Former mayor John Tory's affair with staffer violated city's ethics rules, watchdog says

Former mayor John Tory's affair with a staffer in his office and his affirmative votes related to the 2026 FIFA World Cup violated Toronto's code of conduct for council members, the city's integrity commissioner said Thursday.

In a report posted online, Jonathan Batty concluded that during the three-year, on-and-off again affair Tory failed to "observe the terms" of the framework that outlines human resources policies and rules for relationships between city councillors and their staff.

Batty also found that Tory improperly used his influence as mayor when he voted yes in 2022 on two motions concerning Toronto's ultimately successful bid to be a host city for the next World Cup. The first vote, in April, saw a status report on the bid adopted by council, while the second, in July, gave the city manager approval to negotiate an exclusive contract with Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE) to provide some hosting services for the World Cup. 

At the time, the staffer Tory had the affair with (referred to in the report as Ms. A to protect her privacy) had moved on from the mayor's office and was working part-time at MLSE as part of the team handling the company's World Cup work.

"Within a few weeks of that vote, MLSE offered Ms. A a permanent position. Ms. A's value to MLSE improved once Council directed MLSE could be awarded an exclusive contract for event services, given Ms. A's government relations and related operational expertise," Batty wrote.

Batty concluded that Tory's votes were "not consistent with the principle of a Member of Council needing to perform their duties and arrange their private affairs in a manner that promotes public confidence and bears close public scrutiny." Further, they were "not consistent with the principles of a Member of Council needing to avoid real and apparent conflicts of interest and the improper use of their office for the private gain of someone close to them."

Because Tory no longer sits on council, Batty did not recommend any penalty for Tory "as it would serve no purpose."

Tory officially resigned in February just months into his third term as mayor after publicly admitting to the affair. Batty noted in his report that Tory "self-reported" the relationship and requested the Integrity Commissioner's office investigate. Batty said Tory accepts the findings.

More to come.