toronto rob ford

Morning Brew: Bomb squad blows up incendiary device on Peter St., Ford prepares for new stripped back role, TTC delays fare hike vote, and Ford lampooned again

The Toronto police bomb disposal squad has detonated the contents of a suspicious vehicle at King and Peter. Cops said there was an incendiary device is inside the trunk and a bomb disposal robot was seen investigating the trunk. King is still closed from Spadina to John and Peter Street is cordoned off between Front and Adelaide.

UPDATE 9:00: TTC King streetcars are still on diversion via Queen.

Rob Ford will rise this morning and drive to a very different role at City Hall. City council voted overwhelmingly in favour of handing the last of Ford's delegated responsibilities to Deputy Mayor Norm Kelly yesterday. We will find out later today how Ford deals with his new, smaller budget and reduced staff.

Ford spoke to the CBC following the council meeting and told Peter Mansbridge he has quit alcohol and had a "come to Jesus" moment.

Newly empowered Deputy Mayor Norm Kelly said he wants to "wage peace" following Ford's promise of "war" before the key vote yesterday. On Canada AM a short time ago, Kelly likened Ford's behaviour at council - where he knocked over Cllr. Pam McConnell and verbally sparred with the public - as like that of a "a wounded, cornered animal."

Muhammad Khattak, an accused gang member and one of the men seen with Rob Ford in that photo, won't be getting a chance to view the crack tape, for now at least. A Superior Court judge ruled yesterday that Khattak does not have a right to see the video as part of his defence. In his ruling, Justice Ian Nordheimer confirmed the second video is separate but related to the first and was not made or brokered by Khattak.

Chris Farley's brother chimed in on Twitter yesterday, confirming what we already know - the late SNL star would have "crushed" playing Rob Ford.

The TTC will decide whether to hike the price of a token by a nickel later this week after the Commission's planned budget presentation was disrupted by events at city council. Under the proposal, the cash fare would rise by a quarter and the cost of a Metropass would jump to between $131 and $133.50. A decision is expected Wednesday.

Finally, Rob Ford is proving to be a limitless source of comedy for U.S. stand-ups. Jimmy Kimmel, David Letterman, Jimmy Fallon, Jon Stewart, Jay Leno, and Stephen Colbert all touched on the mayor's weekend antics. Leno called Ford "God's gift to comedy."

IN BRIEF:

Chris Bateman is a staff writer at blogTO. Follow him on Twitter at @chrisbateman.

Image: John Tavares/blogTO Flickr pool.


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