Toronto council meet for first time without Mayor Rob Ford

TORONTO – Toronto city council is holding its first meeting since the departure of Mayor Rob Ford, who took a leave of absence to seek treatment for substance abuse.

The whereabouts of the mayor are unknown after he withdrew his request to enter the United States last Thursday. The Consul General of Canada confirmed to Global News the mayor arrived on a flight to Chicago but was turned away from officially entering the U.S.

READ MORE: A history of Rob Ford denials and admissions

Dennis Morris, Ford’s lawyer, has confirmed his client has checked into a treatment facility, but it’s unclear if that is in the U.S. or Canada.

Despite not being at city hall, Ford will be on the agenda as council considers a motion by Toronto’s integrity commissioner who found the mayor violated the city’s code of conduct after he launched a campaign of robocalls in Councillor Paul Ainslie’s Scarborough ward last October.

Ainslie had complained to the integrity commissioner after robocalls to residents of Ward 43 criticized him for voting against the Scarborough subway.

VIDEO GALLERY: A look at embattled Mayor Rob Ford

Councillors will also be looking at banning Ford from autographing decommissioned street signs for an online auction. Councillor Paula Fletcher’s has filed a motion saying the signatures are reducing the value of the signs. With 50 days remaining in the auction signs have already received bids over $1,000.

The council meeting, which is expected to last for two days, will also look at the hiring practices of the TCHC, a possible pay increase for councillors in line with inflation, and a motion by Councillor Mike Layton asking council to force Exhibition Place board of governors to allow “electronic dance music concerts” at the venue.