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Toronto City Council · 2021-10-01 · 2021.DM36.1

The filed record

Report Regarding the Conduct of Former Councillor Jim Karygiannis

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The decision

2021-10-01 · Toronto City Council · deferred

As filed

City Council on October 1 and 4, 2021, deferred consideration of Item DM36.1 to the November 9 and 10, 2021 meeting of City Council.

On the agenda

As the city filed it

In February 2020, the Office of the Integrity Commissioner received three complaints about the conduct of then Councillor Jim Karygiannis arising from articles in the Toronto Star dated February 8 and 11, 2020. The articles reported that he had: (1) shielded his political supporters from bylaw enforcement measures or wrongfully reported political opponents to City officials as political payback; and, (2) improperly entered constituents' homes for purposes of determining whether they were illegal rooming houses.

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As the allegations in the complaints were based on the same information, they were investigated jointly and are reported in a single report. The complaints alleged Mr. Karygiannis contravened Article VIII (Improper Use of Influence) and Article XIV (Discreditable Conduct) of the Code of Conduct for Members of Council. In the course of the investigation, the evidence showed Mr. Karygiannis had not followed the requirements of the Human Resources Management and Ethical Framework for Members' Staff (the "Ethical Framework"). After an investigation, the Integrity Commissioner found that there was insufficient evidence to conclude that Mr. Karygiannis had wrongfully used his office to shield his political supporters or report political opponents to the City (contrary to Article VIII), or had entered homes under false pretenses (contrary to Article XIV). However, it was found that he entered two residential properties without permission and, in two other cases, inappropriately took pictures of people in their homes, which is discreditable conduct for purposes of Article XIV (Discreditable Conduct). The Integrity Commissioner also found that the failure follow the Ethical Framework was contrary to Article XV (Failure to Adhere to Council Policies and Procedures). Mr. Karygiannis is no longer a member of City Council. Therefore, the Integrity Commissioner makes no recommendation as to penalty or remedial action.

Staff recommended

The Integrity Commissioner recommends that: 1. Council adopt a finding that former Councillor Jim Karygiannis contravened Article XIV (Discreditable Conduct) and Article XV (Failure to Adhere to Council Policies and Procedures).

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