Mayor-elect John Tory says he will declare a conflict of interest on all debates surrounding the expansion of Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport due to his son’s role as an airline executive.
During the mayoral campaign Tory was repeatedly asked whether his son John A.D’s job as CEO of Private Air Inc. and past lobbying in favour of allowing jets at the island airport would keep him grounded on the important file, but Tory would only say that he would “follow all of the rules.”
In a news release issued late Friday afternoon, however, Tory finally confirmed what many had long suspected: that he will need to step aside when council resumes debate on whether to allow Porter Airlines to extend the runway at the airport and begin using a new fleet of CS100 jets on order from Bombardier.
“Consistent with the (Municipal Conflict of Interest) Act, a child's financial interest is also the financial interest of the elected official. Therefore, so long as my son continues to work at Private Air Inc. I will declare an interest under the Act in respect of any consideration by council or a local board of the proposal to permit jet service at Billy Bishop,” Tory said. “I cannot in good conscience interfere with my son's ability to earn an income and support his family because of my decision to seek public office.”
Tory sought advice from the Integrity Commissioner Valerie Jepson to determine what, if any, conflicts he had prior to being officially sworn in on Tuesday.
In a letter released by Tory, Jepson urges the mayor-elect to “establish a proactive framework within your office to screen you from confidential matters involving the proposal to permit jets at (the) airport.” Jepson also suggests that Tory establish a similar framework to screen him from any, and all, information pertaining to the airport, which would allow him to then seek further advice from Jepson.
“I have recommended this screen as a precautionary measure and I have not determined that you must not be involved on all matters that relate to the (airport). Rather, due to your son’s interest this is an area in which you should act with caution,” Jepson wrote.
During the campaign rival candidate Olivia Chow suggested that Tory would be a “lame duck” mayor because of his obvious conflict on the island airport file, but on Friday afternoon the mayor-elect told CP24 that council manage just fine without his voice.
“I said I would follow the rules and I am following the rules. I sought extensive advice on this and I am doing what is right under the law. I think that is what most voters would want me to do, moreso than anything else, and there are 44 very capable councillors who will debate that particular issue,” he said. “The situation is what it is."
In addition to his conflict on the island airport file, Tory also said that he will declare conflicts on any matter pertaining to Rogers Communications, where he once served as CEO, and involving his wife’s renovation company Stratheden Homes Ltd.
Tory also announced that he has resigned from the board of directors of Rogers Communications and Metro Inc.
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