It’s time to ‘get real’ with Toronto residents. Why Josh Matlow is considering a run for mayor

Thestar.com
March 8, 2023

Coun. Josh Matlow is considering a run for mayor, saying he wants to have an “honest conversation” with voters about the erosion of city services, and the investment required to fix them.

In an exclusive interview with the Star on Tuesday, the veteran Toronto-St. Paul’s representative confirmed he is “strongly exploring” entering the June 26 byelection to replace John Tory.

He said he’s motivated to run because he believes it’s time to “get real” with residents about the state of the city, which he says has deteriorated after 12 years of conservative leadership under Tory and his predecessor Rob Ford.

“(Tory) was wonderful at communicating how wonderful our city was doing and what a good job he was doing. But in reality our services and infrastructure have declined,” Matlow said, citing everything from shuttered public bathrooms to shoddy snow clearing, from slow progress on housing to the gaping shortfall in this year’s operating budget.

The midtown councillor pledged that if he does run, he’ll have what could be difficult discussions with residents about how to raise money to invest in public services. That includes potentially increasing property taxes to levels comparable to those of other GTHA municipalities, an approach Matlow described as “reasonable” but which would face pushback from homeowners already feeling the pinch of rising costs of living.

Matlow would also look into whether it’s possible to save money by reversing course on “follies” like the expensive rebuild of a portion of the elevated Gardiner Expressway. He would also rein in spending on the $1.2-billion police budget in favour “meaningful investments” in social programs to address the roots of crime.

Matlow, 47, has long been believed to be eyeing a run for the top job at city hall. But following Tory’s bombshell resignation last month, he now appears to be seriously laying the groundwork for a campaign.

On Wednesday, a group called Friends of Josh Matlow plans to release an open letter urging him to run for mayor. According to a copy obtained by the Star, the group says it’s time for “a change from the Ford/Tory status quo,” and Matlow “has the vision, courage, compassion, and energy to lead Toronto in the progressive direction” it needs to address its challenges.

Among the two dozen signatories are former Toronto mayor John Sewell, street nurse Cathy Crowe, academic Akwasi Owusu-Bempah, tenant advocate Geordie Dent, musician Rollie Pemberton (also known as Cadence Weapon), and former MuchMusic host Erica Ehm.

The group of artists and left-leaning advocates is a contrast to the high profile Liberal and Conservative operatives lining up behind Coun. Brad Bradford (Ward 19, Beaches-East York) and former councillor Ana Bailão, both of whom are also mulling a mayoral bid.

And while Matlow describes himself as a “pragmatic progressive,” he may not be able to count on support from Toronto’s NDP-affiliated left-wing establishment, which has yet to rally around any potential candidate after former councillors Mike Layton and Joe Cressy declared they won’t run.

Bradford’s advisers include Ontario PC Premier Doug Ford’s former campaign manager Kory Teneycke and veteran Liberal strategist Bob Lopinski. Executives at major lobbying firms, including Jaime Watt, the executive chairman of Navigator, and Brian Teefy, vice-president of StrategyCorp, are also backing Bradford.

Meanwhile, Bailão is being advised by veteran Liberal backroomer Tom Allison and outspoken Conservative Nick Kouvalis, both of whom worked on successful Tory mayoral campaigns.

Matlow acknowledged that fielding an independent campaign would be hard work, particularly because the shortened campaign period of the byelection will force candidates to hit the ground running. Voting day will take place less than three months after nominations open.

But Matlow framed his lack of ties to insiders as a virtue, arguing that any candidate supported by consultants and lobbyists risks becoming a “vassal” for corporate and political interests.

“I’m really grateful to have the confidence and support of community leaders across our city who are just doing good work for people,” he said.

A former co-director of the Earthroots conservation organization, Matlow ran for the Ontario Liberals two decades ago. He became a school trustee in 2003 and served until 2010, when he was elected to council. He has won re-election three times since, most recently last fall with an overwhelming 85 per cent of the vote.

For eight years he was one of Tory’s most outspoken critics, slamming the former mayor over issues like his SmartTrack transit plan and support for police clearing of homeless encampments.

Matlow has also relentlessly denounced the Scarborough subway project. But he said Tuesday that with construction already underway, he now believes it’s too late to cancel the three-stop subway and revert to previous plans for a seven-stop LRT.

He rejected the suggestion he’s changing his position because if he runs for mayor he will need to court voters in Scarborough, where the $5.5-billion subway is popular.

“I recognize that that decision is too far gone to reverse, realistically,” he said, noting that since the province uploaded subway construction from the city, council has little ability to stop the project.

Despite more than a decade in office, Matlow has a reputation as something of an outlier on council. Some at city hall have accused him of being more interested in taking principled but ineffective stands on issues, instead of working with other members to deliver positive change.

At times he’s even sparred with city staff. In 2018, Toronto’s integrity commissioner recommended he be reprimanded for alleging staff provided politicized advice about the Scarborough subway. He said the commissioner’s report was inaccurate.

Matlow rejects the idea he doesn’t co-operate with others to get things done, saying he has a “long list of achievements” that includes spearheading the city’s senior strategy, youth equity plan and tenant protections under RentSafeTO.

But he acknowledged what he described as his uncompromising, fact-based approach can cause “friction.”

“I certainly didn’t come to city hall to make friends, or to go along to get along. I really do want to focus on getting results, and speaking truth to power,” he said.

Matlow said he plans to announce soon whether he intends to run for mayor. Nominations open April 3.