Mayor of Toronto facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Mayor of Toronto
Municipal logo
Incumbent Olivia Chow since July 12, 2023
City of Toronto Office of the Mayor
Style	His/Her Worship Mayor (informal)
Member of	Toronto City Council
Seat	Toronto City Hall
Appointer	Direct election
Term length	4 years; renewable
Constituting instrument	City of Toronto Act
Inaugural holder	William Lyon Mackenzie (historic) Mel Lastman (post-amalgamation)
Formation	March 6, 1834 (historic) December 1, 1998 (current)
Deputy	Deputy Mayor
Salary	CA$202,948.20

The Mayor of Toronto is the main leader of the city of Toronto. This person is in charge of the Toronto City Council and acts as the chief executive officer for the city's government.

The mayor is chosen by the people of Toronto in an election. These elections happen every four years, on the fourth Monday of October. There is no limit to how many times someone can be elected mayor. While in office, mayors are formally called His/Her Worship.

Olivia Chow is the current and 66th mayor of Toronto. She started her term on July 12, 2023. She won the by-election that year.

What Does the Mayor Do?

The mayor's job and powers are explained in a law called the City of Toronto Act. This law was first created in 1997 and updated in 2006. It says the mayor leads the city council and is the chief executive officer of the City of Toronto.

In September 2022, new laws were passed by the province. These were the Strong Mayors, Building More Homes Act, 2022 and the Better Municipal Governance Act, 2022. These laws gave the mayor more power to make decisions.

Leading City Council Meetings

As the head of the council, the mayor makes sure meetings run smoothly. This job is often done by the speaker of Toronto City Council. However, the mayor can still take over and lead the meetings at any time.

The mayor can also add new topics directly to the city council's agenda. This means they don't have to go through a committee first. The mayor is also automatically a member of all council committees. They lead important committees like the Executive Committee. The mayor also chooses who will lead other city committees and who will be the deputy mayor.

The mayor is also responsible for declaring a state of emergency in the city. This happens during big events like natural disasters.

Mayor's Powers: Then and Now

Before the Strong Mayors Act, Toronto had a "weak-mayor" system. This meant that most power was held by the entire City Council. The mayor had to work with others to get things done.

The Strong Mayors Act changed this system. It made Toronto's government more like a "strong-mayor" system. This new system gives the mayor more power to manage the city.

Mayor's Role in City Operations

The Strong Mayors Act gave the mayor more control over how City Council committees work. Much of the council's work happens in these committees. The mayor can now create or close committees. They also appoint the leaders (chairs and vice-chairs) of these committees.

The mayor can also tell city staff to write reports or develop new policies. This helps the city council make decisions. The mayor is also responsible for how the city government is organized. This includes creating or closing city departments. They can also hire or fire top staff, like the city manager.

Managing the City Budget

Another key job for the mayor is creating the city's yearly budget. This budget shows how the city will spend its money. Before, the city council had more control over the budget. Now, the mayor drafts the budget. The mayor then presents it to the council. The council can approve the budget or suggest changes.

Working with Provincial Priorities

Some of the mayor's new powers are meant to help with "provincial priorities." These are goals set by the province of Ontario. For example, the mayor can add items to the council's agenda to help with a provincial priority.

The mayor also has a veto power. This means they can stop a decision made by the city council. This can happen if the decision doesn't match a provincial priority. However, the council can overrule the mayor's veto. They need a two-thirds majority vote to do this.

The Better Municipal Governance Act expanded this power even more. It allows the mayor to pass a new city rule (by-law) to advance a provincial priority. This can happen with the support of only one-third of the council members. The provincial government decides what these priorities are.

Deputy Mayor

The mayor can choose city councillors to be deputy mayors. These deputy mayors can help the mayor with their duties. Some have specific legal powers, while others have more honorary roles.

Portrait	Deputy mayor	Term began	Area represented/policy role	Constituency as councillor
	Ausma Malik	August 10, 2023	Statutory deputy mayor; Toronto and East York	Ward 10 Spadina—Fort York
	Jennifer McKelvie	August 10, 2023	Non-statutory; Scarborough	Ward 25 Scarborough—Rouge Park
	Michael Colle	August 10, 2023	Non-statutory; North York	Ward 8 Eglinton—Lawrence
	Amber Morley	August 10, 2023	Non-statutory; Etobicoke	Ward 3 Etobicoke—Lakeshore

Statutory Deputy Mayor

The first deputy mayor has specific legal duties. They are chosen by the mayor. This person helps the mayor by being the vice-chair of the executive committee. They also act as mayor when the mayor is away, sick, or if the mayor's office is empty.

When acting as mayor, the statutory deputy mayor has most of the mayor's powers. However, they do not have the special "strong-mayor" powers given by the province.

When the Mayor's Office is Empty

If the Mayor of Toronto's office becomes empty, the deputy mayor takes on some limited powers. This ensures that city business can continue. They act as the city's chief executive and represent the city. They also manage the mayor's office.

The deputy mayor does not become the "acting" or "interim" mayor. They also do not get the "strong-mayor" powers. These powers are only for the elected mayor.

Non-Statutory Deputy Mayors

In 2014, the city council created three more deputy mayor positions. These are called non-statutory deputy mayors. They are also chosen by the mayor. Their job is to advise the mayor on local issues. They also represent the mayor at different events and ceremonies.

Each deputy mayor (including the first one) represents a different part of the city. They also focus on a specific policy area. The deputy mayors and the mayor meet monthly to discuss city matters.

History of Toronto's Mayors

The way Toronto's mayors are chosen has changed over time. From 1834 to 1857, and again from 1867 to 1873, mayors were not directly elected by the public. Instead, the city council members would choose one of themselves to be mayor each year. In all other years, people voted directly for their mayor.

Before 1834, the city was led by the chairman of the General Quarter Session of Peace. This was part of the Home District Council.

The term of office for the mayor used to be one year until 1955. After that, it changed to two or three years. Since 2006, the mayor serves a four-year term.

Toronto has grown a lot over the years. The city has joined with nearby communities many times. The biggest change happened in 1998. Six different municipalities around Toronto joined together to form one large city. This new, bigger city was sometimes called the "megacity."

This change created a new mayor position for the entire city. It replaced the mayors of the smaller towns. It also ended the job of the Metro chairman. This person used to be the top political leader in the Metro government.

Most of Toronto's mayors have been men. There have been two women mayors: Barbara Hall and June Rowlands. Three Jewish mayors have also served: Nathan Phillips, Philip Givens, and Mel Lastman.

Art Eggleton served as mayor for the longest time, from 1980 to 1991. No Toronto mayor has ever been removed from office.

Mayors Since the "Megacity" Was Formed

The current City of Toronto was formed in 1998. This happened when Metropolitan Toronto and its smaller parts joined together. Here is a list of the mayors who have served since then:

No.	Photo	Mayor	Terms of office	Took office	Left office	Statutory Deputy Mayor
62		Lastman, MelMel Lastman	2	January 1, 1998	November 30, 2003	Case Ootes
63		Miller, DavidDavid Miller	2	December 1, 2003	November 30, 2010	Joe Pantalone
64		Ford, RobRob Ford	1	December 1, 2010	November 30, 2014	Doug Holyday (2010–2013) Norm Kelly (2013–2014)
65		Tory, JohnJohn Tory	3	December 1, 2014	February 17, 2023	Denzil Minnan-Wong (2014–2022) Jennifer McKelvie (2022–2023)
Office vacant February 17 – July 12, 2023
66		Olivia Chow	1	July 12, 2023	—	Jennifer McKelvie (2023) Ausma Malik (2023—present)

See also

• Toronto City Council