Paul Ainslie quits Rob Ford's executive committee

Those differences became obvious earlier this week asFord and Ainslie sparredduring the debate over the subway expansion into Scarborough, which Ainslie opposed in favourof light-rail transit. The subway expansion passed by a vote of 24 to 20.

Ford on Friday said he was already planning to fire Ainslie.

"Everyoneknew I was going to get rid of him today," Ford told reporters outside his office. "It's better that he resigned."

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Ainsliehas deniedhe was trying to "get the jump" on the mayor.

Coun. Doug Ford, the mayor's brother, said Ainslieis "misguided" and may suffer at the polls next yearbecause of his pro-LRT stance.

"Paul Ainslie is striking back because, I think, he's in trouble in the next election," said Ford. "He's the only councillor in Scarborough that voted against his own people. He wants LRTs, his constituents wantsubways... that's what this is about."

Ainslie said he will put his support behind a different mayoral candidate when the city next goes to the polls in 2014.