Toronto ombudsman Fiona Crean stepping aside in November

Toronto’s ombudsman will be stepping down at the end of her term. Presenting her annual report on Monday, Fiona Crean said she will not attempt to keep her job as the city’s ombudsman.

Crean said the debate over her role would divide the newly elected city council, which was gearing up to look at her re-appointment next week.

“I had hoped, following the recent election, that the political climate surrounding the ombudsman’s office would’ve changed,” Crean said at a news conference.

Crean has been a controversial figure, and acknowledged Monday that she has been polarizing. She has been through two acrimonious re-appointment debates at council, and said another could be detrimental to her office.

Despite a 129-per cent increase in complaints to the Toronto ombudsman’s office since it was formed in 2009, council granted Crean only one of six staff members requested in this year’s budget.

“Any ombudsman who’s worth their salt in doing their job tends not to be popular,” Crean said. “I always say to the team that if somebody’s mad at you, you’re probably doing a good job.”

Coun. Rob Ford challenged Crean on numerous files when he was mayor, including her report on Toronto Community Housing Corp.’s hiring and firing practices. The report resulted in the departure of Gene Jones, Ford’s hand-picked CEO.

“The last term of council was not an easy one for her,” Coun. Mike Layton told reporters Monday . “Nor was it for our integrity commissioner, considering the amount of work that was put on them.”

Mayor John Tory did not support Crean’s request to increase the size of her office. In a statement, he thanked her for her “years of dedication” and service to the City of Toronto.

“Leading the office of ‘last resort,’ as the Office of Ombudsman is known, is not an easy task and Ms. Crean took it on with gusto and determination,” Tory said.

Crean’s term ends in November. The city manager is recommending that the next ombudsman be appointed for one fixed term of seven years.

With a report by CTV Toronto’s Natalie Johnson