Jim Karygiannis violated city's code of conduct, integrity commissioner rules

TorontoCoun. Jim Karygiannis violated the city's code of conductduring an "aggressive"confrontation with an UberX driver and by making repeated visits to a house over a parking dispute, the city's integrity commissioner has ruled in two separate reports.

Valerie Jepson has recommendedthat Karygiannis,a former MPand first-term citycouncillor, should be reprimanded by city councilin one incident, but should not bepunishedin the other case.

In the Uber incident, the report says Karygiannisstood close to the driver and spoke to him "in a threatening manner" after the driver arrived on a residential street to pick up a fare last summer. Karygiannis has been one of council's most vocal critics of the popular ride-hailing service.

In the other incident, Karygiannis made repeated visits to a house last May to chide residents for illegally parking their car on the apron, the area of the driveway between the sidewalk and the street.

In both incidents, Jepson found thatKarygiannis's behaviour left residents with the false impression that he has enforcement powers.

"The councilloracted in such a way that the driver, who recognized the councillor as a public figure, thought the councillor was going to facilitate his arrest," the report reads.

"I find that the councillor'sactionswere aggressive and the driver's surprise, concern and apprehension about the councillor's intervention was therefore entirely understandable, although the councillor did not state that he intended to personally take enforcement actions."

Jepson found that in both instances,Karygiannisviolated a section of a city code of conduct that requires councillors to treat members of the public, fellow council members and city staff without "abuse, bullying and intimidation."

Karygiannis confronted driver 'in a loud voice'

The Uber incident happened last July 31. After a visit with her parents, thecomplainant and her boyfriend ordered a cab using the UberX app. On the wayto picking up the fare, the driver stopped and asked a group of people Karygiannis among themif they'd ordered an Ubercab. The driver then continued down the street but was followed by Karygiannis in a car. The Ward 39councillorthenconfronted the driver outside the home of the complainant'sparents.

"In a loud voice the councillor told the driver that by driving the Uber vehicle, he was breaking Ontario laws and municipalrules and regulations," the report reads.

According to Jepson's report, Karygiannis then spoke to the complainant'sfather, telling him that Uberwas uninsured and unsafe. The father of the complainant told Karygiannis to leave, which he did after taking a photo of the Uber car.

Jepson's report saidKarygiannisshowed up at the house uninvitedand acted in "an aggressive manner."

The report says Karygiannis defended his actions as part of his roleas a councillor to "advocatehis point of view with respect to the issue of the regulation of ground transportation services."

In the parking dispute,the report says Karygiannis threatened to have the car ticketed or towed.Jepson's report saidKarygiannis'sactions caused the residents of the house"to be scared of the councillor" and left the family feeling "intimidated" and "targeted."

And while a council member is allowed to inform constituents about bylaws, the integrity commissioner said Karygiannisleft residents feeling he had enforcement powers. "The councillor bears full responsibility for this misunderstanding," Jepson wrote.

No call for fine or suspension, integrity commissioner rules

In terms of punishment, theintegrity commissioner recommendedagainst a suspension or fine for Karygiannis. In both incidents Jepson recommends council adopt a finding that he violated the code of conduct. Jepson recommends a reprimand for his actions in the parking dispute.

Jepson said the Uber confrontationwas an isolated incident by a "relatively new member of council" and amounts to "a single, brief, heat-of-the-moment exchange."

Jepson also points out that Karygiannis co-operated with her investigation and plans to "adjust his conduct in the future."

You can read the integrity commissioner's reports here: