Toronto councillor under OPP investigation recuses himself from decisions on more Scarborough developments - Toronto Star

As OPP anti-rackets squad investigates, Coun. Parthi Kandavel has repeatedly denied wrongdoing. He says recusal made out of 'abundance of caution.' 

Coun. Parthi Kandavel recently said he wouldn’t take part in decisions about zoning bylaw approvals in his Scarborough Southwest ward “while I learn more about the investigation.”

A city councillor under investigation by the Ontario Provincial Police over his dealings with developers is recusing himself from decisions on more projects in his ward, saying he made the decision to avoid “perceived conflicts of interest.”

At a Scarborough community council meeting on May 28, Coun. Parthi Kandavel, the first-term representative for Scarborough Southwest, said he was recusing himself in light of the allegations against him and “out of an abundance of caution.” He announced he wouldn’t take part in decisions about zoning bylaw approvals in his ward “while I learn more about the investigation.” He then abstained from debates on two developments before the committee.

The broader recusal is a change of approach for Kandavel, who had previously told the Star he intended to “avoid participating” in decisions related to a single development at 708-712 Kennedy Road, based on advice from Toronto’s integrity commissioner.

As the Star has previously reported, the police investigation appears to have been prompted by a complaint to the integrity commissioner made July 8, 2025 by a representative of the owners of the Kennedy project, which the commissioner’s office passed to the police.

Little is known about the original complaint. Toronto’s integrity commissioner, the police and a lawyer for the owners of the Kennedy development have declined to provide details of the allegations.