Drug use revelation costs Ford his powers
20 Nov 2013 11:03 PM GMT
Ford, who has been under fire for his drug use and drinking, as well as the way he has handled the accusations, vowed in an interview to give up alcohol and lose weight.
Earlier at a tumultuous City Council meeting, members voted to slash Ford’s office budget and transfer some of his powers to Deputy Mayor Norm Kelly, among other limitations, by a vote of 36-5.
‘This is a coup d’etat,’ Ford told council, denouncing the motion.
Ford intends to seek re-election next year and warned councillors that the campaign would rival the 1991 Gulf War.
‘This, folks, reminds of when I was watching with my brother when Saddam (Hussein) attacked Kuwait. And President Bush said, ‘I warn you, I warn you, do not (attack Kuwait).’ Well, folks, if you think American-style politics is nasty, you guys have just attacked Kuwait.’
On Friday, the council had suspended Ford’s authority to dismiss the deputy mayor and the heads of council committees and removed his powers to act during emergencies.
Ford has admitted to smoking crack cocaine, buying illegal drugs and driving after drinking alcohol but has ignored calls to resign.
In an interview with CBC on Monday after the City Council action, Ford said he had not had a drop of alcohol in three weeks and vowed to stop drinking completely.
‘Finished,’ he said when asked by host Peter Mansbridge about his drinking. ‘I’ve had a ‘come to Jesus moment’ if you want to call it that.’ Ford also said he planned to lose 30 pounds within five months.
Monday’s City Council meeting turned into a spectacle as Ford stalked around the meeting room, getting into an angry verbal exchange with gallery spectators, some of whom shouted ‘Shame! Shame!’ at him.
At one point, while running across the room, he collided with Councillor Pam McConnell, almost knocking her over. He later apologized.
Ford also mimed drinking and driving - apparently a jab at a councillor whose license was briefly suspended after a roadside breathalyzer test. A video clip spread quickly on social media.
APPEAL TO DEPUTY MAYOR
The council had been looking for ways to neutralize Ford since he will not quit and the council cannot remove him or strip him of roles laid out in provincial law, such as representing the city at events.
‘What we’re doing is saying to our deputy mayor, please represent our city until 2014, because we trust you more than we trust the mayor,’ Councillor Karen Stintz told reporters before the vote. Stintz, once a Ford ally, now plans to run against him in the October 2014 election.
Earlier at a tumultuous City Council meeting, members voted to slash Ford’s office budget and transfer some of his powers to Deputy Mayor Norm Kelly, among other limitations, by a vote of 36-5.
‘This is a coup d’etat,’ Ford told council, denouncing the motion.
Ford intends to seek re-election next year and warned councillors that the campaign would rival the 1991 Gulf War.
‘This, folks, reminds of when I was watching with my brother when Saddam (Hussein) attacked Kuwait. And President Bush said, ‘I warn you, I warn you, do not (attack Kuwait).’ Well, folks, if you think American-style politics is nasty, you guys have just attacked Kuwait.’
On Friday, the council had suspended Ford’s authority to dismiss the deputy mayor and the heads of council committees and removed his powers to act during emergencies.
Ford has admitted to smoking crack cocaine, buying illegal drugs and driving after drinking alcohol but has ignored calls to resign.
In an interview with CBC on Monday after the City Council action, Ford said he had not had a drop of alcohol in three weeks and vowed to stop drinking completely.
‘Finished,’ he said when asked by host Peter Mansbridge about his drinking. ‘I’ve had a ‘come to Jesus moment’ if you want to call it that.’ Ford also said he planned to lose 30 pounds within five months.
Monday’s City Council meeting turned into a spectacle as Ford stalked around the meeting room, getting into an angry verbal exchange with gallery spectators, some of whom shouted ‘Shame! Shame!’ at him.
At one point, while running across the room, he collided with Councillor Pam McConnell, almost knocking her over. He later apologized.
Ford also mimed drinking and driving - apparently a jab at a councillor whose license was briefly suspended after a roadside breathalyzer test. A video clip spread quickly on social media.
APPEAL TO DEPUTY MAYOR
The council had been looking for ways to neutralize Ford since he will not quit and the council cannot remove him or strip him of roles laid out in provincial law, such as representing the city at events.
‘What we’re doing is saying to our deputy mayor, please represent our city until 2014, because we trust you more than we trust the mayor,’ Councillor Karen Stintz told reporters before the vote. Stintz, once a Ford ally, now plans to run against him in the October 2014 election.
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