WHOOOOAAAHHHH.

Full transparency: I should probably put my name on the “Tory Affair” Story.

Mayor John Tory resigns, admits he made mistake by having inappropriate relationship with former staffer. Apologizes to citizens, and his wife of 45 years Barbara Hackett.

— 𝚂𝚎á𝚗 𝙾’𝚂𝚑𝚎𝚊 Global News (@ConsumerSOS) February 11, 2023

John was just re-elected in a breeze as Mayor of Toronot a few months ago.

BREAKING: Toronto Mayor John Tory resigns after reports surfaced that he had a months-long affair with a member of his staff pic.twitter.com/OW4Ucqgucz

— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) February 11, 2023

Global News: John Tory says he will be stepping down as the mayor of Toronto after having a relationship with a staff member.

Tory made the announcement during a late press conference Friday evening.

Tory said the relationship did “not meet the standards to which I hold myself as mayor and as a family man.”

According to Tory, the relationship began during the COVID-19 pandemic, when he and his long-time wife were spending “lengthy periods apart.”

Tory said he will be stepping down so he can “reflect on my mistakes” and “do the work of rebuilding the trust of my family.”

He said the relationship “ended by mutual consent” earlier this year.

Tory said the staff member decided to pursue employment outside of city hall.

Tory called the matter a “serious error in judgment.”

He said he will work with the city manager, city clerk and deputy mayor Jennifer McKelvey to “ensure an orderly transition in the coming days.”

“While 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 relationships, as well,” he said.

Tory said he is “deeply sorry” and apologized “unreservedly” to the people of Toronto, his staff members and his colleagues at city hall.

“Most of all, I apologize to my wife, Barb and to my family who I’ve let down more than anyone else,” he continued.

Here’s JT’s resignations Presser:

Well, fuck.

I know John and Barb. They are both excellent people. Shit on his city governance, but the Torys are good people, and they’ve been my friends for a long time.

But he fucked up. If this were anyone else, I’d say the age gap is creepy and question the power dynamic and their judgment. But none of us know the nature of John and Barb’s relationship.

I think that’s weak and easy, and disingenuous. You’d be hard-pressed to find a story of alleged affairs other than the Elon horse for a BJ story on this site. That’s other people’s shit, and there are dynamics in lives and relationships we don’t have context for that we make absolute statements about.

John took it on the chin, admitted he fucked up and resigned as Mayor. He’ll wear this forever, and if you know John, you know this is not how he wanted his time in public office to end.

But he did the shit, copped to it, detailed it, and immediately quit.

I respect that.
He said he would contemplate his mistakes and hopes to rebuild trust with his family.

There’s nothing left to say. It’s a John and Barb, and Tory family issue now. He’s a private citizen.

The timing is hilarious, though. Not a peep about John Tory’s affair EVER, but the weekend Doug Ford’s legal and political future is in doubt for possible insider dealing of Ontario’s Protected Greenbelt, news of John Tory’s affair hits. He resigns immediately after eating the shit, and Doug Ford’s potential insider dealing on Ontario’s resources stops being at the top of the news cycle.

Not to mention, Doug and John do not like each other.

Daughter’s requests for land developers to give her $1000 as a wedding present wasn’t a conflict of interest for Doug Ford, says integrity commissioner
https://t.co/8UF1lD9gGa

— Tom Parkin (@TomPark1n) February 9, 2023

People with extreme power stop forecasting risk at a certain point. John and Doug are both wealthy, influential men who make bad decisions.

John was accountable.

Doug’s hiding and wouldn’t put it past someone with Ford’s camp leaking John’s situation to help Doug out this weekend. John dealt with this appropriately so that it would go away soon.

Doug’s “Greenbelt developer friend” thing will continue and probably, end similarly.

But what a fucking province!!!

DB