Mayor’s former staffers’ email, telephone records ordered destroyed, Toronto Star says

In another scathing report by the Toronto Star on the Ford administration, the newspaper said it has learned through unnamed sources that former city hall staffers’ email and telephone records have been ordered destroyed.

City officials released a statement on Wednesday denying they received any request from the Mayor’s Office to destroy records.

“I can confirm that the City did not receive a request from the Mayor’s Office to destroy records of any staff or former staff of the Mayor’s Office,” director of strategic communications Jackie DeSouza said. “The City has bylaws and policies in place to ensure that City records are not destroyed.”

However, DeSouza stated that the personal, political and constituency information of councillors and the mayor are not subject to the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.

According to the newspaper, the records in question were held on the city hall server and belonged to departed staff members Mark Towhey, George Christopolous and Isaac Ransom.

Those records may reveal discussions of the video scandal, The Star said.

Towey was fired last week while Christopolous and Ransom resigned earlier this week.

The mayor has yet to comment on The Star’s report.

Read DeSouza’s complete statement below:

First, I can confirm that the City did not receive a request from the Mayor’s Office to destroy records of any staff or former staff of the Mayor’s Office.

The City has bylaws and policies in place to ensure that City records are not destroyed.

The Information and Privacy Commissioner recently confirmed in three separate decisions that councillors’ personal, political and constituency information is not subject to the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. So it is only City business that is subject to MFIPPA.

With regard to the Mayor, City business would translate to his role as chief executive officer as set out in s. 134 of the City of Toronto Act. His personal, political and constituency business would be exempt from MFIPPA.

Only City records are subject to the records retention bylaw that governs the retention and destruction of such records.  Council members’ personal, political and constituency records are not covered by the bylaw and therefore those are records which they can manage as they see fit.  

City information, regardless of where it is stored, is available to respond to specific FOI requests when they are made.

With files from 680News

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