Toronto's Mayoral Administrations: Miller and Ford

• Toronto is facing challenges, appearing unable to resolve its issues.
• The city's urban politics are dysfunctional.

Toronto's Restructuring

• Toronto has undergone significant restructuring impacting services like housing, transportation, and education.
• Economic globalization and structural shifts in the economy play a role.
• The amalgamation of Metro Toronto and its six municipalities in 1998 aimed to create a monocentric government with new policies.
• Key components: lower taxes, reliance on free market processes, dismantling the welfare state, and embracing new public management policies.
• The census metropolitan area has a population of 5.9 million.

Diversity

• There's an insatiable need for economic resources to meet diverse ethnic groups' needs.
• Canada has over 250 ethnic groups, with Toronto having about 200.
• Many immigrants settle in the downtown core and inner and outer suburbs.

Immigrant Enclaves

• Immigrants live in enclaves to share culture and systems, reduce living costs, and connect with similar backgrounds and languages.
• Essential services, basic needs, and networking opportunities are more readily available.
• Informal loans and support networks exist within these communities.
• Some immigrants live in poverty, concentrated in underserviced inner suburbs.

Economic Restructuring

• The GTA has experienced a shift from manufacturing to a service orientation.
• Globalization is a process where governments and individuals do not have control
• Manufacturing activities have decreased, resulting in job losses.
• Service-based employment (business, consumer, and public sectors) constitutes about 70% of regional employment and 97% of employment growth.

Mike Harris Administration

• Recommendations from the Greater Toronto Task Force (GTTF) were ignored in favor of imposing amalgamation on Metro Toronto's six municipalities in 1998.
• Before amalgamation, Toronto had a city manager appointed by the city council, with 41 divisions reporting to 3 deputy managers.
• Before Amalgamation there was a city council with 47 members and 122 agencies, boards, commissions and corporations.
• Post amalgamation, the provincial government passed the Fewer Municipal Politicians Act, reducing the city council to 45 members.
• They set up 6 community councils, later reduced to 4.
• Services (housing, water, sewage, roads, mental health, homeless shelters) were transferred from the government to municipalities without matching revenue.
• The formal administrative city includes a city manager appointed by the city council, with over 41 divisions reporting to 3 deputy managers.
• Amalgamation enabled Premier Harris' conservative policies by creating a large, financially viable local government to manage devolved responsibilities.
• Reformist city councilors resisted amalgamation.
• The Citizens for Local Democracy (C4LD) campaign, led by former Toronto mayor John Sewell, opposed forced amalgamation.
• In 2015, many individuals were on the waiting list for accommodation.
• Amalgamation disconnected citizens from their local government, especially compared to the connection that it existed before.
• The conservative government stopped funding future affordable housing investments by removing targets in the provincial Policy Statement which cancelled 17,000 affordable housing projects.
• There was greater emphasis on Landlord and Tenant Act.
• Landlords had increased flexibility to evict tenants who didn't pay and there was an option to renovate and raise the price.

Melvin Douglas Lastman's Administration (1998-2003)

• Lastman promised a property tax freeze, achieving it in 2000 but increasing taxes by 5% the next year.
• He oversaw the development of bike lanes, a homelessness strategy, and citizen advisory committees.
• His mayorship was characterized by backroom politics and corruption.
• He abandoned the tradition of local democracy to secure financial aid from the province for amalgamation costs.
• He constructed Sheppard subway line and had a know-how to sell.
• SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) in Toronto affected local businesses because people didn't come to Toronto.

David Raymond Miller's Administration (2003-2010)

• Miller promised to reduce corruption, enhance citizen influence, prevent airport expansion, and invest in a world-class city.
• His first term aimed to combat backroom politics and address amalgamation challenges.
• At Miller's request, the province passed the new City of Toronto Act in 2006.
• The Act granted the city power to tax alcohol and tobacco consumption, reducing health problems and increasing revenue.
• In his second term, using the City of Toronto Act, Miller passed a vehicle registration and land transfer tax.
• Annual revenues: CA$48 million and the land transfer generated between CA$300 to CA$354 million to the city.
• During his terms there were garbage issues.
• Solutions like the possibility to ship waste to Michigan didn't work
• Finding landfills is a struggle because conserve health.

Second Term of Office

• Services Miller initiated include 13 priority neighborhoods and a priority Neighborhoods Strategy.
• Other initiatives includes the Suburban Light Rail Transit named Transit City.
• He also worked towards affordable housing revitalization, Tower Renewal, neighborhood revitalization, and the Strong Neighborhoods Task Force (SNTF).
• Other initiatives include action on climate change and introducing green buildings as a solution.
• He faced extended garbage strikes, making him unpopular due to environmental background.

Rob Bruce Ford's Administration (2010-2014)

• Ford used a populist, governance style that often created enemies and opposition.
• He was a businessman, conservative and pro market guy.
• He was elected into council in 2000 and he was the 64th mayor
• Ford ran a campaign to "end the war on cars" (opposing bike lanes and light rail transit) and "stop the gravy train" of city spending.
• Ford viewed citizens as taxpayers and government as a business.
• In contrast to Miller and Lastman, Ford could not compromise with his opposition due to his populist approach.
• He successfully contracted-out garbage collection in half the city.
• Ford removed bike lanes and many citizen advisory committees and eliminated the vehicle registration tax, but failed to abolish the land transfer tax.
• A video of Ford smoking crack cocaine led the council to strip him of many mayoral powers.
• Later, he sought treatment for alcohol and drug abuse.
• The city removed him from budget committees and mayoral agendas.
• Ford was diagnosed with cancer and died shortly.

Mayor John Howard Tory's Administration (2014-2020)

• Tory aimed to restore dignity to City Hall after controversies with the previous mayor.
• He aimed to reduce traffic congestion, construct light train systems and SmartTrack, increase housing affordability, reduce growing inequality, improve poor infrastructure.
• He also wanted to work on Gardiner express road which was falling apart.
• John Tory was elected Toronto's mayor on October 27, 2014.
• A council debated to dismantle a part and another part would be restored instead of Gardiner express road restoration
• The SmartTrack system is a 22-stop, 53 km rapid transit plan (CA$8 billion estimated cost).
• Uber services were started to be regulated and racing started.
• The city had TTC fare hikes and During his era there were problems
• He also had an affair so he quit

Components of a Strategic Action Plan

• Infrastructure for a Successful City is designed to mesh into the provincial plan, and ensure community and individual well-being.
• Toronto's waterfront redevelopment is symbolic of a global city.
• Mayor Tory opposed completely tearing down the Gardiner expressway.
• Increase Employment Opportunities, improve the strategic alignment of the Workforce Development Strategy, Toronto Strong Neighborhoods Strategy, and facilitate workforce development.
• The official and the economic growth plan plan emphasize the diversity of employment.
• There are policies to create a business climate to encourage growth, create jobs, and improve city finances. Boosterism stimulates employment, revenue generation.
• Creative Capital Gains aimed to create a more vibrant cultural sector.
• Supporting programs and services to ensure affordable, sustainable, and diverse spaces and access to cultural participation for all.
• Transportation plan and policies refining transportation policies for walking, cycling, transit, and goods movement.
• Providing input to the Metrolinx Investment Strategy for transportation priorities.
• Housing development growing in terms of residential and non-residential developments.
• The majority of developments are occurring in areas designated for growth (88%).
• Implement and renew "Housing Opportunities in Toronto" to assist residents to access a range of affordable sources.
• Protecting the city's rental housing stock.
• Environmental Sustainability through parks, green spaces, and street trees that contribute to the quality of human life.
• Growth management and alternative energy forms have helped to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Explore key initiatives and challenges faced by Toronto under Mayors Miller and Ford. The quiz covers topics such as city expansion, environmental concerns, urban renewal, spending approaches, and transportation initiatives during their tenures, while contrasting their leadership styles.