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Mayor Rob Ford, right centre, is helped with his jacket by his sobriety coach Bob Marier, left centre, while his driver and personal security guard Jerry Agyemang, left, and Communications Officer Amin Massoudi look on as they arrive at an announcement at a TTC transit yard in Toronto on Friday, July 11, 2014.Chris Young/The Canadian Press

Toronto Mayor Rob Ford is set to undergo foot surgery next week, his office said Thursday – the same day his brother Doug Ford confirmed that the mayor's sobriety coach will no longer be at his side full-time.

After Mayor Ford was spotted at Toronto Western Hospital Thursday morning, his spokesman Amin Massoudi confirmed that the mayor was receiving treatment for an injury on his pinkie toe.

"His toe has been bothering him for awhile," Mr. Massoudi said, who added that the injury is relatively minor and that he expects the mayor to return to City Hall later Thursday afternoon.

"He stubbed it, like millions of people," said Doug Ford, adding that the mayor will undergo surgery next week. "Awhile ago, it was hurting him, so he went to the doctor who said either do it after the election or next week, so he's decided to do it now."

The councillor also confirmed that Bob Marier, the mayor's Montreal-based sobriety coach, will no longer be with the mayor full-time – though the mayor's spokesman said he continues to receive treatment for substance abuse.

Over the past two weeks, Mr. Marier was spotted at the mayor's side at every public event he attended. Mr. Marier would not reveal the details of his contract with the mayor in an interview with the Globe last week, only saying he was prepared to stay "as long as it takes."

But since then, Mr. Marier has not been seen at City Hall.

The councillor would not comment on why Mr. Marier is no longer with the mayor full-time. "I have no comment about Bob, to be honest with you. He's a great guy, and he's doing a great job."

Mr. Massoudi, the mayor's spokesman, would not comment on Mr. Marier's departure, only saying "there's a number of ways that this treatment is administered, so all I can say is he's continuing to receive professional treatment on an ongoing basis."

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