Toronto's Mayor says that while he might like to see an example set for rule-breaking builders, it isn't his call to make.
John Tory was asked on Thursday about this week's story on NEWSTALK 1010 about a condo development at Bathurst and Adelaide Streets that illegally used a permit to block traffic.
"I don't know all of the facts but somebody who examined them carefully made a decision," says Tory.
"As much as I might have liked to have seen a penalty applied ... in this case, they decided it wasn't appropriate."
Tory says that those decisions are best left up to people like police and bylaw enforcement officers, as well as city hall's permit branch.
It was Tuesday morning that the contractor temporarily closed a lane in the area of the busy intersection.
City officials confirm that the builder had a permit only to shut down lanes during the weekend, rather than on weekdays.
"I feel very badly about the inconvenience people were put to when the lane was closed when it shouldn't have been," Tory says.
"I hope people do understand there are rules in place, there are procedures to be followed, and there are penalties to be extracted when its very clear that someone has flouted the law."
He insists that the system really does keep builders honest.
The company agreed to take down the barricades when confronted by bylaw officers.