How is Toronto the day after another political bombshell in the mayor’s office?
It depends who you ask.
Some Torontonians who spoke to CBC Toronto’s field staff expressed disappointment that Mayor John Tory, who just entered his third term last October, is stepping down after a relationship with a former staffer – a revelation about which was first reported was reported in the Toronto Star on Friday night. Others expressed hope that a better leader would take his place.
But they all shared one feeling: shock.
“We don’t need that now,” said Marla Hanson.
“There’s just so much going on in the city … like our homelessness problem, our infrastructure problems, all the construction clutter and how difficult it is to get around the city. Everything [of] those things just get thrown up in the air.”
Ivy Chan said on hearing the announcement on Friday night she was “surprised” to see Tory step down.
“We like him,” Chan said, noting that Tory has worked for the city for years.
“He’s done a lot of things… good things for the city of Toronto.”
Tory first became mayor in 2014 during the turbulent period following Rob Ford’s tenure and seemed focused on instilling a sense of stability in the city.
However, Tory is leaving his post amid mounting criticism of Toronto State under his leadership. His opponents spent the period leading up to the October 2022 local elections attacking Tory over the city’s high housing costs, aging infrastructure, overflowing bins and more.
Last week, Tory came under further scrutiny for opting not to open more 24-7 heat centers for people without homes.
Some Torontonians are hoping Tory’s departure will prompt changes at City Hall.
Aisha Philippe and Yehjen Cha, political science students at the University of Toronto, say they welcomed the news, while it was shocking.
“We were pretty excited and we took it as pretty good news because we were talking about how he was already failing the city,” Cha said, noting many people of her generation felt the same way.
“Of course we’re worried about the city, but I think … we were just looking forward to a change.”
Philippe said she hopes this will help take the city in a new direction.
“I think the results of the last election were disappointing about how unanimously John Tory voted [voters] were…obviously it’s like holding up the city government in a really uncomfortable way, but I hope it gives us something that will actually move the city forward,” said Philippe.
“I was wondering… OK, John Tory is resigning because of an affair. What else are we going to find out?”
Torontonians “tired” of voting “again and again”.
Maya Churliov said she hopes Toronto’s next mayor will push for change.
“I never thought it would come from the mayor, but I have to say I respect the fact that he voluntarily chose to leave,” Churliov said.
“Hopefully the next person has it a little better together.”
Now, as Toronto residents prepare to go to the polls again this year, Shubam Mohan said he expects many residents to be frustrated with the upcoming by-election.
“People [are] They’re just tired of voting and they’re just looking for responsible people to take office so we don’t have to have elections all the time,” Mohan said.
