Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland says it was right for Toronto Mayor John Tory to resign after admitting to an affair with a staff member.
Tory announced his resignation on Friday, though he has yet to make it official by submitting a resignation letter.
“Like very many Torontonians, I was very surprised, even shocked by what we learned on Friday night. Mayor Tory admitted to making a serious mistake and to a serious error in judgment. He took responsibility for that mistake. He apologized for that mistake,” Freeland told reporters on Wednesday.
“He took responsibility by resigning. That was the right thing to do and that was the necessary thing to do,” she said.
She said a media report published Tuesday that said she had encouraged Tory not to resign was “wholly untrue and inaccurate.” The report cited an unnamed source.
Tory’s resignation announcement came just ahead of the city’s budget debate on Wednesday. Tory’s attempts to speak at the city council budget meeting were punctuated by outbursts from members of the public, some of whom were calling for his resignation.
Ford said “let’s not upset the apple cart for a personal issue he’s dealing with.” He said he was worried about who might replace Tory: “If a left-wing mayor gets in there, we’re toast. I’ll tell you, it’d be a disaster in my opinion.”
It is uncertain as of yet who would act as Tory’s interim successor, though Deputy Mayor Jennifer McKelvie is widely expected to fill the role until a byelection can take place to name a permanent replacement.
