Toronto councillor Michael Thompson charged with sexual assault, his lawyer says
Longtime Toronto councillor Michael Thompson has been charged in connection with a sexual assault investigation.
Lawyer Calvin Barry, acting on behalf of Thompson, told CP24 on Thursday the alleged incident occurred in Muskoka in July 2022.
Thompson will be fighting the case "vigorously," Barry said, adding the allegations were made by two women.
He noted that 62-year-old Thompson has a court date on Nov. 1 in Bracebridge.
In a news release issued Friday, the Ontario Provincial Police confirmed that Thompson is facing two counts of sexual assault after a report was filed this month alleging sexual assaults had taken place at a private residence.
OPP said they will not be providing further details to protect the identity of the victims.
In a statement on Thursday evening, Tory said Thompson has stepped down as one of his deputy mayors after being charged by the OPP.
"I take sexual assault allegations and charges against any individual very seriously," he said.
"While the councillor is facing these charges, it would not be appropriate for him to continue serving as a deputy mayor or chair of a standing council committee. He has agreed and will be resigning those positions effective immediately."
Thompson was a member of Tory's executive committee and the chair of Toronto's Economic and Community Development Committee.
He is running for re-election in Ward 21 Scarborough Centre.
CP24 has reached out to Thompson for comment but has not heard back.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Why these immigrants to Canada say they're thinking about leaving, or have already moved on
For some immigrants, their dreams of permanently settling in Canada have taken an unexpected twist.
DEVELOPING Live updates from the Trump hush money trial: Stormy Daniels, bookkeeper testify
Adult film star Stormy Daniels is on the stand a second time Thursday as former U.S. president Donald Trump’s hush money case continues in Manhattan. Follow live updates here.
Ontario family receives massive hospital bill as part of LTC law, refuses to pay
A southwestern Ontario woman has received an $8,400 bill from a hospital in Windsor, Ont., after she refused to put her mother in a nursing home she hated -- and she says she has no intention of paying it.
Here are the ultraprocessed foods you most need to avoid, according to a 30-year study
Studies have shown that ultraprocessed foods can have a detrimental impact on health. But 30 years of research show they don’t all have the same impact.
Ontario man frustrated after $3,500 paving job leaves driveway in shambles
An Ontario man considering having his driveway paved received a quote from a company for $7,000, but then, another paver in the neighbourhood knocked on his door and offered half that rate.
BREAKING Sheldon Keefe out as head coach of Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs have fired head coach Sheldon Keefe. The team made the announcement Thursday after the Original Six franchise lost to the Boston Bruins in seven games in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.
Boeing 737 catches fire and skids off the runway at a Senegal airport, injuring 10 people
A Boeing 737-300 plane carrying 85 people skidded off a runway at the airport in Dakar, Senegal's capital, injuring 10 people, according to the transport minister, an airline safety group and footage from a passenger that showed the aircraft on fire.
Breast cancer screening should start at age 40, Canadian Cancer Society says
The Canadian Cancer Society says all provinces and territories should lower the starting age for breast cancer screening to 40.
Man accused of killing two children at Quebec daycare to stand trial in April 2025
The man accused of murdering two children and injuring six others after a city bus crashed into a Montreal-area daycare is scheduled to stand trial over five weeks beginning in April 2025.