Married Mayor, 68, Resigns Over Affair with Staffer, 31 — But Blames ‘Mistake’ on Covid

Toronto Mayor John Tory abruptly resigned late Friday after admitting to an extramarital affair with a 31-year-old former staffer.

The 68-year-old Canadian politician was caught in the messy affair with a woman less than half his age who worked as a mayoral advisor. The woman’s name has not been revealed, but their relationship reportedly ignited during the COVID-19 pandemic and was made public by The Toronto Star.

During a news conference, Tory admitted to the betrayal but did not identify his ex-lover, their courtship ended earlier this year. He said the employee has since left City Hall.

It is not clear exactly how long the couple were together, but Troy said it ‘ended by mutual consent earlier this year.’ He said he is now working with the Deputy Mayor Jennifer McKelvey to ensure an orderly transition to a new administration.

The previous deputy mayor, Michael Thompson, 62, also stepped down last fall after facing multiple sexual assault charges.

During Friday’s late news conference at Toronto City Hall, the sullen politician issued statements to the Toronto people and to his family and to his wife, Barbara Hackett, his wife or more than 40 years.

He appeared remorseful about the affair and said during his departure that he was ‘deeply sorry.’ He apologized to the people of Toronto but said, ‘most of all, I apologize to my wife, Barb and to my family who I’ve let down more than anyone else.’

‘I recognize that permitting this relationship to develop was a serious error in judgment on my part,’ Tory said after the Toronto Star reported on the affair.

‘It came at a time when Barb, my wife of 40-plus years and I were enduring many lengthy periods apart while I carried out my responsibilities during the pandemic,’ he said.

‘As a result, I have decided I will step down as Mayor so I can take the time to reflect on my mistakes and to do the work of rebuilding the trust of my family.’

‘I deeply regret having to step away from a job that I love in a city that I love even more. I believe, in my heart, it is best to fully commit myself to the work that is required to repair these most important (family) relationships as well,’ he said.

Tory was first elected mayor in 2014, in part on a promise to restore respectability to the office after the turbulent term of former Mayor Rob Ford, who admitted to using ‘every drug you can probably think of’ while in office.

Tory, who recently won a third term, was known as a strait-laced, button downed moderate conservative- almost the polar opposite of Ford.

Ford´s four-year tenure as mayor of Canada´s largest city was marred by his drinking and crack cocaine use. He later died from a rare form of cancer.

Tory posted a celebratory post on twitter in May 2018 marking their four-decade long relationship. In the photo, his wife wearing the same elegant wedding gown. Additional photos posted, show the couple inside Islington United Church.

‘Celebrating our 40th wedding anniversary today. Surprise appearance by Barb last night looking fabulous in her wedding dress!!,’ he wrote. I’m a lucky guy.