August 11, 2026
For Immediate Release

Brad Bradford claims he received advice from the Integrity Commissioner. He needs to prove it.

Progress Toronto calls on Bradford to maintain trust in democracy by releasing the guidance he says clears him.

TORONTO — In the face of growing evidence that Councillor Brad Bradford violated conflict of interest rules when he repeatedly voted on plans that could provide a multi-million dollar benefit to his spouse’s company, Bradford claims he received guidance from the Integrity Commissioner years ago.

If that advice exists, Bradford should release it—immediately and in full.

If there is an opinion from the Integrity Commissioner that justifies his actions, he cannot hide it from the people he represents or seeks to represent. Transparency and accountability is not optional in a democracy and for elected officials, especially when said elected officials are under their third integrity investigation in four years.

Today, Progress Toronto has written to the Integrity Commissioner again after Bradford failed to declare his deemed interest in Rockport Holdings at July’s City Council meeting when it considered the implementation of the development charge reduction program established in the original June 2026 vote.

“The public deserves to see exactly what advice Bradford claims to have received, when he received it, and whether he fully and accurately represented his spouse's role at Rockport Holdings when he sought that guidance,” said Saman Tabasinejad, Executive Director of Progress Toronto. “If Bradford did nothing wrong, he should have no problem releasing the advice, to help restore trust in his leadership.”

Bradford's claims about the guidance raises more questions than it answers:

  • Did he fully disclose his spouse's senior role at Rockport Holdings when seeking that advice?

  • Did he seek new advice when his spouse became a senior officer at Rockport in February 2023?

  • Why did he not declare his interest proactively at the June 2026 Council meeting, out of an abundance of caution? Or in any of the other votes over this Council term that could have financially benefitted Rockport millions of dollars?

Progress Toronto is looking for the answers that Torontonians deserve to maintain trust in democracy.

Other councillors take extensive precautions to avoid even the appearance of a conflict. Bradford, by contrast, is hiding behind an opinion that only he has seen.  

Torontonians deserve to know that decisions at City Hall are made in their interest—not the interests of developers connected to sitting councillors. If Bradford wants to clear his name, he should start by showing his work.

Background:
Read Progress Toronto’s August 11, 2026 follow-up letter to the Integrity Commissioner.
Read Progress Toronto’s July 29, 2026 complaint to the Integrity Commissioner.

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Contact
Saman Tabasinejad
Executive Director
saman@progresstoronto.ca

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