Chris Young

The big news: Rob Ford’s grip on power loosens

Toronto city council could weaken the mayor’s role at city hall

November 15, 2013

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The story Rob Ford faces yet another wave of attacks from his colleagues on Toronto’s city council. Today, councillors will convene a special session—they don’t usually meet on Fridays—to open debate on a motion that would strip Ford of many of his powers and limit his budget. Ford would maintain the same budget as a city councillor, lose the chairmanship of the city’s executive committee, and be stripped of the right to vote at standing committees. Premier Kathleen Wynne is even considering her options to provide the city "new tools" to remove Ford. The premier will act only if council provides clear direction, and opposition parties at Queen’s Park are game.

The stat28: The number of councillors, out of 44, who currently support a motion to transfer many of Ford’s powers to deputy mayor Norm Kelly

The quote "There’s nothing that [Ford] could say now that will be acceptable to me any more ... The province has to step in, because council cannot remove him." —Toronto City Councillor Denzil Minnan-Wong

What’s above the fold

The Globe and Mail	Toronto’s city councillors are poised to remove many of Rob Ford’s powers.
National Post	Many councillors sit with their backs to Ford when the mayor speaks.
Toronto Star	Premier Kathleen Wynne could take action on Ford, if council asks.
Ottawa Citizen	Trillium Wind Power will move ahead with a $2.25-billion lawsuit.
CBC News	Ford’s showdown with council caps a week’s worth of showdowns.
CTV News	A majority of Torontonians think the police chief should keep his job.
National Newswatch	Council will hold a special session today to debate Ford’s powers.

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