‘I recognise that permitting this relationship to develop was a serious error in judgment on my part,’ Mayor John Tory says.
Toronto Mayor John Tory has resigned after admitting to an affair with a former staffer.
The mayor of Canada’s largest city announced he was stepping down at a news conference on Friday evening.
“I recognise that permitting this relationship to develop was a serious error in judgment on my part,” he said, according to the Associated Press.
“It came at a time when Barb, my wife of 40-plus years and I were enduring many lengthy periods apart while I carried out my responsibilities during the pandemic,” he added.
Mr Tory succeded Rob Ford as mayor. Ford, who died in 2016, had a number of scandals while in office, including the release of a video showing the mayor smoking crack cocaine.
The Toronto Star first reported on Mr Tory’s relationship with a former staffer. About an hour later, Mr Tory, who serving his second term in office, stepped down. The Star repoted that the staffer was a 31-year-old adviser in Mr Tory’s office. Mr Tory’s lawyer said the relationship “ended by mutual consent earlier this year”.
According to a report, The Canadian mayor abruptly left his post Friday just one hour after a local newspaper exposed his affair with a staffer more than half his age.
Toronto Mayor John Tory, 68, admitted to having a relationship with a 31-year-old advisor and said he was stepping down so he could “take the time to reflect on my mistakes.”
“I recognize that permitting this relationship to develop was a serious error in judgment on my part,” Tory said at a brief press conference.
“I think it is important as I always had for the office of the mayor not to be in any way tarnished, and not to see the city government itself, but through a period of prolonged controversy, arising out of this error of judgment on my part, especially in light of some of the challenges facing the city.”
Tory’s announcement came one hour after The Star broke the news that the mayor developed a relationship with an employee during the pandemic.
The woman’s name was not revealed, but sources told the outlet she is a 31-year-old woman who was an advisor in Tory’s office.
Tory claimed the relationship developed during a time he and his wife of more than 40 years, Barbara, were spending “many lengthy periods apart.”
The former mayor said the staffer terminated her City Hall employment during their affair, but that the relationship ended “by mutual consent earlier this year.”
He said he would work with city employees and Deputy Mayor Jennifer McKelvey to ensure an orderly transition to a new administration.
“I deeply regret having to step away from a job that I love in a city that I love even more. I believe, in my heart, it is best to fully commit myself to the work that is required to repair these most important (family) relationships as well,” Tory said.
What’s next for John Tory?
During his media address, Tory said he would work with city employees and deputy mayor Jennifer McKelvie to ensure an orderly transition to a new administration. Notably, John Tory was re-elected in 2018 and clinched a third term in office four years later. A by-election at a later date will be held to determine an elected successor to John Tory. Tory also thanked Toronto’s residents for trusting him as the mayor since 2014. However, the 68-year-old did not reveal when his last day in office would be.
