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The John Tory Timeline

October 27, 2014: Election night jitters 

John Tory’s election win over Doug Ford seems convincing enough, a 60,000-vote margin. The city breathes a sigh of relief. But it’s possible that T.O. is more divided than ever. The line drawn in this contest isn’t city versus suburbs but a more daunting one: haves versus have-nots.

November 27, 2014: A pre-emptive strike 

Four days before his swearing-in, Tory summons the media to the 15th floor of City Hall’s east tower for a “state of the city” address that is widely read as an attempt to dampen budget expectations. He tells reporters the city’s finances are worse than he’d thought but gives no hint that he’s about to break his campaign promise not to raise TTC fares.

November 28, 2014: Question of integrity 

Tory recuses himself from the Island airport expansion debate, declaring his son’s business interest in a commercial carrier that operates out of Billy Bishop a potential conflict. He makes this announcement in a Friday-afternoon press release – the timing used when politicians want to minimize media attention. But questions about his indirect influence on the Island airport expansion file linger. Both his chief of staff and principal secretary are former employees of the lobby group pushing expansion. 

December 2, 2014: A different kind of oath 

Tory’s inaugural speech at his swearing-in proves less than cathartic. There will be no housecleaning to satisfy those looking to exorcise Rob Ford’s regime. Instead, many of the folks who held key positions in that administration are brought into Tory’s fold. His choice of Frances Nunziata as speaker particularly rankles. Maria Augimeri briefly considers challenging that appointment but tearfully pulls the plug at the last minute after pressure is reportedly brought to bear by the mayor’s office on councillors planning to support her.

December 15, 2014: Cop-out on carding 

Tory sits in on his first meeting of the Police Services Board, where he calls the police practice of carding “corrosive.” The board, however, reaffirms its commitment to the principles of the policy, setting certain limits on when officers can question people and document non-crime-related interactions with the public.

December 22, 2014: Lowering the bar on the vision thing 

In a year-end interview with NOW, the mayor explains his early 74 per cent approval rating by contrasting his performance with his predecessor’s: “Professional, sensible, stable leadership for the city. And that’s what’s been most welcome by the people, more so than any particular initiative we’ve undertaken.” 

January 6, 2015: No shelter from the storm 

Tory orders the opening of warming centres after two homeless men die outdoors. A week later, with facilities overflowing during the extreme cold spell, he instructs city staff to find more shelter spaces but is vague about how they’re supposed to do that. 

January 20, 2015: Police budget gap 

Tory offers a glimpse of his first budget, which includes investments in public transit and $21 million in anti-poverty initiatives. But it makes a number of risky assumptions, including an $86 million doozy – money it won’t be getting from the province to partially reverse a $150 million cut in housing grants. Another big assumption that’s hardly noticed: a zero net increase for the police budget, even though ongoing contract negotiations are likely to add some $30 million to that bottom line. 

January 22, 2015: SmartTrack goes off Mount Dennis 

Tory’s signature campaign plan to crisscross the city with above-ground rail on existing GO lines runs into logistical problems. Councillors vote to spend an additional $1.65 million to study a three-stop section of the project along the Eglinton corridor between Mount Dennis and Pearson Airport. 

February 13, 2015: Financial realities haven’t sunk in yet 

More fissures appear in Tory’s budget thinking when city manager Joe Pennachetti remarks outside a Budget Committee meeting that Toronto needs more taxing powers to sustain itself. Tory agrees with lefties that the city has a revenue problem, but seems unwilling to accept that the only way out is to raise taxes.

February 17, 2015: Photo opportunity and a shot at redemption 

While rejecting calls for more taxing powers to pay for essential projects, the mayor jets off to Ottawa to try to convince government and MPs to fill Toronto’s infrastructure gap. Opposition MPs offer assurances, but tellingly, Tory comes back without financial commitments from friends in the Harper government.

February 20, 2015: Skating on thin ice 

Three dozen city rinks set to close get a reprieve when private garbage hauler GFL steps in to donate $100K to the city. But GFL is forced to withdraw the donation over a possible conflict of interest when it’s revealed the company is bidding on new contracts with the city – not to mention its designs on privatizing garbage pickup east of Yonge. Meanwhile, fees for the use of sports fields and other recreation permits will go up by many times the rate of inflation.

March 10, 2015: Election promises kept and broken 

Council approves a 3.25 per cent property tax increase, but anti-poverty activists crash the mayor’s party. It’s an inauspicious first budget for Tory, who is left to borrow from city reserves to keep his election promise not to raise taxes above the rate of inflation.

news@nowtoronto.com | @nowtoronto

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