Councillor broke code of conduct for helping condo developer friend, says integrity commissioner

A Toronto councillor broke city council's code of conduct after he "went to bat" for a friend over a North York development project in another councillor's ward, according to the integrity commissioner.

Ward 37 Coun. Michael Thompson used his office to advocate for the company G Group, which has Thompson's friend Albert Gasparro at the helm, Valerie Jepson wrote in a report released this week.

In the report, she said Thompson's team reached out to city staff at least 60 times over the development project between September 2016 and the application's approval in March last year.

Jepson is now recommending city council reprimand Thompson, adopt a finding that he improperly used his influence, and direct him to stop using his office to advocate on behalf of G Group or Gasparro, the company's CEO.

The report stems from a complaint from Ward 23 Coun. John Filion over Thompson's office making inquiries on behalf of G Group in regards to a development project at 5220 Yonge Street — land located within Filion's ward.

The site is currently being developed, the company's website notes, and will include nearly 200,000 square feet of proposed commercial space and "luxury condominiums."

In her report, Jepson stressed Thompson's high level of advocacy and assistance in regards to the project, which included follow-up calls by Thompson and his staff.

Friendship 'clouded' councillor's judgment, integrity commissioner says

"Thompson sought for the file to be prioritized and proceed to the next step," Jepson wrote. "He escalated the issue to senior City staff in a coordinating way that, while not uncommon for complex files, is something he has a special privilege to request."

Thompson and Gasparro are long-time friends, according to the report. In addition, Thompson and Gasparro's son, Vincent Gasparro — who is currently co-chair of Mayor John Tory's re-election campaign — are listed as co-founders of the volunteer organization Project Engagement.

The report notes that Thompson's friendship with the elder Gasparro "clouded his judgment."

"He accepted everything that Mr. Gasparro told him without scrutiny, and 'went to bat' for him," Jepson wrote. "Unfortunately, this reality underlines precisely why he should have refrained from exercising his authority in the way that he did."

Jepson wrote this is the first time her office has found that Thompson broke the city's code of conduct and that he "asserts that he has done nothing wrong." Her report also noted that she didn't find any information suggesting Thompson had any financial stake in the project.

Thompson did not provide comment on the report to CBC Toronto on Friday, but said he "will be addressing the matter" at city council next week.

Gasparro says he didn't ask for 'special favours'

In response to a request for comment, Gasparro said his company agreed to build what "was already approved by council in principle."

He also accused Filion of recommending a specific consultant, then "obstructing [the] application at every step of the way" over a four-year period after Gasparro's company chose not to hire the consultant.

Gasparro said he contacted Thompson as a result "to see if he could help."

"At no time did I ask for any special favours of any kind from Councillor Thompson," Gasparro said. "I simply wanted to be treated fairly and have my application move through the various departments in normal [course.]"

In a separate integrity commissioner report, sparked by an anonymous letter suggesting Filion was "improperly" referring matters to a particular development consultant, Jepson said she uncovered "no evidence" that Filion has any relationship with the consultant.

Speaking to CBC Toronto on Friday, Filion also responded to Gasparro's claim that he put up road blocks throughout the process.

"By 'obstructing' him, I assume he means that I suggested he build what council had approved, follow city policies and procedures, and speak to city staff if he didn't know what those were," Filion said. "And that I was not going to interfere on his behalf if he wanted to ignore the rules."

The situation offers a "cautionary tale about what goes on behind the scenes with development applications," Filion added.