Toronto city councillor Michael Thompson has been charged with two counts of sexual assault. Cheung, who most recently provided administrative support for a wine and spirits importer, says the councillor is often in the news for his role as ambassador for the night economy or larger city events, and not issues that are specific to the ward. I think hes gonna win again. CP24 has reached out to Thompson for comment but has not heard back. Explore your options below and pick out whatever fits your fancy. Im a citizen, says Vadivelu. CP24 has reached out to Thompson but has not heard back. The Toronto Local Appeal Body which was formed in 2017 and hears appeals on committee of adjustment matters has a slew of municipal lawyers on it. All Toronto will be a sponsor of the conference, although Peat said that amount has yet to be determined. Read more about cookies here. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. While Dhillon was asked to resign from his position as councillor, he has denied the allegations and refused to step down. He covers public transit, the politics of transportation, road safety, and other related issues. Theyre saying he did nothing for the ward, hes traveling all over the world, and hes spending money on something else. Daniel says residents are also complaining about a lack of development in the area and limited recreational facilities, something he says hes experienced first hand as an avid cricket player. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Toronto city councillor is charged with two counts of sexual assault By Ben Spurr, Betsy Powell Toronto Star Oct 4, 2022 The lawyer representing a Toronto city councillor who is facing sexual assault charges has stepped away from the case, one day after the allegations came to light. Mission. When fighting broke out between the Sudanese military and a rival paramilitary group known as the RSF, Wajan Mohamed feared for her sister's safety. He also sits on the boards of Destination Toronto and Canadas Walk of Fame. A man is in hospital with life-threatening injuries and a driver has been arrested after a pedestrian was struck by a vehicle in downtown London, Ont. In a statement following the news of his charges, Tory said the councillor had agreed to step down from those positions. The news, for sure, has shattered the confidence of the public in the area, says Ayub. WebSpecial thanks to Lead Pastor, @drtai2 Adeboboye and his wife Marian, for their continuous support in our community. Thompson has denied the allegations and his lawyers have said that Thompson will plead not guilty. The death of George Floyd in the U.S. sparked a movement and the start of a long-awaited Meanwhile, the report also shows some pretty high payments to certain nominees to Toronto agencies, boards and commissions. Instead, Vadivelus pleas were met with an eviction notice. From our newsroom to your inbox at noon, the latest headlines, stories, opinion and photos from the Toronto Sun. The amount Is The lawyer who was acting on behalf of city councillor Michael Thompson when he was charged in a sexual assault investigation has stepped away from the case. (Ernest Doroszuk/Toronto Sun/Postmedia), Councillor Michael Thompson (L) huddles with Mayor John Tory at a March 7 committee meeting. There was an error, please provide a valid email address. Mr. A Vancouver woman claims she was the target of a rental scam and is sharing her story to help others avoid being duped. Grand River Transit workers are on strike as of Monday. hbbd``b`W@5`U4A 2@"b``$/@ The role of deputy mayor is largely ceremonial. He was being threatened with eviction, despite the moratorium in place. This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. What really frustrated me was, I knew I [couldnt] trust them. WebMichael Thompson for US Congress - Vote Thompson 2022 United States Congress Chicago Ilinois First District. Anyone can read Conversations, but to contribute, you should be a registered Torstar account holder. In July, Thompson was staying at the property when a woman claims the councillor sexually assaulted her. Toronto's Deputy Mayor and Ward 21 City Councillor Michael Thompson is publicly backtracking after tweeting support for the opening of a Chick-fil-A franchise in his ward. David McFadden, chairman of Toronto Hydro, took in $75,000 last year for a part-time gig. Will voters have the allegations in mind when casting their votes on October 24? On Friday, a spokesperson for Centennial College said that earlier that day Thompson had also tendered his resignation from the schools board of governors. Moo-phoria Light Ice Cream. Ashley Okwuosa is a writer and journalist based in Toronto. Last week, Thompson, 62, easily recaptured Scarborough Centre (Ward 21), winning more votes (9,977) than the combined total (8,080) of the five other candidates. The mayors tab for the same trip was $2,084. If you do not yet have a Torstar account, you can create one now (it is free), Copyright owned or licensed by Toronto Star Newspapers Limited. A state of local emergency has been declared in Parkland County as a result of two separate wildfires burning in the area. Lawyer Calvin Barry told CP24 on Saturday that he will no longer be representing Thompson as he fights to clear the charges. When asked about his strategy to court voters, Hansie says hes simply advocating for new blood for Ward 21, even if it isnt his. Star Newspapers Limited and/or its licensors. In July, Thompson was staying at the property when a woman claims the councillor sexually assaulted her. Theyve brought new attention to Vavidelu and the four other challengers, none of whom have large public profiles, who are wondering if theyll be able to make a dent in Thompsons long-standing electoral success. 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Select a product type: Ice Cream Pints. Vadivelu says he got no response from Thompsons office. Not anymore, LILLEY: Three years after Trudeau's gun ban, nothing has changed, Councillor Michael Thompson in Toronto on Friday, July 27, 2018. His cellphone voicemail was full and not taking more messages. When Muhammad Ayub is out campaigning in Ward 21, he says the allegations against Thompson come up in conversation. He and co-defendant Eric Hutchins, 45, are accused of taking advantage of at least 16 people last year as the state Employment Development Department was handing out money to help those whose jobs were lost because of business closures during the COVID-19 pandemic. Michael Thompson. 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Vancouver Fire Rescue Services is now deeming a fire that broke out inside the Kitsilano Showboat last weekend suspicious. Thompson is currently Torontos only Black councillor. Thompson will be fighting the case vigorously, Barry said, adding the allegations were made by two women. An investigation by The Local using FOI requests, city-wide speeding data, and analysis of council minutes, reveals a system that makes wealthy downtown neighbourhoods safer while leaving lower-income inner-suburban communities to fend for themselves. Get our latest stories delivered to your inbox. Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Toronto Star articles, please go to: www.TorontoStarReprints.com, Conversations are opinions of our readers and are subject to the, Lawyer representing Toronto councillor Michael Thompson in sex assault case steps away, Toronto councillor Michael Thompson charged with sexual assault, The Toronto Star and thestar.com, each property of Toronto Star Addressing a crowd of his supporters after being re-elected as councillor in Scarborough Centre on Monday, Michael Thompson acknowledged his family as his rock during difficult and challenging times. Having already served as city councillor for 19 years, he has been charged in connection with a sexual assault investigation in the Muskoka region, with his next court date coming up in November. Police are not releasing further details about the case to protect the identity of the victims. So, it would require significant financial and human resources to unseat a city councillor at the best of times, but to unseat somebody with such a wide margin of victory would almost be impossible.. Find out how we went from sausages to iconic ice creams and ice lollies. Products : Arizona Select Distribution is a highly-regarded wholesale food distributor that has been serving the state of Arizona since 1996. In-depth features on the issues at stake, hyper-local coverage of competitive ward races across the city, and a Candidate Tracker tool to keep you informed this fall. We are able to provide our award-winning journalism at no cost thanks to the generous support of readers like you. permissions/licensing, please go to: www.TorontoStarReprints.com. We ask you to keep your comments relevant and respectful. A Toronto city councillor facing scrutiny over high travel expenses including a $900 a night stay at a Los Angeles hotel last year is defending his spending Non-Dairy Pints. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is expected to call a provincial election during an announcement later this morning in Calgary. Students overwhelmingly have faced sexual violence on campus and off campus, and that affects everything.. 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Before resigning as Thompsons lawyer, he told CTV News Toronto that the councillor plans to plead not guilty and will put up a vigorous defence.. This is the first race for three of the five candidates running against Thomspon. To become the No. Regulators seized troubled First Republic Bank early Monday and sold all of its deposits and most of its assets to JPMorgan Chase Bank in a bid to head off further banking turmoil in the U.S. Wilson Garcia, whose son and wife were among the five people killed by their neighbour in rural Texas, says the gunman seemed intent on killing everyone. And I still do too, even though Ive since returned to my home state of Montana. He reached out to the Landlord and Tenant Board for assistance. In addition to promoting Torontos business interests, Thompson, who is councils sole Black member, has championed policies to combat racism within city government, and was a vocal opponent of police carding. Michael Thompson is shown in this file photo. Two weeks ago, Vadivelus campaign wasnt on anybodys political radar. With a field of barely recognizable challengers, where does that leave voters looking for something different? The Councillor also did not respond to The Locals request for comment, and has remained tight-lipped about the allegations, telling CP24 that his legal team advised him not to speak on the matter. I said, I live in your ward, and this is whats happening to me, he says. To order copies of According to Barry, the complaints were made by two women, and the alleged incident happened back at the beginning of July. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. In a statement released last Friday, the Ontario Provincial Police said that in September it received a report alleging sexual assaults had taken place at a private residence in the District Municipality of Muskoka earlier this year.. And some predict turnout could be even lower this year. presentation-ready copies of Toronto Star content for distribution Last fall, a French school trustee election imploded when it emerged that no one running actually spoke French. But less than a month till election day, news broke that Thompson had been charged with two counts of sexual assault following an incident that took place in the Muskoka area in July. %PDF-1.6 % Cookie Dough Chunks. Please help to build a community f ocused Ian Lord, a specialist in municipal planning law, took home $106,792 for his efforts last year. Youve got a spoon, weve got an ice cream flavor to dunk it in. Try our 7-Select Banana Cream Pie Pint, or our classic, 7-Select Butter Pecan Pie flavor. We have enabled email notificationsyou will now receive an email if you receive a reply to your comment, there is an update to a comment thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. I didnt even get the courtesy of an acknowledgement. After 22 years of representation by the Ford family, Ward 1 has the chance to elect a new voice. Quebec and Ontario public health bodies are reminding residents that as the snow melts, ticks emerge. He was there from May 1-6, costing taxpayers $3,727. The federal government stops evacuation flights out of Sudan, royal watchers prepare for a shorter and smaller coronation, and the Toronto Maple Leafs are headed to the second round of the playoffs for the first time since 2004. But when he saw the councillor at a March 2021 community deputation organized by the advocacy organization ACORN, which Vidavelu is a part of, he decided to address him. LEVY: Councillor Michael Thompson hit by the travel bug on your dime, DEAR ABBY: Ex-girlfriend believes she wasn't cheating, Katy Perry will be temporarily replaced by big-name star on 'American Idol', SIMMONS ON MAPLE LEAFS: Firing Kyle Dubas and Sheldon Keefe? Almost half of Canadians reported that they didn't use all their vacation days in 2022, with more than half reporting that they feel deprived of vacation time, according to a new report. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Scarborough is also home to two post-secondary institutions, the University of Toronto Scarborough, and Centennial College, which are in nearby wards. "I take sexual assault allegations and charges against any individual very seriously," he said. He served on the Toronto Police Services Board from 2010 to 2014. Unauthorized distribution, transmission or republication strictly prohibited. Thompsons accusers are said to be two adult women. Pick up 2 cartons of Signature SELECT Ice Cream for just $1.49 each with a new Just for U Digital Coupon this weekend only through May 24th. Longtime Toronto councillor Michael Thompson has been charged in connection with a sexual assault investigation. Then he called his councillorMichael Thompson. Toronto city councillor Michael Thompson has been charged with two counts of sexual assault. I think hes probably tried to knock on every single door in the Scarborough Centre, says Wanless about Thompsons campaign strategy. Ontario Provincial Police and Essa Fire respond to structure fire on 30th sideroad in Essa Township. Access articles from across Canada with one account. 2023 Toronto Sun, a division of Postmedia Network Inc. All rights reserved. I knew they werent going to help me. Organizing a BIA for the Cedarbrae, Markham and Lawrence (CML) area wouldnt just promote and beautify local businesses it would also buck a trend. hb```'(gTL>oC,UB='16v;=nvvvvD,q0t4 sGcC3I06h04(ut0w0Yt4p04x4Xp 0g`9~sl+<>H>jS95rQ H001h>AT1 kPK They cost taxpayers $4,449 altogether. But Davis says there are examples of local politicians who have had to battle similar allegations, but still find success. Vadivelu won his case against his landlord, and the threat of eviction ended. 7,753 talking about this. Vision. We all scream for ice cream! He also chaired the citys economic and community development committee. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Thompson stayed from Nov. 2-9, racking up a bill of $4,543. A welcome email is on its way. His expenses totalled $20,551.