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Just when it looked like city hall had quieted down, Councillor Doug Ford came out firing on Wednesday at Deputy Mayor Norm Kelly, accusing him of not having “a clue” about the budget and declaring he has lost all respect for him.

Mayor Rob Ford and his brother are fuming over a proposed 2.5% property tax hike that doesn’t trim the land transfer tax and doesn’t hit the mayor’s desired 1.75% target.

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“If it was between being the media darling and getting an endorsement from the Toronto Star or making tough decisions, [Mr. Kelly will] go with the endorsement from the Toronto Star,” Councillor Ford said at city hall, on his way to a television interview. “I used to respect Norm Kelly. I have zero respect for him right now.”

In an apparent dig at the deputy mayor’s often quoted historical references, Councillor Ford suggested Mr. Kelly is more worried about living in the Roman Empire days.

Mr. Kelly, who had been meeting with senior staff at city hall, responded at the request of the press, but did not rise to the bait. He shrugged off the councillor’s comments as part of the “sound and fury of the battlefield.”