Departing councillors eligible for at least $710,000 in severance

CBC.ca
July 29, 2022

Severance for seven Toronto councillors who have left or are leaving this year could easily top $710,000.

Councillor Mike Layton announced Wednesday that he will not seek re-election in the Oct. 24 municipal election.

The 12-year veteran is one of seven members of council that have resigned or announced they will not run again in 2022.

Former councillors Michael Ford and Kristyn Wong-Tam ran successfully in the June 6 provincial election.

Their former colleague Joe Cressy resigned in April and now holds an executive position at George Brown College.

Counncillors Ana Bailao, John Filion and Denzil Minnan-Wong have all indicated they will not seek re-election in their wards.

Between them, the seven councillors have almost 100 years experience on Toronto Council.

Those councillors who have served at least 12 years are entitled to the maximum one year’s pay in severance.

The 2022 annual salary for Toronto Councillors is $120,502 while the mayor earns $202,948 a year.

Members of council who retire, resign or lose an election and have served at least 30 days are given a severance equal to 1/12 of their annual remuneration for each consecutive year served based on their pay at the time they leave.

There’s a 12-year lifetime maximum on severance for an individual council member.

Councillors who have not served 12 consecutive years get a pro-rated portion of the severance.

Councillors are also given an allowance of up to $3,500 for outplacement, transition or retirement counselling if the services are used within one year of severance.

The record amount of severance paid out for Toronto councillors remains 2018 when almost $2 million went to 26 members of council who left, many because their seat disappeared when Premier Doug Ford cut council nearly in half.