Toronto mayor stripped of powers

Toronto’s City Council has voted overwhelmingly to strip Mayor Rob Ford of some of his powers in the latest attempt to box in the brash leader who has resisted huge pressure to resign over his drinking and drug habits and erratic behaviour.

The motion, approved in a 39-3 vote, suspends Mr Ford’s authority to appoint and dismiss the deputy mayor and his executive committee, which runs the budget process. John Filion, the councillor who introduced the motion, has said the goal is to prevent Mr Ford from firing executive committee members who speak out against him.