Toronto city councillor Michael Thompson has been charged in connection with a sexual assault investigation in the Muskoka region.
Thompson’s lawyer, Calvin Berry, told Global News on Thursday that he has been charged with two counts of sexual assault.
Thompson is currently serving his fifth term as councillor for Scarborough Centre. He is also the deputy mayor for the east area of the city.
Berry said the alleged assaults occurred in July of 2022, in the Muskoka area.
According to Berry, Thompson has a court date scheduled for November.
Berry said Thompson will plead not-guilty to the charges.
In a statement Thursday, Toronto Mayor John Tory said he takes “sexual assault allegations and charges against any individual very seriously.”
“While the councillor is facing these charges, it would not be appropriate for him to continue serving as a deputy mayor or chair of a standing council committee,” he said. “He has agreed and will be resigning those positions effective immediately.”
Tory said he will not be making further comment as the matter makes its way through the courts.
In a statement posted to Twitter, Thompson said he has the “utmost faith and confidence in the judicial system.”
“I take the matter seriously and I am allowing the process to unfold in the courts,” he said.
He said he remains “dedicated to serving the residents of Scarborough Centre, Ward 21” adding that he will “continue to focus” on his re-election campaign.