Vaughan’s controversial deputy mayor, Michael Di Biase, has resigned in the wake of a scathing ethics probe that found the veteran politician repeatedly sexually harassed a city employee over a period of five months, and contributed to creating an “intimidating and offensive work environment.” The shocking allegations against veteran politician Michael Di Biase were made public Thursday in a report after a months long probe by the city’s integrity commissioner, Suzanne Craig. “I find that the actions of the respondent constitute sexual harassment,” writes Craig, in her 28-page report, which was to be discussed at a special council meeting on Tuesday. “The respondent’s conduct created and contributed to an intimidating and offensive work environment for the complainant, contrary to his obligations under the Code (of conduct) and under the City’s Respectful Workplace Policy.”But lawyers for Di Biase, who was mayor of Vaughan from 2002 to 2006 and has been a politician in Vaughan for three decades, sent out a news release Thursday afternoon announcing he was stepping down. The Star broke the news to his colleagues, who said Di Biase had not yet announced his resignation at city hall, leading to questions about how the report will be dealt with.“It has been my great honour to serve the City of Vaughan for 29 years as mayor, deputy mayor, regional councillor and local councillor,” he said in the news release, under the heading “resignation as deputy mayor.” “While I have throughout maintained my innocence, I do not wish to be a distraction from the important work that is ahead for our council in protecting the interests of this city.”According to the report, the complainant, who is only identified as an “employee of the city of Vaughan,” came forward in January with complaints about allegations of sexual assault, sexual harassment and reprisal ...
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