Toronto's City Council Asks Mayor Ford to Take Leave of Absence

TORONTO (AP) - Almost every member of Toronto's City Council has stood up and asked Mayor Rob Ford to take a leave of absence after he admitted smoking crack last week.

"Together we stand to ask you to step aside and take a leave of absence," Councilor Jaye Robinson said, reading open letter to Ford in City Council.

The council voted 41-2 to accept the letter Wednesday, with the embattled mayor casting one of the opposing votes.

The packed council chamber erupted with applause when Robinson ended her speech, saying "Let's get on with city business."

The vote was a stark demonstration of Ford's political isolation but it was symbolic. The council has no authority to force him out because he has not been convicted of a crime.

(Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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