Controversial Toronto mayor Rob Ford is stripped of some power Collateral damage: Rob Ford bowls over a councillor on his way to confront hecklers. Toronto City Council has voted to cut mayor Rob Ford's budget and shift much of his power to the deputy mayor in response to a series of scandals enveloping him in recent weeks. The votes mean Mr Ford loses his ability to set the legislative agenda and will force him to cut his staff. He also loses the ability to fill certain appointments, with deputy mayor Norm Kelly replacing him as head of the powerful executive committee. The moves further undermine the mayor of Canada's biggest city, who has vowed to stay on the job even after his admissions of smoking crack and excessive drinking. The council had earlier voted by a tally of 39-3 to remove Mr Ford's power to appoint committee heads and the deputy mayor. A second motion last week, which passed 41-2, transferred his power to manage the city during an emergency to Cr Kelly. Brothers Doug and Rob Ford. The mayor compared the latest moves to Saddam Hussein attacking Kuwait in 1990. You think American-style politics is nasty? You guys have just attacked Kuwait," he told the city council before the motions were voted on. This is going to be outright war in the next election. The meeting lasted for more than five hours as councillors debated the motion. It was halted when a shouting match broke out between Mr Ford and members of the packed public gallery. Spectators shouted "shame, shame, shame," while Mr Ford's brother, Cr Doug Ford, shouted back, calling them "scumbags." During the chaos, the mayor knocked Cr Pam McConnell off her feet as he ran to help his brother who was involved in the shouting match. Mr Ford later apologised to Cr McConnell. Some councillors have been calling on Mr Ford, 44, to resign after he said he smoked crack cocaine, bought illegal drugs within the past two years and may have driven after drinking alcohol. Former employees allege he brought a suspected prostitute to his office and sexually propositioned a female staff member. Mr Ford denied the allegations that were made in police interviews with former Ford staff members. None have been proven and police said there was not enough evidence to warrant charges. "Rob is feeling better than he's ever felt," Doug Ford said. He's worked out every single day, he hasn't touched a drop of alcohol in three weeks, he's getting proper counselling and he's fulfilling his duty as mayor. The mayor has hired George Rust-D'Eye, a municipal law specialist, to fight the council's moves against him.