Toronto councillor chastised for ‘going to bat’ for developer

Thestar.com
June 21, 2018
David Rider

Toronto’s economic development chair broke the city council’s code of conduct by “going to bat” for a longtime developer friend, the integrity commissioner ruled in a report released Thursday.

Valerie Jepson recommends Michael Thompson’s council colleagues reprimand him, officially note he broke the rules and tell him to cease providing assistance to Albert Gasparro, chief executive of G Group which has a condo/office development at 5220 Yonge St. in Willowdale.

Jepson found Gasparro, frustrated with what he felt was inadequate help from Willowdale Councillor John Filion in getting council approval for a zoning amendment, rental house demolition permit and more, turned to longtime friend Thompson, a Scarborough councillor, and Thompson’s staff.

Thompson then “quarterbacked” discussions with city staff on the application, Jepson found, noting that between September 2016 and March 2017 his office staff made at least 60 contacts with city staff regarding the application, and that Thompson raised it with Mayor John Tory’s office.

Gasparro has been friends with Thompson since 1984 and, in 2004, his son Vince and Thompson co-founded Project Engagement, a not-for-profit agency that gives Christmas hampers to needy families, the report states. Vince Gasparro is currently co-chairing Tory’s re-election campaign.

Thompson acted out of friendship and had no financial interest in the project, Jepson ruled.

But his actions breached the code of conduct’s protection against improper use of influence by councillors, she said, adding that while he told her he’d give the same help to anyone, the economic development chair crossed a line when he told city staff that Gasparro’s people were “good guys.”

“Regrettably, I have concluded that Councillor Thompson’s friendship with Mr. Gasparro clouded his judgment,” Jepson wrote. “He accepted everything that Mr. Gasparro told him without scrutiny, and ‘went to bat’ for him ...

“Mr. Gasparro believes that, but for the intervention of his friend, the project would be stalled. The fact that any city stakeholder has this belief is, on its face, damaging to the reputation of city council, and accordingly the City of Toronto,” she continued.

“Giving favours or ‘going to bat’ for a friend on a transaction is simply unacceptable conduct for an elected official in the modern age. Such behaviour perpetuates the most cynical stereotypes of elected officials, and must therefore be addressed seriously when it happens.”

Jepson also noted Thompson’s staff got passes to TIFF and Toronto Fashion Week for Albert Gasparro, and that the councillor invited both Gasparros to a “special dinner” in 2015 to honour former Israeli prime minister Shimon Peres.

Thompson, who is running for re-election in Ward 40, categorically denies any wrongdoing, the report states. He declined to comment to the Star, saying he will have his say at next week’s council meeting.

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G Group bought the land, for which another developer had abandoned plans, in 2013 and tabled a revised application in 2015. Council approved it in 2017 with Filion’s support after “significant concession” on the plan by G Group.

When first approached by Gasparro, Filion worked with him and staff, the report says. But by 2016 Gasparro was unhappy with Filion referring him to planning staff, and requirements regarding an existing tenant. He approached Thompson, who formed the opinion Filion was “intentionally attempting to delay the progress of the file” and making unreasonable demands on city staff, the report states.

The integrity commissioner rejected that allegation, writing that Filion acted appropriately and was diligent in ensuring G Group complied with requirements to build office space as well as lucrative condo units.

Jepson also rejected allegations that Filion improperly suggested Gasparro use a particular consultant to help with the development. She noted the consultant had worked on the previous site owner’s application and found any suggestion from Filion was related to the consultant’s ability to help Gasparro move the revised project forward.

In 2017, Toronto’s auditor general asked the integrity commissioner to look into an anonymous letter suggesting Filion was involved in improperly referring matters to a particular development consultant. The resulting report, also released Thursday, “uncovered no evidence to support a finding that Councillor Filion has any business or referral relationship with the named consultant.”

Albert Gasparro did not immediately respond to requests for comment from the Star.

Vince Gasparro said: “In terms of the report that was released today, I have never had involvement in the business and had no involvement in the matter outlined in the report. I can confirm that I co-founded a not-for-profit with the councillor a number of years ago, where we have assisted a large number of families from across Toronto.”

Tory spokesman Don Peat said Thompson “did make the mayor’s office aware of the concerns around Councillor Filion’s conduct in regard to this particular development. The office took no action and had no further involvement in the matter.”