Municipal politics in Toronto have long since taken on a circus-like atmosphere, and it looks like some city councilors are finally waking up and smelling the crack coffee. In the wake of Peter Milczyn's departure to run for the provincial Liberals, Ford is now losing his BFF on council, Deputy Mayor Doug Holyday.

Holyday will run as the PC candidate in the provincial Etobicoke-Lakeshore byelection. Milczyn will be his opponent in the same byelection, which is one of five about to happen across the province. Both men were previously on Ford's executive committee.

Currently, the Conservatives have exactly zero seats in Toronto, and the party is hoping Holyday can bring back a bit of clout — not exactly a ridiculous line of thinking by any means, as Holyday was the last mayor of the former city of Etobicoke. That said, the spot has been held by the Liberals for the past ten years. Laurel Broten, the former education minister, has just resigned, leaving the position open for contest.

Will Rob Ford miss the presence of his possibly soon-to-be former Deputy Mayor?

All five byelections are scheduled for Aug. 1.

Photo by Mike Barber on Flickr