The mayor of the Canadian city of Toronto, John Tory, resigned on Friday after admitting that he had an extramarital affair with a former employee who was much younger, AFP, Reuters and Agerpres reported.

“During the pandemic, I had a relationship with an employee of my team that does not meet the standards that I have imposed on myself as a mayor and as a father,” he said during a press conference in the city hall.

“That’s why I’ve decided to step down as mayor to have time to reflect on my mistakes and do everything I can to regain the family’s trust,” John Tory added.

Re-elected less than four months ago to a third term, he announced his resignation an hour after the Toronto Star published an article about the months-long relationship.

John Tory, 68, said the relationship was a “serious error of judgement” and apologized to the public, colleagues, wife and family.

According to the mayor, the relationship “broke by mutual consent at the beginning of this year”, and the employee left the mayor’s office.

He did not identify the employee, but according to sources cited by the Toronto Star, she was a 31-year-old woman who was an adviser.