Toronto deputy mayor pledges smooth transition, says she won't run to replace Tory

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Toronto Deputy Mayor Jennifer McKelvie is promising a smooth transition when she takes over the reins from Mayor John Tory when his resignation takes effect Friday at 5 p.m.

Tory tendered his resignation shortly after 11 p.m. Wednesday following a lengthy council meeting that saw the adoption of his 2023 city budget.

“Residents can rest assured that my entire focus at this time is ensuring a smooth transition and continued good governance,” McKelvie said in a statement Thursday morning. “It is in that spirit that I must clarify that I will not be seeking to run for mayor in the upcoming by-election.

“Representing the residents of my ward, and ensuring a smooth, stable transition until a new mayor is elected, requires my full attention,” she added.

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While McKelvie has taken herself out of the upcoming mayor’s race, the potential list of candidates is long, including fellow councillors Brad Bradford, Josh Matlow and Stephen Holyday, previous candidates, former members of council and provincial and federal politicians.

Tory is staying in place until the end of the work week to help with the transition, he said in a statement.

“I will continue to be a contributing citizen hopefully in a number of different ways,” Tory said. “That is because I love the people of Toronto and I will never stop believing in Toronto and all of the residents who make it up.”

Premier Doug Ford was among those who had been urging Tory to stay put, worried about a “left-wing” mayor taking over Toronto.

Tory acknowledged an affair with a woman that began when she was an employee of the mayor’s office.

Councillor Dianne Saxe said a byelection to replace Tory would involve a vote by council to declare his seat vacant, a nomination deadline within 30 to 60 days and a vote held 45 days later.

Toronto’s mayor is elected by more voters than any other politician in the country, she added.

“I think we probably should get on with it,” Saxe said. “I think uncertainty is very bad for the city.” Toronto “desperately” needs a new financial framework, but the city needs a new mayor in place for negotiations, she said.

Tory has said the traditional way of funding cities largely through property taxes does not reflect the financial needs of a major urban centre like Toronto.

The new mayor is expected to inherit the strong mayor powers that the Doug Ford government gave to the municipal leaders of Toronto and Ottawa, including the authority to hire senior staff, present budgets and pass bylaws with the support of just one-third of councillors.

Tory was able to stickhandle his first budget under strong mayor powers smoothly through council this week without resorting to a controversial new veto.

aartuso@postmedia.com