The Mayor of Toronto, John Tory, has announced his resignation following his admission of a relationship with a former staff member.
This announcement was made shortly after a report by the Toronto Star newspaper revealed the details of the affair. The woman in question, who remains unnamed, is 31 years old. The affair began during the COVID-19 pandemic and ended by mutual consent earlier this year.
In a statement, Mr. Tory expressed his deep remorse for his actions and offered unreserved apologies to the people of Toronto, those hurt by his actions, and most importantly, to his wife and family. He stated that he considers the relationship to be a serious error in judgment.
The 68-year-old mayor assured that he would work closely with city employees and Deputy Mayor Jennifer McKelvie to ensure an orderly transition to a new administration. He expressed his regret in having to step away from a job and a city he loves, but believes it is best to focus on repairing the relationships that matter most to him.
Mr. Tory assumed office in December 2014, defeating Doug Ford and Olivia Chow in the mayoral election. He was re-elected in 2018 and again in 2022, securing a third term in office. A by-election will be held at a later date to determine his elected successor.
