Integrity commissioner ends conflict of interest investigation into Mayor Tory
The city's integrity commissioner says he will not be able to complete his investigation into a complaint that alleged Mayor John Tory violated conflict of interest rules during a June city council vote on ActiveTO closures, given his ties to Rogers Communications.
In a satement to CP24 on Wednesday, Commissioner Jonathan Batty said he doesn’t have enough time to finish the inquiry before Friday’s deadline.
"It will not be feasible for me before Aug. 19, 2022, to collect all the necessary evidence, complete the required analysis, formulate my findings and issue a report," Batty wrote.
Friday is when the registration to become a candidate for the upcoming fall municipal election ends. As stipulated in the City of Toronto Act, all of the integrity commissioner's investigations must be terminated before that day, whether they are completed or not.
"At this point, I have made no determination one way or the other regarding whether a contravention of the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act has occurred. The fact that I will not be completing my inquiry by Aug. 19, 2022 must not be interpreted otherwise," he said.
Batty’s investigation into the complaint filed by Toronto resident and civic activist Adam Chaleff began on Jul. 27, 2022.
Chaleff alleged the mayor breached the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act (MCIA) by discussing and voting to reduce the number of ActiveTO closures on Lake Shore Boulevard West. The June 15 council vote came after Toronto Blue Jays President Mark Shapiro wrote in an open letter to the city about how the closures negatively impacted fans travelling to see the team.
The Blue Jays are owned by Rogers Communications Inc. and Tory is a member of the Rogers Control Trust Advisory Committee. It is a position for which he is paid to provide advice and guidance to the trust, which holds a controlling interest in Rogers Communications Inc.
Chaleff alleged that the mayor has an "indirect pecuniary interest in any matter that affects the finances, economic prospects, and/or property value of the Toronto Blue Jays" and should have declared a conflict on the matter.
Chaleff did ask the integrity commissioner to expedite his inquiry so that residents would know the results ahead of the October municipal election.
The end of the investigation means residents will head to the polls without knowing whether the mayor, who is seeking a third term, violated the code.
"Though I am disappointed that voters will not know the outcome of this investigation before they cast their ballots, I appreciate the Integrity Commissioner’s effort to conduct a full, fair and expeditious inquiry into Mayor Tory’s apparent conflict of interest," Chaleff said in a statement to CP24.
Tory has repeatedly defended his actions and in a statement on Wednesday, a spokesperson for the mayor's office maintained he followed the rules.
"Mayor Tory's record on integrity speaks for itself, and the timing of this complaint is certainly revealing. The Mayor has fully cooperated with the Integrity Commissioner's review and is highly confident he has complied with the law and acted appropriately and in good faith on this issue," Lawvin Hadisi said.
"ActiveTO is a traffic matter that affects thousands of businesses and hundreds of thousands of residents, and the Mayor has no reasonably discernable personal interest in it, direct or indirect. The Mayor respects the Integrity Commissioner and his process, and in consideration of this, we will not be making further comment at this time."
While the investigation has ended, it could be reopened again. Under the City of Toronto Act, Chaleff or Tory can request between Oct. 24 and Dec. 5, 2022, in writing to commence another inquiry.
Chaleff confirmed that he will request the integrity commissioner to resume the investigation into his complaint following the election.
- With files from Kerrisa Wilson and Chris Fox
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canadian gov't proposes new foreign influence registry as part of wide-spanning new bill
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government is proposing a suite of new measures and law changes aimed at countering foreign interference in Canada, amid extensive scrutiny over past meddling attempts and an ever-evolving threat landscape.
Boeing Starliner capsule's first crewed test flight postponed
The long-awaited first crewed test flight of Boeing's new Starliner space capsule was called off for at least 24 hours over a technical issue that launch teams were unable to resolve in time for the planned Monday night lift-off.
Teacher charged in historical sexual assault of Calgary teenage girl
Calgary police have charged a teacher with the alleged sexual assault of a teenage girl more than 20 years ago.
Winnipeg man admits to killing four women, argues he's not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers of Jeremy Skibicki have admitted in court the accused killed four Indigenous women, but argues he is not criminally responsible for the deaths by way of mental disorder – this latest development has triggered a judge-alone trial rather than a jury trial.
Man banned from owning animals after fatal Calgary dog attack
The owner of three Calgary dogs that got loose and mauled a woman to death in 2022 has been ordered to pay a $15,000 fine within one year and banned from owning any animal for 15 years.
East-end Ottawa family dealing with massive rat infestation
Residents in Ottawa’s Elmridge Gardens complex are dealing with a rat infestation that just won’t go away. Now, after doing everything they can to try to fix the issue, they are pleading with the city to step in and help.
Mediterranean staple may lower your risk of death from dementia, study finds
A daily spoonful of olive oil could lower your risk of dying from dementia, according to a new study by Harvard scientists.
An El Nino-less summer is coming. Here's what that could mean for Canada
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.
Newfoundland and Labrador latest province to tighten rules on Airbnbs
Newfoundland and Labrador is the latest jurisdiction to bring in stricter rules for short-term rentals, with a coming set of regulations that will force operators to register with the provincial government.