Mississauga Mayor Hazel McCallion said she won't resign despite being found in "a conflict of interest" for promoting a real estate deal involving her son's company.
A judicial inquiry released Monday found McCallion violated common law when she promoted a transaction that called for World Class Developments to build a $1.5 billion hotel and convention centre complex in Mississauga's downtown core.
McCallion's son Peter was a principal at the company and stood to gain at least $10 million from the land deal.
In his 386-page report, Justice J. Douglas Cunningham concluded that the mayor knew of her son's role in the deal and should have known of his ownership interests in the company.
At a Mississauga council meeting on Monday, McCallion denied purposely misusing her position as mayor.
"I did not attempt to influence either council or city staff," she told council.
Part of the inquiry investigated McCallion's involvement in promoting the company's interests when the deal collapsed and the company was negotiating a settlement with the landowner.
McCallion told council she didn't have a full understanding of her son's involvement in the real-estate agreement.
"I was not aware of all his financial obligations. I don't think most parents know what their children do from time to time," she said.
Cunningham said McCallion did not break any municipal conflict of interest guidelines, but did contravene common laws.
"It was improper for the mayor to repeatedly use her office on behalf of WCD. This finding is supported both by common law and by common sense," he said at a Monday news conference.
McCallion, 90, has been mayor of Mississauga for over 32 years.
With a report from CTV Toronto's Natalie Johnson
