A London, Ont., council committee has asked Mayor Joe Fontana to leave office while he faces fraud charges.
The city's finance and administrative services committee voted 3-1 Monday in favour of a motion calling for Fontana to step down, though it cannot force him to do so under the Municipal Act.
RCMP charged Fontana last week with fraud under $5,000, breach of trust by a public official and uttering forged documents, in connection with allegations he inappropriately used federal government funds while a member of Parliament to help pay for his son's wedding reception.
A former federal cabinet minister, Fontana has denied any wrongdoing. He is to appear in court on Jan. 8.
The motion will move ahead to full council, where it will be debated Dec. 11.
Fontana declared a conflict of interest at Monday's committee meeting and did not vote on the motion.
