Returning to recent days of council standing up to Councillor Rob Ford, the former mayor was booted from a meeting for refusing to apologize to staff.

During a council meeting that continued Wednesday afternoon, Ford accused general manager of economic development Mike Williams of deliberately hiding a “free” trip to Milan in a committee report recommending council support the upcoming Expo 2015 event hosted in Italy.

Councillors objected to Ford's line of questioning - that he found it “hard to believe” that staff leaving out a $20,000 cost of travel in the report was not intentional. Williams told Ford that it was not left out on purpose.

When Ford refused to apologize, the Speaker, Councillor Frances Nunziata - a close Ford ally who in the previous term was criticized for what some councillors said was a biased reign over council - asked Ford to leave the council chamber. She went so far as to call council's sergeant-at-arms in an attempt to escort Ford out.

Ford demanded council vote on whether he should be forced to leave, but Nunziata enforced council procedure, repeatedly telling him to exit. Her decision was challenged by Councillor Giorgio Mammoliti, a long-time supporter of Ford and the only to stand in his defence. Council voted to uphold Nunziata's ruling as Ford walked out of the chamber unescorted.

Speaking to reporters later, Ford said he would not apologize - the only way, according to council rules, he could be let back into the meeting.

“I didn't say anything derogatory,” Ford said outside his office. “I said I respect Mike, and I do. But I don't believe for one second that that was an oversight.”

Mammoliti said he thought Ford had done “nothing” wrong and said Nunziata should “get off her high horse and start riding a donkey for a while.”

He would not clarify what he meant by those comments.

On Twitter, Nunziata shot back: “Just enforcing Council procedures. Mammoliti could use a lesson.”

Williams told council the travel money was not in the report because it had not yet been approved and because he does not yet have any details.

After Ford's ejection, councillors stood one after another to say they believe spending about $20,000 for a small delegation of city staff and Councillor Michael Thompson to visit Expo 2015 in Milan is a good investment toward Toronto eventually landing a world's fair.

Thompson then told council to expect more business travel.

“We are embarking on a different game in terms of promoting this city,” he said, adding that there may be upcoming trips to India, China, South America and the U.S.

Council, minus Ford, passed the Expo item with a vote of 31 to 3.

At the end of the meeting, councillors applauded Nunziata's rule on what she called a difficult day.

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With files from David Rider

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