Jamaal Myers facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Jamaal Myers
Chair of the Toronto Transit Commission
Incumbent
Assumed office August 11, 2023
Preceded by	Jon Burnside
Toronto City Councillor for Ward 23 Scarborough North
Incumbent
Assumed office November 15, 2022
Preceded by	Cynthia Lai
Personal details
Born	Jamaal Michael Anthony Myers 1982/1983 (age 41–42) Scarborough, Ontario, Canada
Education	University of Western Ontario (BA) London School of Economics (MSc) New York University (JD)
Occupation	Politician lawyer

Jamaal Michael Anthony Myers is a Canadian politician and lawyer. He helps lead the public transportation system in Toronto, called the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC). He became the chair of the TTC on August 11, 2023. He also represents a part of Toronto, called Ward 23 Scarborough North, on the Toronto City Council. He has been a city councillor since November 15, 2022. Before becoming a politician, he worked as a lawyer for companies.

Early Life and Education

Jamaal Myers was born in 1982 or 1983 in Scarborough, a part of Toronto. His parents came from Jamaica, and he grew up in housing provided by Toronto Community Housing.

He went to the University of Western Ontario and finished his bachelor's degree in political science in 2006. He then studied at the London School of Economics in 2007, earning a master's degree in comparative politics. Later, he earned a law degree from the New York University School of Law in 2013.

Career Before Politics

Before becoming a politician, Jamaal Myers worked at TD Bank. He was promoted to a senior legal counsel position in 2020. His work there focused on ESG issues. ESG looks at how companies impact the environment, society, and how they are managed.

He also volunteered his time in the community. He was the vice-chair of the TAIBU Community Health Center. He was also a director for the Scarborough Business Association. Additionally, he volunteered with groups like HousingNowTO and Scarborough Transit Action. These groups work to improve housing and public transportation in Toronto.

Political Journey

Jamaal Myers was elected to the Toronto City Council in the 2022 Toronto municipal election. He took the place of the previous councillor, Cynthia Lai, who passed away shortly before the election. Because of her death, her votes were not counted.

Myers ran for office with several important goals. He wanted to make housing more affordable for everyone. He also aimed for easier access to healthcare services. He promised to get more funding and buses for the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC). This was especially important after the Line 3 Scarborough subway line closed. He also supported keeping the ActiveTO program, which closes some streets for walking and biking.

Many groups supported him during his election campaign. These included the Toronto Star newspaper, the Toronto & York Region Labour Council, and Progress Toronto.

When he started his first term on the council, Myers joined other councillors in speaking out against a new law. This law, called the Better Municipal Governance Act, 2022, would give the mayors of Toronto and Ottawa more power. It would allow them to pass local laws with support from only one-third of the city council. Many people found this law controversial.

On August 11, 2023, Mayor Olivia Chow chose Jamaal Myers to be the chair of the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) Board. This means he helps lead the public transportation system for the city.

Election Results

Here are the results from the election where Jamaal Myers was chosen to represent Ward 23 Scarborough North: