John Tory’s plan ‘to bring the city together': Four deputy mayors — one from each region of Toronto

NationalPost.com
Dec. 1, 2014
Natalie Alcoba

Toronto’s new mayor begins his term Monday repairing a politically divided city, asking council to appoint four deputy mayors, one from each region of the metropolis.

The group, combined with the mayor’s picks for his cabinet-like executive committee, draws on left, right and centrist voices at city hall, setting a decidedly more collegial tone than the fractious last four years under Rob Ford.

North York fiscal conservative Denzil Minnan-Wong is Mayor John Tory’s choice to assume the role of the statutory deputy mayor, making him the more powerful of the four who will be in charge when the mayor is absent. Etobicoke North councillor Vincent Crisanti, a Ford ally, represents the west of the city, Scarborough left-wing veteran Glenn De Baeremaeker represents the east and downtown left-winger Pam McConnell represents the south.

The four deputies will meet with the mayor monthly “to discuss efforts to bring the city together,” according to a source in the mayor’s office. They will also advise him on local issues and represent him at events and ceremonies.

“The mayor talked a lot during the campaign about one Toronto and bringing the city together. He wanted to make sure each of the regions of the city had a strong voice,” the source said.

Council must approve the three additional deputy positions. Former mayor David Miller also had four deputies during his first term.

In another important signal, Mr. Tory is making his first official order of business a Monday morning visit to Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne. They will talk about his SmartTrack plan and funding for housing. Then he will travel to the Scarborough civic centre to meet with staff, kicking off a busy week that includes his official inauguration on Tuesday and first city council and executive committee meetings.

Other crucial positions named by Mayor Tory, some of whom require council approval, are: Eglinton-Lawrence councillor Josh Colle to helm the TTC, Scarborough Southwest councillor Gary Crawford as budget chief and York South Weston councillor Frances Nunziata to return as Speaker.

Mr. Tory wants to remove Michael Thompson, the only black member of city council, from the police board and instead install himself and councillors Shelley Carroll and Chin Lee.

His executive includes Jaye Robinson (Don Valley West), who has been tapped to lead the important public works and infrastructure committee; James Pasternak (York Centre), who has been selected to chair community development and recreation; Mr. Thompson (Scarborough Centre), who has agreed to continue as chairman of economic development; David Shiner (Willowdale), as chair of planning and growth management committee; Paul Ainslie (Scarborough East), who will return to his post at government management committee; Cesar Palacio (Davenport), who will reprise his role as chair of licensing and standards; and Michelle Berardinetti (Scarborough Southwest) at the helm of the parks and environment committee. Mr. Crawford, Ana Bailao (Davenport), Mary Margaret McMahon (Beaches-East York), Frank Di Giorgio (York South Weston) and Mr. Minnan-Wong will round out the executive.

“He’s trying to show and demonstrate real regional diversity,” said Mr. Minnan-Wong of the Tory team. “Having a bigger team is a strength.”

One notable absence is Norm Kelly, who played a pivotal role in steadying a chaotic city hall as deputy mayor during the last year of Mr. Ford’s term. North York councillor John Filion, who had endorsed Mr. Tory in the campaign, was also left off the list and Rob Ford was shut out.

A source in the mayor’s office said Mr. Tory and Mr. Kelly had a “great meeting” in which potential roles for Mr. Kelly were discussed. “[Mr. Kelly] indicated he has had a long year and he wanted to take some time,” said the source. Mr. Tory will still be “relying on his advice and support,” the source indicated.