Job posting for city agency seeking former staff from mayor´s office prompts `cronyism´ complaint
(The Star Food)

A posting for a senior position at the city’s new body overseeing its massive real estate portfolio appears tailored to former members of Mayor John Tory’s staff or that of previous mayors.The job qualifications for CreateTO’s senior vice-president of stakeholder communications and relations included this line: “Experience at the highest level with regards to the City of Toronto’s political realm, ideally having had experience working in the Mayor’s office.�None of the other more junior postings, including for a director of development, included that qualification. The deadline for applications is March 4.After being contacted by the Star, CreateTO changed the qualifications to say: “Experience working within a political environment at either the municipal, provincial or federal level.�CreateTO spokesperson Susan O’Neill told the Star on Friday the wording would be adjusted to the online posting to attract a larger pool of candidates. She said there was no involvement or influence from the mayor’s office.“This is a public posting and open to anyone who meets the qualifications,� she said in an email. “CreateTO works within a political context and the intention of the statement was simply to convey that were are seeking an individual with political acumen. This could include individuals who have worked at any level of government on either the staff or political side.�Read more: NDP Leader Andrea Horwath blasts Premier Doug Ford for cronyism in appointmentsRon Taverner was considered for other top jobs with province, sources sayChair for GTA conservation authority elected after behind-the-scenes lobbyingIn 2017, council voted to create a new super realty agency responsible for nearly 8,500 properties, representing more than $27 billion in public assets — which city staff reported then was one of the largest portfolios in Canada — as well as future real estate tran ...