(Toronto) John Tory, who served two scandal-free terms as mayor of Toronto and had just been re-elected for a third, announced on Friday that he was resigning from his post because of an “inappropriate relationship” with a employee of his office.
Tory had been re-elected less than four months ago. He had been mayor of the Queen City since 2014.
The announcement was made at a hastily called press conference, at which Mr Tory gave few details of the case.
Mr Tory claimed the relationship with his office worker was forged during the COVID-19 pandemic, when he was spending long periods away from his wife Barbara, his wife of more than 40 years.
“I recognize that allowing this relationship to develop was a serious error in judgment on my part,” Mr Tory said at City Hall.
“As a result, I have decided to step down as mayor in order to take the time to reflect on my mistakes and do the work of rebuilding my family’s trust,” he added.
Avoid controversy
He indicated that this extramarital relationship ended by mutual consent earlier this year and that the woman now works elsewhere.
He says he will work with city staff to ensure an orderly transition.
I will be working with the City Manager, City Clerk and Deputy Mayor Jennifer McKelvie to ensure an orderly transition in the coming days.
John Tory, Mayor of Toronto
“Furthermore, I think it is important that the Mayor’s office not be tarnished in any way, and that the city government itself does not suffer a long period of controversy, stemming from this error in judgment on my part. , especially in light of the challenges we face as a city,” he continued. I am deeply sorry and apologize unreservedly to the people of Toronto and to all who have been hurt by my actions, including my staff, my colleagues and the public service. »
Who is John Tory?
Politically involved in politics in the 1980s, the Torontonian by birth worked in the Progressive Conservative government of Bill Davis, then Prime Minister, in the early 1980s. He then participated in the campaigns of the next Prime Minister, Brian Mulroney, and of his successor, Kim Campbell, in 1993.
In 1995, he became president of Rogers Media, then returned to politics, this time at the head of the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario from 2004, a position he held for five years.
He was then a radio host for a few years, before launching his candidacy for mayor in 2014, the year he was elected in part on the promise of restoring the respectability of the position after the eventful mandate of his predecessor Rob Ford, and came from to be re-elected for a third term in October.