Rob Ford, mayor in name only

Photo by Shaun Merritt/Flickr

Toronto City Council's 44 members voted Monday to effectively strip Mayor Rob Ford of all his legislative powers, The Associated Press reports. The mayor will no longer chair the executive committee and his office's budget has been slashed by 60 percent. But Ford still retains his title and ability to represent the city during official events.

The council had planned to cut the mayor's budget even deeper, however the council scaled back their proposals in response to legal concerns, Canada's National Post reports.

In a phone interview with radio station AM 640, Ford said that the council should call an election rather than strip him of all his powers. "If they want me out they should just call a snap election," he said.

Listen to the full AM 640 interview, broadcast Monday: Audio by Talk Radio AM640

Ford got into a screaming match during the session Monday, when his brother, Doug Ford, began yelling at others in the crowd. "We're dealing with a mayor that has a bit of a problem," said Councillor Giorgio Mammoliti. "Do you expect any different than any other addict who is put up against the wall and someone is trying to take their job away?"

On Friday, the council voted to strip the mayor of his right to appoint and fire committee chairs and his authority to govern the city unilaterally during an emergency. Deputy Mayor Norm Kelly advised Ford earlier in November "that he could protect his family, himself health-wise, his political career and the vitality of his administration if he took a pause and re-grouped and re-entered the fray later this year or early next year." Ford did not head Kelly's advice.