49-412: The Toronto City Hall , or New City Hall , is the seat of the municipal government of Toronto , Ontario , Canada, and one of the city's most distinctive landmarks. Designed by Viljo Revell and engineered by Hannskarl Bandel , the building opened in 1965. The building is located adjacent to Nathan Phillips Square , a public square at the northwest intersection of Bay Street and Queen Street , that
98-504: A design. Presented in November 1955, their design proposed a conservative, symmetrical limestone-clad building in the Modernist style facing a landscaped square. Unlike the design that would ultimately be built, it retained the stone Beaux-Arts Registry Office on the western part of the site and also included a landscaped public space in front of it. The podium of the new city hall was to house
147-638: 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
196-510: A new civic building. The location of City Hall itself was also the site of the 1917 Land Registry Office. It was designed in the Roman Classical style and was itself intended as part of a prior urban renewal plan for the area. It was demolished in 1964. The south side of Queen Street opposite City Hall was considered a 'commercial slum' and in August 1964, Toronto City Council voted to expropriate
245-554: A report to city council recommended a new city hall and square in the block bounded by Queen Street West , Bay Street , and Chestnut Street. The recommendation was rejected by the electorate in a referendum on New Year's Day in 1947. However, in October 1952, a panel of citizens appointed by city council made the same recommendation. In 1954, leaders selected a partnership of three of Toronto's largest architectural firms: Marani and Morris, Mathers and Haldenby, and Shore and Moffat , to create
294-632: 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
343-470: 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
392-522: 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
441-595: The University of Toronto Faculty of Architecture co-authored a letter condemning the proposal and calling for an international competition. The whole $ 18 million proposal was scrapped when voters rejected it in a December 1955 referendum . The parti was adapted by the architects and built as the Imperial Oil Building on St. Clair Avenue West. Led by Mayor Nathan Phillips , the Toronto city council decided in 1956 to hold an international competition to choose
490-408: The $ 18 million budget set by the city. Revell received a $ 25,000 prize plus an estimated $ 1 million in fees to supervise construction. He complained that not enough credit was given to his design collaborators, Heikki Castren , Bengt Lundsten , and Seppo Valjus , and asked that all names be listed as the architects. Revell died in 1964 before the project was finished. Construction began in 1961, and
539-525: The City of Toronto) is 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
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#1732845271619588-650: 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
637-437: 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
686-408: 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
735-557: 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
784-477: 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
833-452: 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
882-446: 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
931-470: The annual Doors Open Toronto event. Access to the floor is via two sets of stairs as elevators end at 25th floor. The building also includes a branch of the Toronto Public Library , although it has been reduced in size since its opening. The city council chambers is a semi-circular room located on the second floor supported on a single massive column below. On the main level of the chambers are
980-410: The building was completed four years later. The time capsule for City Hall was placed in a large ceremony on November 7, 1962 and Governor General Georges Vanier officially opened the new structure September 13, 1965. The area of Toronto City Hall and the civic square was formerly the location of Toronto's first Chinatown , which was expropriated and bulldozed during the mid-1950s in preparation for
1029-576: 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. Bengt Lundsten Bengt Harald Lundsten , (born 26 February 1928), is a Finnish architect and professor. Lundsten was born in Turku on 26 February 1928. He graduated in 1954 from Helsinki University of Technology in Helsinki . He
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#17328452716191078-456: 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
1127-584: The competition. The square's reflecting pool and concrete arches, fountain, and overhead walkways were thus also part of Revell's submission. It has since seen several monuments, sculptures, and other works of public art added, and was renovated, but it continues to complement the city hall with its original Modernist design elements. The public square is one of the main hosts of different festivals and events in Toronto. New Year's celebrations are held there every year which include fireworks and musical performances. The annual Cavalcade of Lights Festival decorates
1176-496: The council chambers, and was given columns to complement the eight columns of the Registry Building, with which it was aligned across the new public space in front of it. The scheme was panned by leading architects, including Frank Lloyd Wright (who called it a "sterilization" and "a cliché already dated") and Walter Gropius (who deemed it a "very poor pseudo-modern design unworthy of the city of Toronto"), and all classes of
1225-406: 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
1274-408: The councillors is the public seating gallery which accommodates 250 in tiered rows. Adjacent to City Council chambers are two committee rooms, as well as the offices of the mayor and city councillors. Two sets of elevators provide access to the floors below (ground floor and to the parking garage below). The design for the public space in front of the new city hall, Nathan Phillips Square, was part of
1323-399: The east of the square is Old City Hall which currently serves as a courthouse . From the air, the building is seen as a giant unblinking eye, thus the building's original nickname of "The Eye of Government". When finished, the building generated widespread controversy among many who felt that it was "too futuristic" for the city. In Arthur's 1964 book, Toronto, No Mean City , he praised
1372-463: The fabric as a result of differences in air pressure on the two sides of each wing-like tower during the high winds characteristic of the Great Lakes . The north, west, and east elevations are more abstract and sculptural in contrast with the extensive glazing of south elevation facing the square; each presents a view of concave panels of concrete textured with split-faced strips of Botticino marble . To
1421-531: The left. In front of the Speaker is the horseshoe shaped desk for the City Clerk and Clerk staff. The mayor , is seated amongst councillors in the first row to the Speaker's right. A removable podium is located to the right of the Speaker for guest speakers. The room is covered by a shallow dome resting on 23 pairs of v-shaped supports that rise from the base. The space behind the supports is filled with glass. Behind
1470-712: 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
1519-413: 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
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1568-416: The new City Hall, writing: "Taller buildings will be built before the end of the century here and elsewhere in North America, but there will be no comparable or no more renowned city hall." The building also includes observation decks. The East Tower Observation on the 27th floor is closed to the public, although access to the observation deck, and other areas in the building complex, have been provided during
1617-594: The new design under terms created by the International Union of Architects . This caused some controversy as some felt the work should be done by a Canadian. Phillips assembled a five-person panel of judges from some of the world's greatest architecture experts with Eric Arthur serving as advisor. By the deadline of April 18, 1958, the committee received over 500 designs from 42 countries from which it selected eight semi-finalists. In September 1958, three judges selected Viljo Revell 's design, though it almost missed
1666-530: 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
1715-419: 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
1764-473: The premier of Ontario. In 1990, Hester How Daycare Centre was opened in the building, and named after a Toronto teacher Hester How , who helped turn around delinquent boys in the second half of the 19th Century. City Hall was designated as a property of historical and architectural significance under the Ontario Heritage Act in 1991. Minor upgrades by Toronto architect Bruce Kuwabara to connect
1813-401: 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
1862-465: The seats for the 25 members of council, arranged in a semi-circle. In front of the councillors is the podium and seat for the Speaker of Toronto City Council (or Deputy Speaker when Speaker is not present). Flanking the Speaker are two long tables for Commissioners (i.e., department heads); City Manager, Deputy City Manager, City Solicitor and Chief Financial Officer are seated to the right and City Staff on
1911-411: The short list. Eero Saarinen , as member of the panel of five judges, arrived a day and half late and chose Revell's design from the other judges' list of entrants that could summarily be rejected. He convinced two other judges on the panel that Revell's unique design should be the winner. One of the two dissenting judges was William Graham Holford , who was skeptical that the design could be built within
1960-450: 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
2009-569: The south side for development appropriate to the new civic square. The businesses on that side of the street included two burlesque theatres, pawn shops and a cinema. The south side was vacant at the time of the City Hall opening but was eventually occupied by a new hotel, connected by a bridge over Queen Street to the square. To the west of the new City Hall, the University Avenue Armouries at University Avenue just north of Osgoode Hall
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2058-596: The square from the end of November until the end of December. Even as early as 1969, the building appeared as a futuristic alien building in a Star Trek comic; it was later seen in the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode " Contagion " (Season 2, episode 11, March 20, 1989) as one of the possible destinations of an alien portal. The 2010 film Red featured Toronto City Hall and various other city locations. Municipal government of Toronto The municipal government of Toronto ( incorporated as
2107-482: The two towers and upgrade council chambers from 1997 to 1998. A green roof was added late 2009 and opened to over 10,000 visitors on Doors Open Toronto weekend in May 2010. The site now contains largest publicly accessible green roof in the city. While the building's base is rectangular, its two towers are curved in cross-section and rise to differing heights. The east tower is 27 storeys (99.5 metres (326 ft)) tall and
2156-501: 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 ,
2205-408: The west tower is 20 storeys (79.4 metres (260 ft)). Between the towers is the saucer-like council chamber, and the overall arrangement is somewhat like two hands cradling the chamber. The outer surfaces of the curve are covered with concrete bearing a rib pattern that provides strength and prevents collapse of the fabric as a result of the expansion of the exterior surfaces, and the tearing apart of
2254-574: 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
2303-446: 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
2352-408: Was bought from the Government of Canada for CA$ 2 million to make way for a new court building, also as part of the new civic square project. The building was officially opened to the public on September 13, 1965, by Georges Vanier , the governor general of Canada. The opening ceremony was attended by 14,000 dignitaries, including Lester B. Pearson , the prime minister of Canada, and John Robarts ,
2401-539: Was designed and officially opened alongside Toronto City Hall. Toronto City Hall replaced the neighbouring Old City Hall , which was occupied by the municipal government since 1899 and continues to house municipal offices and courts. The building also served as the seat for the Metropolitan Toronto regional government from 1965 to 1992. City leaders had been looking to build a more modern city hall to house its growing municipal government since at least 1943, when
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