Brampton Wards 9 and 10 Councillor Gurpartap Singh Toor has been cleared of violating the city council’s code of conduct, according to a report from Integrity Commissioner Muneeza Sheikh. The investigation followed allegations related to property standards violations at a property partially owned by Toor.
The property at 123 Queen St. W., owned by 2571340 Ontario Inc.—a numbered company where Toor is a director—accrued over 20 bylaw infractions and $12,500 in fines. Despite these issues, Sheikh determined that Toor did not breach Rule 13, which requires councillors to uphold public respect for the city and its bylaws, or Rule 16, which prohibits intimidation or misuse of influence.
Background of the Case
The investigation stemmed from a complaint by Kevin Locke, a Brampton property standards officer, alleging that Toor had failed to address violations and disrespected city bylaws. The infractions included property standards and fire code violations, reported after inspections from July to December 2023.
Toor acknowledged challenges in maintaining the derelict property, citing contractor shortages and vandalism. He also stated that compliance efforts, including cleanup and repairs, were made but admitted they were “not always satisfactory.”
Sheikh’s report noted that while the property remained noncompliant for a prolonged period, there was insufficient evidence to conclude that Toor intentionally disregarded the city’s bylaws.
Rule 13 Allegations
Rule 13 requires councillors to promote respect for the city’s governance. Sheikh ruled that while Toor’s efforts were inadequate, his actions did not undermine respect for city bylaws. She emphasized that a Rule 13 violation typically involves overt actions to denigrate or encourage disregard for city laws.
“It is possible that Councillor Toor’s efforts, though perhaps insufficient, were the best he could do under the circumstances,” Sheikh stated.
Rule 16 Allegations
The complaint also alleged that Toor threatened Locke and used his influence to have him removed from the case, violating Rule 16. The allegations were based on tense email and messaging exchanges, including Toor’s warning to report Locke to HR for harassment.
Sheikh determined that the communications reflected strained interactions but did not meet the threshold for intimidation or abuse of authority. Testimony from Robert Higgs, director of enforcement and bylaw services, confirmed that Locke’s removal from the file was a management decision unrelated to Toor’s involvement.
“Councillor Toor’s communications do not rise to the level of a Rule 16 violation,” Sheikh concluded, citing insufficient evidence of intent to intimidate or misuse influence.
Key Findings
- Rule 13: No violation; Toor’s insufficient efforts did not constitute a failure to respect city bylaws.
- Rule 16: No violation; interactions with Locke were deemed reactions to perceived harassment rather than intimidation.
While the integrity commissioner cleared Toor of code of conduct breaches, the property’s state of disrepair highlights ongoing challenges in maintaining compliance with city standards.