The city council has confirmed the appointment of Vic Gupta, a former senior staff member and ally of Mayor John Tory, as executive director of the city’s real estate agency.
Gupta will become head of CreateTO after a 23-2 vote on the council on Wednesday.
Gupta, a longtime lobbyist, joined CreateTO in 2019 as one of the highest paid employees in town.
The agency, which manages the city’s $ 27 billion portfolio of more than 8,000 properties, was first formed in 2018 under Tory’s administration. He is also responsible for leasing land to developers to build affordable housing through various programs.
Tory, in a prepared statement, congratulated his former chief secretary, who also co-chaired his 2018 re-election campaign, on the appointment.
“Vic has great knowledge of the city and built relationships between the city leadership team and the council members,” Tory said.
“I am confident it will provide a smooth transition and bring stability as CreateTO continues to work in partnership with the city to develop innovative real estate solutions that provide significant benefits to our city and its residents.”
Gupta’s 2019 hiring was announced after Star reported that a different senior vice president position posted by CreateTO seemed tailored to a former Tory staff member or former mayors, which read: “Experience at the highest level regarding to the politics of the city of Toronto kingdom, ideally having had experience working in the mayor’s office. “
The post was changed after Star’s report.
Former Create TO CEO Brian Johnston quietly stepped down in October last year after a Star investigation led the agency to conduct an internal investigation into the affordable housing offers Johnston made to employees in against city politics.
Johnston told the Star at the time that the offers were “a sincere effort to help those who might be interested” and when he realized they could be construed as an “improper” benefit to employees, he withdrew the offers.
Internal emails obtained by Star through a freedom of information request also showed Johnston seeking a below-market unit for his niece.
A press release Wednesday from CreateTO said that Gupta’s current role as an agency executive had him responsible for “setting the strategic direction of the agency, leading a multidisciplinary team that collaborates with partners and stakeholders to identify opportunities to take advantage of the real estate assets of the city to provide economic and community benefits, and to manage the Port Lands group. “
The statement said an executive search firm was hired and an “extensive hiring process” was carried out.
“I am deeply honored by the opportunity to lead the talented and dedicated team at CreateTO,” Gupta is quoted in the statement.
“Working in public service is a privilege and I look forward to continuing to advance the delivery of key city priorities in partnership with stakeholders in our city and those in the development industry.”
Coun. Josh Matlow was one of two members who voted against Gupta’s appointment on Wednesday. Matlow told the Star after the vote that he was concerned about the public’s trust in a key city agency.
“As Mr. Gupta takes over the reins of CreateTO, I am concerned about the public’s perception and trust in the organization,” he said, declining to reveal confidential board discussions.
“The public must have absolute confidence that the Director of CreateTO is not a political appointee or overly tied to the development industry.”
Reference-www.thestar.com