Toronto councillor’s impaired driving case put over again

The court case of a Toronto city councillor charged with drunken driving has once again been put over.

Ana Bailão, the councillor for Ward 18 Davenport, did not appear for the brief hearing Tuesday morning at Old City Hall.

Ms. Bailão, 36, was stopped by police in the early hours of Oct. 16 near Bathurst and Harbord Streets after attending the Mayor's Ball for the Arts earlier in the evening.

She has been charged with impaired driving and operating a vehicle with more than the legal allowable amount of alcohol in her bloodstream, and has said she plans to plead not guilty.

"I can confirm that on October 16, I was charged with impaired driving," she said in a statement the day after she was arrested.

"This situation is regrettable. I have been advised by my legal counsel that because this matter is before the courts that I have no further comment."

Ms. Bailão is a first-term centrist who has been praised for her work as the chair of the affordable housing committee.

Her next court date is set for Jan. 29.