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
Western University researchers unlock potential 'cure' for ALS
New research out of London, Ont.'s Western University is shedding light on a potential cure for ALS, in which the targeting of the interaction between two proteins can halt or fully reverse the disease's progression.
Police release 3D images of young child found in an Ontario river two years ago
Police have released a three-dimensional image of a young child whose remains were discovered in the Grand River in Dunnville, Ont. almost two years ago.
B.C. brings in law on name changes on day that child killer's new identity revealed
The BC NDP have tabled legislation aimed at stopping people who have committed certain heinous acts from changing their names.
Kamala Harris drops F-bomb during White House live-stream
U.S. Vice-President Kamala Harris used a profanity on Monday while offering advice to young Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders about how to break through barriers.
B.C. man fighting for refund after finding someone living at Whistler vacation rental
Edwin Mostered spent thousands of dollars booking a vacation home in Whistler, B.C., for a group skiing trip earlier this year – or so he thought.
Avs forward Valeri Nichushkin suspended at least six months
Colorado Avalanche forward Valeri Nichushkin was suspended for at least six months without pay and placed in Stage 3 of the league's player assistance program.
Collapsed Baltimore bridge span comes down with a boom after crews set off chain of explosives
Crews conducted a controlled demolition Monday to break down the largest remaining span of the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore.
Security video caught admitted serial killer disposing of bodies in Winnipeg garbage bins
Security video caught admitted serial killer Jeremy Skibicki on multiple late-night outings, disposing of body parts in nearby garbage bins and dumpsters in the middle of the night.
Mortgage companies could intensify the next recession, U.S. officials warn
U.S. officials worry the next recession could be intensified by a cascading series of failures in the mortgage industry caused by crashing home prices, frozen financial markets and soaring delinquencies.