The downtown councillors are simply stroking their love of process with the motion to refer. This morning Ford was being made to answer questions and councillors were speaking to his fitness for office. Now that seems to be waylaid while the circle jerk about what council should do happens. The integrity commissioner can't do anything either. Councillors should be able to say that several actions of the mayor make him unfit for service and demand his resignation. Just because they can't force him out (and since they're all elected I don't know if they should have that power) doesn't mean they can't make it clear that that would be the proper action for the mayor.
Four newspapers couldn't force him out either, but they've still been loud in saying that it is time for him to resign.