Toronto council approves covering half of councillor’s legal fees in integrity commissioner probe

Toronto City Councillor Chris Moise speaks to media in this file photo. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Laura Proctor

The Toronto City Council approved on Thursday to cover only half of one councillor’s legal expenses in connection with an investigation by the integrity commissioner.

The city clerk recommended that the council cover the remaining the $20,807.61 in legal expenses that Coun. Chris Moise owed the law firm he retained for the investigation.

• READ MORE: Toronto councillor who violated code of conduct asking city to cover legal fees

However, during Thursday’s meeting, Coun. Jon Burnside amended the recommendation to make the city cover only 50 percent of the expenses. His motion passed with a vote of 16-6.

A motion by Coun. Stephen Holyday “to receive” the clerk’s recommendation for information, which would result in Moise’s expenses not being reimbursed, was defeated by a vote of 6-16.

The city had already paid $5,000 to the law firm, which came from the 2025 Council General Expense Budget.

Moise retained a lawyer after he was notified of an integrity commissioner investigation into his conduct during an interaction with a constituent on Jan. 16, 2025.

The city clerk noted that it consulted with the city solicitor, who reviewed the invoices and determined the rates to be reasonable.

“The integrity commissioner noted that the assistance of legal counsel for a respondent during an integrity commissioner investigation is always helpful and that the integrity commissioner takes no position on the current reimbursement request,” the clerk wrote in the motion.

Under the city’s policy, legal fees related to the code of conduct investigation are eligible expenses if the integrity commissioner found the member in violation and the city council received the report.

Paul Muldoon, the city’s integrity commissioner, released his report into two complaints against Moise and found that the councillor “engaged in discreditable conduct,” violating the code of conduct.

Moise disagreed with the commissioner’s findings.

The commissioner did not recommend issuing a penalty against Moise, only asking the council to adopt his findings.

During the March meeting, councillors voted to “receive” the report and did not accept Muldoon’s findings.

Councillors also asked the commissioner to provide guidance on how to respond appropriately to discriminatory, hateful or harassing speech.

• READ MORE: Toronto councillor violated Code of Conduct, integrity commissioner finds

Moise responds

In a statement on Thursday, Moise said the vote on his legal expenses “were purely about the policy for reimbursing legal expenses and its application.”

He pointed out that it was the city staff who recommended that his expenses be reimbursed.

“Personally, I find it odd that a councillor should have to cover the legal fees spent to address a report that City Council itself voted unanimously to reject, but it looks like Council tried to find a compromise between the 2008 legal expenses rules and a newly updated 2026 rule,” Moise said.

“Just like when Council voted unanimously to reject the Integrity Commissioner’s report, Council has made its decision.”

During Thursday’s meeting, council also approved a motion by Coun. Paula Fletcher, who amended the city’s payment protocol for integrity commissioner investigations.

According to the current protocol, a councillor can be reimbursed for reasonable legal expenses up to a maximum of $5,000 and an additional $20,000 if the integrity commissioner elects to investigate the complaint by exercising the powers under the Public Inquiries Act.

Fletcher’s motion will delete the $5,000 threshold and the requirement for the integrity commissioner to elect to use their powers as a condition for reimbursement.