The City of Toronto rolled up the rim and won a $100,000 donation from Tim Hortons to keep more outdoor rinks open, replacing a gift from a firm that turned out to have a possible conflict of interest.

Mayor John Tory on Tuesday announced the new corporate white knight for a dozen rinks that were slated to close Sunday. Toronto Maple Leafs owner Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment is kicking in the other $100,000 to help keep a total of 29 rinks open until March 22, the end of spring break, weather permitting.

In a virtual do-over of a Friday rinkside announcement where Tory thanked waste collector Green for Life, the mayor lauded the generosity of Tim Hortons and MLSE on a bitterly cold rink at Trinity Bellwoods Park.

Tory dismissed as a “hiccup” the discovery over the weekend that GFL is involved in an ongoing procurement bid with the city. The company withdrew its donation to avoid the appearance of a conflict of interest.

Earlier in the day, Councillor Gord Perks said Tory blundered by getting involved Friday before potential donors were fully screened, and argued there might be issues with MLSE, which operates the city-owned BMO Field and Ricoh Centre.

Tory waved away the criticism, saying all the companies approached city staff who worked out details of the gifts. “I’m just here announcing. That’s the important thing — kids will be able to skate,” the mayor said.

The city said Tuesday it vetted both donations. The MLSE money is a donation, which is forbidden for firms trying to have something approved, permitted or licensed by the city, or bidding on a city contract. The Tim Hortons gift was deemed a sponsorship, which forbids any employee or council member from benefiting directly or indirectly from a deal

Tim Hortons president David Clanachan is registered to lobby Toronto officials on “city policies related to economic growth, regulatory issues, blue box program; drive-through policy.”

A year ago, during a similar cold snap, mayoral candidate Tory criticized the city for scrambling to find private sector help to keep rinks open into March. But his office appears to have done nothing until Thursday when the Star asked for comment on the imminent closure of 35 rinks.

The mayor Tuesday said he is open to looking at ways for the city next year to fund keeping all outdoor rinks open into March, weather permitting, ending the annual scramble for a corporate saviour.

Councillor Paula Fletcher is furious that 25 other rinks closed Sunday. She says the parks and environment committee last March directed the parks department to consider building into the budget a “cold weather contingency fund,” but city staff ignored the request.

She is fighting, along with three other east-end councillors, to get Monarch Park rink reopened.

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