug Ford, the show's co-host and a city councillor, said: "Rob is like Howard Stern or Rush Limbaugh. You just never know what he is going to say."

There have been numerous calls for Mr Ford to resign

Rob Ford's troubles began in May when news reports first surface of a video showing him smoking crack.

After months of evading the question, the mayor last week admitted he had smoked crack after Toronto police announced they had obtained the video during the course of a massive drug investigation.

Mr Ford said he had smoked crack cocaine in a "drunken stupor". He does not face any criminal charges.

He was then caught on camera in a drunken, profanity-laced rant during which he issued angry death threats.

And the scandal further deepened this week when court documents suggesting sexual misconduct and drug use surfaced.

Mr Ford apologised with his wife by his side

Mr Ford was verbally abusive to aides, drove his car while drunk and entertained women thought to be prostitutes, according to news reports citing the documents.

He has admitted buying drugs illegally for the past two years, but denied other allegations and said he was taking legal action against the people who had made them.

Defending himself at a news conference on Thursday, Mr Ford said that he was "happily married" and at one point used obscene language to say he did not need to seek oral sex elsewhere, shocking reporters at the scene.

Mr Ford drew gasps, giggles and at least one exclamation of "oh my God" from the journalists.

His crude remarks led to a complaint by the Canadian Football League, which slammed Mr Ford for making the offensive statement while wearing a Toronto Argonauts jersey.

An airline's advertisement pokes fun at the scandal. Pic: Spirit.com

The mayor later appeared before camera to apologise for his language, with his wife Renata by his side.

Mr Ford's repeated controversies are not just fodder for late night comedians.

A low-cost American airline, Spirit Airline, said in an ad that "We're not smoking crack" as they offered cheap fares next to Mr Ford's silhouette profile.

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