47-585: The North York Civic Centre is a municipal government building in Toronto , Ontario , Canada. It opened in 1979 as the city hall of the former city of North York . It is located in North York City Centre . Designed by Adamson Associates Architects, the building is located on Yonge Street north of Sheppard Avenue , and features Mel Lastman Square along the Yonge Street frontage. The construction of
94-454: A conflict of interest trial in 2012, and was ordered to vacate his position; but the ruling was stayed pending an appeal, which Ford won to remain in office. Due to his substance abuse admission and controversy in 2013 , Council stripped him of many powers on November 15, transferring them to the deputy mayor. From May until July 2014, Ford took a leave of absence from the mayoralty to enter drug rehabilitation . The current City of Toronto
141-501: A city council decision if it is not consistent with a provincial priority, however, council can override the mayor's veto with a two-thirds majority vote . The Better Municipal Governance Act , which was passed shortly after the Strong Mayors Act further expands this power, allowing the mayor to pass a by-law for the purpose of advancing a provincial priority with one-third support on council. The provincial priorities are set by
188-638: A four-year term was adopted starting in 2006. (See List of Toronto municipal elections .) To finance operations, the municipality levied property taxes. In 1850, Toronto also started levying income taxes. Toronto levied personal income taxes until 1936, and corporate income taxes until 1944. Until 1914, Toronto grew by annexing neighbouring municipalities such as Parkdale and Seaton Village . After 1914, Toronto stopped annexing bordering municipalities, although some municipalities overwhelmed by growth requested it. After World War II, an extensive group of suburban villages and townships surrounded Toronto. Change to
235-613: A mayor was appointed by council to fill an unexpired term of office. Prior to 1834, Toronto municipal leadership was governed by the chairman of the General Quarter Session of Peace of the Home District Council . Through 1955 the term of office for the mayor and council was one year; it then varied between two and three years until a four-year term was adopted starting in 2006. (See List of Toronto municipal elections .) The City of Toronto has changed substantially over
282-703: A number of local municipal departments and services. Opposite the Civic Centre is the North York Central Library branch of the Toronto Public Library . The Civic Centre is served by the Toronto Transit Commission 's North York Centre subway station (opened in 1987). Municipal government of Toronto The municipal government of Toronto ( incorporated as the City of Toronto) is
329-432: A whole. In order to advance policy objectives, the mayor had to act as a consensus builder. The Strong Mayors Act shifted Toronto's government structure into one which resembles a " strong-mayor " system, assigning several administrative powers to the mayor which were previously held by City Council or an officer of the city. The Strong Mayors Act expands the mayor's role in managing City Council's committee system and
376-632: Is CA$ 40.67 billion . Under the City of Toronto Act , the Toronto government cannot run a deficit for its annual operating budget . The city's revenues include 33% from property tax, 6% from the land transfer tax, subsidies from the Canadian federal government and the Ontario provincial government , and the rest from other revenues and user fees. The council has set the limit of debt charges not to exceed 15% of
423-406: Is also responsible for determining the organizational structure of the city. This includes the ability to create or dissolve city divisions, and appoint or terminate executive staff such as the city manager (who is the chief administrative officer) and the heads of city divisions. Developing the annual budget of the City of Toronto is another key function of the mayor. Previously, the power to set
470-401: Is appointed to the role by the mayor, and assists him/her as vice-chair of the executive committee and acts as mayor when the mayor is away, ill or the office of the mayor is vacant. The deputy mayor has all the rights, power and authority of the mayor, save and except the "by-right-of-office powers" of the mayor as a member of a community council. When the office of Mayor of Toronto is vacant,
517-452: Is the longest-serving mayor of Toronto, serving from 1980 until 1991. Eggleton later served in federal politics from 1993 until 2004, and was appointed to the Senate of Canada in 2005. David Breakenridge Read held the post of mayor of Toronto for the shortest period. Read was mayor for only fifty days in 1858. No Toronto mayor has been removed from office. Toronto's 64th mayor, Rob Ford , lost
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#1732844158373564-477: The Better Municipal Governance Act , the Strong Mayors Act and through regulation. While city by-law allows the mayor to add items directly to council's agenda, this power is expanded by the Strong Mayors Act , which asserts that the mayor can do so to advance a provincial priority, irrespective of council's procedural by-law. The mayor is also granted a veto , which would allow an override of
611-454: The City of Toronto . In September 2022, the province passed legislation known as the Strong Mayors, Building More Homes Act, 2022 , followed by the Better Municipal Governance Act, 2022 , both of which expanded the executive power of the mayor. As head of council, the mayor is responsible for ensuring business is carried out efficiently during council meetings. This has been delegated to
658-470: The City of Toronto Act, 1996 , which spelled the demise of the Metro Toronto federation. During 1997, the municipalities of Metro were placed under provincial trusteeship. On January 1, 1998, Metro and its constituent municipalities were dissolved, replaced by the single-tier "megacity" of Toronto, which is the successor of the previous City of Toronto. Mel Lastman , the long-time mayor of North York before
705-475: The Executive Council of Ontario (provincial cabinet), through issuing regulations. City councillors may be appointed by the mayor to exercise statutory powers assigned to the mayor, or on an honorary basis. The first deputy mayor performs the statutory roles and functions assigned to the "deputy mayor" as defined in various chapters of the municipal code. The first deputy mayor is a member of council who
752-475: The Ontario Legislature , such as the City of Toronto Act , Municipal Elections Act , Planning Act , and others. The City of Toronto Act lays down the division of powers, responsibilities and required duties of the corporation. It provides that if the City appoints a chief administrative officer (the city manager), then that person shall be responsible for the administrative management and operation of
799-500: The local government responsible for administering the city of Toronto in the Canadian province of Ontario . Its structure and powers are set out in the City of Toronto Act . The powers of the City of Toronto are exercised by its legislative body , known as Toronto City Council , which is composed of 25 members and the mayor. The council passes municipal legislation (called by-laws ), approves spending, and has direct responsibility for
846-551: The speaker of Toronto City Council , however, the mayor retains the ability to take over as chair during council meetings. Items can be added by the mayor directly to city council's agenda without going through a committee. Additionally, the mayor also holds ex officio membership on all council committees, chairs the Executive Committee, Striking Committee and the Civic Appointments Committee. The mayor has
893-749: The " megacity ") by an act of the provincial government. The newly created position of mayor for the resulting single-tier mega-city replaced all of the mayors of the former Metro municipalities. It also abolished the office of the Metro chairman , which had formerly been the most senior political figure in the Metro government before amalgamation. Fourteen out of the first 29 mayors were lawyers, and 58 of Toronto's 64 mayors (up to Ford) have been Protestant, white, English-speaking, Anglo-Saxon, property-owning males. There have been two women (Hall and Rowlands) and three Jewish mayors (Phillips, Givens and Lastman). Art Eggleton
940-650: The City of Toronto. The council is the only power able to enact Toronto laws, known as by-laws, which govern the actions of the corporation and/or matters within its jurisdiction, such as administration of the Canadian Criminal Code within its borders. It also forms several committees, including the Board of Health and "Community Councils", which hear matters relating to narrower, district issues, such as building permits and developments requiring changes to zoning by-laws. Community Council decisions, as well as those of
987-437: The City of Toronto. While the city manager and public service are ultimately accountable to the council, the council may not give specific direction to public servants, and members of the council do not manage the day-to-day operations of the city. The following senior staff report to the city manager: City officials reporting directly to the council: The following officials report to the council for statutory purposes, but to
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#17328441583731034-408: The City. The Toronto Public Service By-law (TPS By-law), Chapter 192 of Toronto's municipal code, further strengthens the separation of the administrative components (the public service) and the political components (mayor and council) of the City of Toronto. In general, the council determines the services provided to residents and develops programs and policies, while the public service implements
1081-503: The Ontario courts of the act's constitutionality. Its constitutionality was upheld and the reduced number of councillors was elected. In 2022, the Ford government passed the Strong Mayors, Building Homes Act , which redefined the powers of the mayor of Toronto. Under the act, the mayor could overrule a motion of City Council that had less than a 66 percent plurality. Ostensibly introduced to allow
1128-477: The Ontario government of Doug Ford passed the Better Local Government Act , which redefined the number and representation of Toronto City Council. The number of councillors was reduced to 25, and council districts were defined that matched provincial electoral districts. The passage took place during the ongoing election campaign and spurred a number of lawsuits by potential candidates and a referral to
1175-452: The Toronto tax base was now available to support the suburban growth. The new regional government built highways, water systems and public transit, while the thirteen townships, villages, towns, and cities continued to provide some local services to their residents. To manage the yearly upkeep of the new infrastructure, the new regional government levied its own property tax, collected by the local municipalities. On January 1, 1967, several of
1222-446: The amalgamation, became the first mayor (62nd overall) of the new megacity. Existing by-laws of the individual municipalities were retained until new citywide by-laws could be written and enacted. New citywide by-laws have since been enacted, although many of the individual differences were continued, applying only to the districts where the by-laws applied, such as winter sidewalk clearing and garbage pickup. The existing city halls of
1269-493: The budget was a function of city council, which was assigned to the Budget Committee, allowing the mayor to exercise significant influence on the budget process. The power to draft the annual city budget is now assigned to the mayor. The mayor proposes the budget to council, which can adopt it or propose amendments. Certain powers of the mayor can only be exercised in order to "advance provincial priorities", as outlined in
1316-500: The building was intended to act as a catalyst for the development of the "North York City Centre", a downtown area for the formerly suburban North York. The building received The Governor General's Medal for Architecture in 1982. With municipal amalgamation, North York is now part of the City of Toronto , and the building no longer serves as a city hall. Today, the building is home to the North York Community Council and
1363-441: The city council through the city manager), agencies (responsible through their relevant boards), and corporations (municipally owned through the city council) administer programs and services as directed by the city council. Mayor of Toronto The mayor of Toronto is the head of Toronto City Council and chief executive officer of the municipal government . The mayor is elected alongside city council every four years on
1410-456: The city manager for administrative purposes: The City of Toronto represents the fifth-largest municipal government in North America. It has two budgets: the operating budget, which is the cost of operating programs, services, and the cost of governing; and the capital budget, which covers the cost of building and the upkeep of infrastructure. The City's capital budget and plan for 2019–2028
1457-456: The council's decisions. The council is the legislative body of the City of Toronto. It is composed of 25 city councillors (each representing a ward of around 96,800 people), along with the mayor. Elections are held every four years, in October, with the mayor and councillors being elected by Canadian citizens who live or own property in Toronto. The mayor of Toronto serves as the political head of
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1504-419: The deputy mayor assume the "strong-mayor" powers, which are granted by the province to the head of council, a role which remains vacant. In 2014, city council approved the creation of three additional non-statutory deputy mayor positions. Non-statutory deputy mayors are members of council, appointed by the mayor, who advise him/her on local issues and represent him/her at events and ceremonies. Each (along with
1551-458: The deputy mayor assumes limited mayoral powers which are granted to the mayor by city council, to ensure city business can continue to be carried out. This includes acting as the city's chief executive officer, representing the city, and special privileges during council sessions. The deputy mayor also assumes responsibility for the administrative management of the mayor's office. The deputy mayor does not become "acting" or "interim" mayor, nor does
1598-537: The first deputy mayor) represent a geographic area of the city, and are responsible for a specific policy role. The deputy mayors and the mayor meet each month to discuss efforts to bring the city together. From 1834 to 1857, and again from 1867 to 1873, Toronto mayors were not elected directly by the public. Instead, after each annual election of aldermen and councilmen, the assembled council would elect one of their members as mayor. For all other years, mayors were directly elected by popular vote, except in rare cases where
1645-461: The fourth Monday of October; there are no term limits. While in office, mayors are styled His/Her Worship . Olivia Chow has served as the 66th and current mayor of Toronto since July 12, 2023, after winning the 2023 by-election . The role and powers of the mayor of Toronto are set out in the 1997 City of Toronto Act , an Ontario statute, and its update in 2006. It outlines the mayor's role as head of council and chief executive officer of
1692-712: The legal structure came in 1954, with the creation of the Municipality of Metropolitan Toronto (known more popularly as "Metro") in 1954. This new regional government, which encompassed Toronto and the smaller communities of East York , Etobicoke , Forest Hill , Leaside , Long Branch , Mimico , New Toronto , North York , Scarborough , Swansea , Weston and York , was created by the Government of Ontario to support suburban growth. This new municipality could borrow money on its own for capital projects and it received taxes from all municipalities including Toronto, which meant that
1739-413: The mayor, must be approved by the city council at regular sessions. The Toronto Public Service is responsible for providing politically neutral advice to council, and delivering services to the City's residents. As of March 2022, there were nearly 40,000 active employees. The city manager (formerly the chief administrative officer), who reports to the mayor and the council, is the administrative head of
1786-483: The overall organization of the city. Much of the work of the council is done in committees. The mayor sets out this structure by creating and dissolving committees, appoints their chairs and vice-chairs (this is a power that was delegated by council before 2022), and assigning their functions. Without the need for a motion by council, city staff can also be directed by the mayor to produce reports, develop policy and provide advice for city council to consider. The mayor
1833-530: The oversight of services delivered by the city and its agencies. The mayor of Toronto serves as the chief executive officer and head of council. The day-to-day operation of the municipal government is managed by the city manager who is a public servant and head of the Toronto Public Service – under the direction of the mayor and the council. The government employs over 38,000 public servants directly, as well as affiliated agencies. Its operating budget
1880-419: The passage of bylaws that would increase the supply of housing in Toronto, the act received considerable criticism as anti-democratic. The mayor at the time, John Tory, supported the law and pledged to continue to act by consensus. Toronto City Council is the primary decision making body defined in the City of Toronto Act . A number of divisions (core public service, or "Toronto Public Service"; responsible to
1927-500: The power to appoint the chairs of other city committees as well as the deputy mayor. With the consent of the mayor, another member of council may take the mayor's place on committees. The head of council is also responsible for declaring states of emergency in the city. Before the passage of the Strong Mayors Act , Toronto's government operated on what has been described as a "weak-mayor" system where all powers were vested in Council as
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1974-401: The property tax revenues. The city has an AA credit rating from Standard & Poor's , and an Aa1 credit rating from Moody's . Toronto's debt stood at $ 3.9 billion at the end of 2016. Capital expenditures are 39% funded from debt. The City of Toronto was incorporated in 1834, succeeding York , which was administered directly by the then-province of Upper Canada . The new city
2021-402: The smaller municipalities were amalgamated with larger ones, reducing their number to six. Forest Hill and Swansea became part of Toronto; Long Branch, Mimico, and New Toronto joined Etobicoke; Weston merged with York, and Leaside amalgamated with East York. This arrangement lasted until 1998. Although a referendum of the Metro municipalities showed broad opposition, the Ontario government passed
2068-501: The various municipalities were retained by the new corporation for various purposes. The City of York's civic centre became a court office. The existing 1965 City Hall of Toronto became the city hall of the new megacity, while Metro Hall, the "city hall" of the Metro government, is used as municipal office space. The community councils of Etobicoke–York, North York and Scarborough meet in their respective pre-existing municipal buildings. In 2018, just before that year's provincial election ,
2115-411: The years: the city annexed or amalgamated with neighbouring communities or areas 49 times from in 1883 to 1967. The most sweeping change was in 1998, when the six municipalities comprising Metropolitan Toronto — East York , Etobicoke , North York , Scarborough , York , and the former city of Toronto –and its regional government were amalgamated into a single City of Toronto (colloquially dubbed
2162-506: Was CA$ 20.53 billion in 2023, including over $ 5.1 billion for the Toronto Transit Commission and $ 4 billion on emergency service agencies, such as the Toronto Police Service , Fire Services and Paramedic Services . As the City of Toronto is constituted by, and derives its powers from, the province of Ontario, it is a "creature of the province" and is legally bound by various regulations and legislation of
2209-446: Was administered by an elected council, which served a one-year term. The first mayor, chosen by the elected councillors, was William Lyon Mackenzie . The first by-law passed was An Act for the preventing & extinguishing of Fires . The first mayor directly elected to the post was Adam Wilson , elected in 1859. Through 1955 the term of office for the mayor and the council was one year; it then varied between two and three years until
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