Former Toronto mayor John Tory's relationship with staffer violated city's code of conduct
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Former Toronto mayor John Tory violated the city's code of conduct by engaging in a personal relationship with a staffer and then taking part in council votes on the FIFA World Cup after that staffer left city hall to work for a company helping to organize the event, Toronto's integrity commissioner says.
Former Toronto mayor John Tory violated the city's code of conduct by engaging in a personal relationship with a staffer and then taking part in council votes on the FIFA World Cup after that staffer left city hall to work for a company helping to organize the event, Toronto's integrity commissioner says.
Tory began a consensual relationship with a political staffer who worked in his office – referred to in the report as "Ms. A" – in the summer of 2020 and ultimately resigned because of it almost three years later.
In a 122-page report released Thursday, Integrity Commissioner Jonathan Batty found that Tory contravened council's Code of Conduct with the relationship "as he failed to observe the terms of the Human Resources Management and Ethical Framework for Members’ Staff."
The integrity commissioner also found Tory violated the code by taking part in two council votes on Toronto's FIFA World Cup bid because the former staffer had gone on to a job at a company involved in the matter. Voting on a matter that could have had a direct impact on Ms. A's employment while still in a relationship with her amounted to an improper use of influence, Batty ruled.
However he found that Tory did not violate other rules, such as the city’s Human Rights and Anti-harassment/discrimination Policy or improperly use his influence as mayor to help Ms. A while she worked in his office or afterward to get a job at Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment.
Typically, council is able to sanction a councillor or mayor who violates the Code of Conduct by suspending their pay or formally reprimanding them.
Since Tory is no longer a sitting member of council, Batty said, council can clearly not suspend his pay.
