Toronto Mayor John Tory has submitted his formal letter of resignation, effective Feb. 17 at 5 p.m. This follows a city council meeting that passed the 2023 budget and Tory’s announcement of an “inappropriate relationship” with a former staffer.
Tory, 68, has been Toronto’s mayor since 2014. He will spend the next two days meeting with Deputy Mayor Jennifer McKelvie and City of Toronto staff to ensure an orderly transition. In his letter of resignation to the city clerk, Tory expressed his regret and apologized to the people of Toronto.
A by-election is expected to be held in the coming months to fill the vacant position of head of council, as stipulated by the City of Toronto Act. According to Section 226.10 of the act, Toronto city council must pass a by-law requiring such a by-election within 60 days of the vacancy.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford has called for Tory to stay, saying that he is “the best thing we have in Toronto” and that a “lefty mayor” would be a “disaster” for the city. Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland also said she believes Tory made the right decision by resigning.