Byelection to be held in Scarborough-Agincourt to fill Jim Karygiannis’ council seat

Thestar.com
Oct. 28, 2020
Jennifer Pagliaro

Scarborough-Agincourt residents will be going to the polls as early as January.

Council voted Tuesday morning to hold a byelection to fill the empty Ward 22 seat.

The seat was declared vacant after former councillor Jim Karygiannis was ousted from office by order of the court for a third and final time in September.

The earliest an election can be held under provincial rules is Jan. 11.

The city clerk, who is responsible for holding elections, has not yet set a deadline for nominations or an election day. Nominations must close between 30 and 60 days from Tuesday and the election must be held 45 days later.

Karygiannis first lost his seat after the clerk discovered that he had overspent a strict campaign limit by nearly $26,000. After a lengthy legal battle, including a final and failed attempt to have the Supreme Court of Canada hear his case, Karygiannis was permanently removed from office.

Under provincial rules, he is ineligible to run again until after the next general election in 2022.

Karygiannis, in an earlier statement, said he is “leaving politics.”

Council has a choice under those same rules to hold a byelection or appoint someone themselves.

Mayor John Tory moved the motion calling for a byelection Tuesday, saying with two years until the next general election it was “proper” residents decide who should represent them.

Council supported the motion unanimously and without debate.