Integrity commissioner agrees to investigate John Tory’s ties to Rogers

The City of Toronto’s integrity commissioner has agreed to launch an investigation into Mayor John Tory’s ties to Rogers.

The decision comes after a complaint that the mayor was in a conflict of interest over a city council vote on ActiveTO road closures last month.

In Thursday’s letter to civic activist Adam Chaleff, who filed the initial complaint, Integrity Commissioner Jonathan Batty said there was enough evidence to look into whether the mayor violated the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act.

“This does not mean I have found Mayor Tory to have breached (the act) or that an application to the court is appropriate,” clarifies the letter from Batty. “I have only decided there are sufficient grounds to inquire as you have requested in your application.”

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Related:

• Blue Jays President Shapiro says he supports ActiveTO after asking council to vote against it

• Toronto city staff recommends halt to ActiveTO road closures

• Blue Jays reveal big changes to Rogers Centre ahead of $300M renovation

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The ethics complaint filed by Chaleff argues there was a conflict of interest when Tory voted and spoke about ending the Lake Shore Boulevard West ActiveTO road closure last month.

The president of the Toronto Blue Jays weighed in on the ActiveTO debate ahead of the June council meeting, arguing the closures made it more difficult for fans to get to the Rogers Centre for the team’s home games. The mayor later voted in line with Mark Shapiro’s request, along with a majority of city councillors, to treat ActiveTO road closures on Lake Shore West as limited special events rather than a reoccurring weekend closure.

The Blue Jays are owned by Rogers Communications and Tory is a shareholder in the company. Tory has been on the Rogers family trust for over a decade and is paid $100,000 a year for his role.

“I want to thank the Integrity Commissioner for his swift decision to investigate Mayor Tory’s ties to Rogers,” said Chaleff in a statement reacting to news of the investigation. “Torontonians deserve to know as soon as possible whether their mayor is working exclusively in the public interest or if he is being unduly influenced by his loyalty to Rogers.”

When asked about the probe, the mayor’s office says they respect the integrity commissioner and “won’t be making any further comment.”

“The mayor is fully cooperating,” reads a statement provided to CityNews. “Mayor Tory’s record on integrity speaks for itself.”

Shapiro was succinct when he was asked for a response to the integrity complaint against the mayor earlier this week.

“I read it and went back to running the Toronto Blue Jays,” he said. “That’s not my expertise, that’s not my area of focus, and frankly, it’s not anything I really understand.”

Batty has until Aug. 19 to conclude the investigation. That date is also the final day for candidates to register for the municipal election, and legislation means any investigation must end by then.

It is possible for the probe to be restarted post-election if requested by one of the parties involved.

Toronto’s municipal election is on Oct. 24.

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