A campaign finance-related charge laid against a former Toronto city councillor was withdrawn on Monday.

Ontario Provincial Police charged Justin Di Ciano with filing an incorrect document in November 2018 after a lengthy investigation. He was accused of failing to disclose thousands of dollars worth of spending on research and polling ahead of the 2014 municipal election.

Assistant Crown Attorney Michael Wilson told a Toronto court Monday that while he had evidence Di Ciano's campaign benefited from polling data provided by the firm Campaign Research, there was no evidence Di Ciano had personally requested the data.

Reporters were not in the courtroom when the Municipal Elections Act charge was withdrawn. The case had been moved to another courtroom, but the public was not advised of the change. Wilson referred media to the Ontario Attorney General's office for a copy of his full statement to the court.

Di Ciano's lawyer, Scott Fenton, issued a statement on behalf of the former city councillor.

"The withdrawal of the prosecution was a necessary outcome given the complete absence of evidence with respect to this single regulatory charge. Our client has always maintained that he committed no wrong and the Crown's decision to withdraw the charge confirms that," Fenton wrote in an email to CBC Toronto.

"We emphatically disagree that there was a shred of evidence that his campaign received any unreported benefits. My client believes the charge never should have been laid, that the investigation and prosecution was a colossal waste of taxpayer money and that public will be fascinated with the story of what really happened during his time at City Hall. Mr Di Ciano looks forward to sharing that story," Fenton added.

Di Ciano served one term in office then left politics in 2018.

Police had alleged both Di Ciano and current Etobicoke councillor Mark Grimes received about $26,000 worth of polling data from Campaign Research that was not claimed as part of their campaign expenses. A similar charge against Grimes was withdrawn two weeks ago.

The office of the Attorney General issued a statement Monday afternoon explaining its decision to drop the charge.

"The Crown is in possession of evidence to suggest that during the 2014 Toronto municipal election, that the campaign of Mark Grimes received the benefit of polling data from a company called Campaign Research that was not claimed on his financial statement — auditor's report," the statement reads.

"The Crown is not in a position to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Justin Di Ciano personally requested or received this data or that he deliberately failed to report the receipt of that data when filing his Financial Statement – Auditor's Report. For that reason, the Crown takes the position that it is not in the public interest to proceed with this prosecution and is requesting that the charge against him be marked withdrawn."