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The 2023 Toronto mayoral by-election will be held on Monday, June 26, 2023, to elect the mayor of Toronto to serve the remainder of the 2022–2026 city council term following the resignation of Mayor John Tory.
On February 10, 2023, Mayor Tory announced his intention to resign following the admission of an affair with a staffer, and left office on February 17, 2023. The deputy mayor, Jennifer McKelvie, assumes certain mayoral powers and is the highest ranking official in the city until the permanent successor is elected.
Tory was first elected in the 2014 mayoral election, and was re-elected in 2018 and 2022. On February 10, 2023, the Toronto Star sent a series of questions to the mayor regarding a relationship he had with a female staffer in his office during the COVID-19 pandemic. Tory confirmed the allegations, admitting to making a "serious error in judgement".[1] Later in the day, Tory announced his intention to resign as mayor of Toronto.[1]
Allies of Tory including city councillors Jon Burnside, Frances Nunziata and Gary Crawford had urged him to stay as mayor, and not resign the post.[2] Premier Doug Ford and the Toronto Police Association also encouraged him not to resign.[3]
Following the passage of the budget on February 15, Tory submitted a letter of resignation to the city clerk, to be effective February 17, 2023, at 5 p.m.[4][5] During the vacancy, Deputy Mayor Jennifer McKelvie will perform the duties of the mayor's office until a permanent successor is elected.[6]
Under the City of Toronto Act, Toronto City Council must declare the office of mayor vacant following Tory's resignation. Within 60 days, a by-law must be passed to set up a by-election. A nomination period for candidates occurs, lasting a minimum of 30 and maximum of 60 days after the formal declaration of a by-election and ends 45 days before the election.[7][8] The by-election is projected to cost the city approximately $13 million to run.[9] Municipal elections in Toronto are non-partisan, and are held under first-past-the-post voting.
The City Clerk's Office announced that it would recommend the nomination period open on April 3, 2023, and close on May 12, with the by-election to be held on June 26.[9][10] The office of mayor was formally declared vacant during the March 29 city council meeting and a by-law was passed to confirm the by-election.[11]
Multiple mayoral debates took place during the campaign. A planned debate at OCAD University (in collaboration with 60 Toronto residents' associations)[12] scheduled to take place on June 1, 2023 was cancelled after threats were made to candidates prior to the event.[13] A planned debate on climate action at the University of Toronto School of the Environment scheduled to take place on June 5, 2023 was cancelled due to scheduling conflicts.[14]
Date | Hosted by | Participants | Moderator | Notes | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
May 10 | West Queen West Business Improvement Association | Bradford, Furey, Hunter, Perruzza, Saunders[15] | Stefanos Lialias[16] | [15] | |
May 15 | Daily Bread Food Bank | Bailão, Bradford, Chow, Hunter, Matlow[17] | Maggie John[18] | Saunders was invited, but declined[17] | [19] |
May 24 | Toronto Alliance for the Performing Arts | Bailão, Bradford, Chow, Hunter, Matlow[20] | Maxine Bailey[20] | Saunders was invited, but declined[21] | [20] |
Residential Construction Council of Ontario | Bailão, Bradford, Chow, Hunter, Matlow, Saunders[22] | Joe Cressy[23] | [22] | ||
The Scarborough Community Renewal Organization, the Scarborough Business Association, and Scarborough United Neighbourhoods. | Bailão, Bradford, Chow, Hunter, Matlow, Saunders | Cynthia Mulligan | Broadcast on Citytv and CityNews 24/7 | [24] | |
May 25 | Toronto Board of Trade and TVO | Bailão, Bradford, Chow, Hunter, Matlow, Saunders[25] | Steve Paikin[25] | [26][25] | |
May 31 | Toronto Metropolitan University, in collaboration with United Way and Toronto Star | Bailão, Bradford, Chow, Hunter, Matlow, Saunders | Edward Keenan[27] | [27] | |
June 6 | CBC Toronto | Bailão, Chow, Hunter, Matlow, Saunders | Marivel Taruc and Shawn Jeffords | Bradford declined, due to birth of his child June 5[28] | [29] |
Operation Black Vote Canada | Brown, Chavannes, Chow, Davis, Hunter, Saunders, K. Singh | [30] | |||
June 7 | Canadian Association of Retired Persons (CARP) | Bailão, Bradford, Brown, Chow, Furey, Hunter, Matlow, Saunders[31] | Libby Znaimer | Broadcast on ZoomerMedia | [32] |
June 8 | Five Etobicoke residents' associations | Bradford, Davis, Hunter, Mammoliti, Matlow, Saunders | John Campbell | [33] | |
June 12 | University of Toronto's School of Cities, the Urban Land Institute Toronto, and Canadian Urban Institute | Bailão, Bradford, Chow, Hunter, Matlow, Saunders | Marivel Taruc | [34] |
Registration for candidates for the office of mayor officially opened on April 3, 2023.[9] The deadline for candidate nominations closed Friday, May 12 at 2 p.m.[35]
As of 12 May 2023[update], 102 candidates have an active candidacy for mayor. Three candidates have withdrawn their candidacy.[36]
Name | Nomination date | Notes | Major policies |
---|---|---|---|
Bahira Abdulsalam | April 3, 2023 | Certified professional engineer.[37] | |
Emmanuel Acquaye | May 1, 2023 | ||
Blake Acton | April 3, 2023 | Retired police officer and fourth-place finisher in the 2022 mayoral election.[38] | |
Sharif Ahmed | May 8, 2023 | Ran for councillor of Ward 22 in the 2021 by-election, placing 17th[39] | |
Gru Jesse Allen | May 1, 2023 | Housing activist[40] | |
Atef Aly | May 2, 2023 | ||
Dionysios Apostolopoulos | May 10, 2023 | ||
Alam Asadul | May 12, 2023 | ||
Darren Atkinson | April 28, 2023 | Independent entrepreneur, inventor, and musician[41] | |
Jamie Atkinson | May 12, 2023 | ||
Ana Bailão | April 3, 2023 | Former deputy mayor of Toronto (2017–2022) and former city councillor for Davenport (2010–2022).[42] | Reverse transit cuts and expand trauma crisis services.[43] Request permission to decriminalize recreational drugs.[44] |
Jose Baking | April 14, 2023 | ||
Ben Bankas | May 5, 2023 | Comedian[45] | |
Claudette Beals | April 6, 2023 | Mother to Regis Korchinski-Paquet, whose high profile death was investigated by the Special Investigations Unit.[37] | |
Glen Benway | April 19, 2023 | Farmer and accountant[46] | |
Eliazar Bonilla | May 12, 2023 | ||
Brad Bradford | April 3, 2023 | City councillor for Beaches—East York (2018–present).[47] | Install subway platform doors.[48] Request permission to decriminalize recreational drugs.[44] |
Chloe Brown | April 11, 2023 | Third-place finisher in the 2022 mayoral election.[49] | Implement a land value tax and rent control.[50] Request permission to decriminalize recreational drugs.[44] Housing first strategy to end homelessness.[51] Convert Ontario Place and Science Center into scientific research and education hubs with a focus on the climate crisis.[52] Build "Campuses of Care" with affordable and accessible housing, healthcare, and social services in centralized within communities.[53] Expand Library Card program to include access to therapy and social care services, cultural events, professional development tools, and healthcare referrals all on one card.[54] |
Brian Buffey | May 5, 2023 | Ran in 2018 mayoral election. | |
Celina Caesar-Chavannes | April 4, 2023 | Former Liberal member of Parliament (MP) for Whitby (2015–2019).[55] | |
Carrie Mason | May 11, 2023 | ||
Roland Chan | April 11, 2023 | ||
Matti Charlton | April 26, 2023 | Author, songwriter, musician, board member of Church & Wellesley Neighbourhood Association[56] | Address homelessness,[57] reform drug policy,[58] create a community centred organization for maintaining peace and security outside of the Police,[59] provide more opportunities for public performance for independent musicians,[60] fix the city's budget deficit.[61] |
Danny Chevalier Romero | May 12, 2023 | ||
Olivia Chow | April 17, 2023 | Third-place finisher in the 2014 Toronto mayoral election. Former New Democratic MP for Trinity—Spadina from 2006 to 2014, former Councillor for ward 20 from 1998 to 2005, and former Metro Toronto Council member for Ward 24 from 1992 to 1998.[62][63] | Stop renovictions by transferring affordable rental apartment buildings to not-for-profit providers.[64] Double the reach of Toronto's Rent Bank and increase the Tenant Support Program.[65] Request permission to decriminalize recreational drugs.[44] Build a Scarborough busway along the route of the decommissioned SRT. |
Logan Choy | May 8, 2023 | Ran in the 2018 mayoral election, placing 9th. | |
Kevin Clarke | April 25, 2023 | Perennial candidate, ran in the last 7 mayoral elections. Ninth-place finisher in the 2022 mayoral election.[66][67] | |
Sarah Climenhaga | April 3, 2023 | Environmental and safe streets activist. Came in sixth in the 2018, and fifth in the 2022 Toronto mayoral elections. 2019 Green Party of Canada candidate for Toronto—St. Paul's.[68][69][37] | |
Gordon Cohen | April 3, 2023 | ||
Paul Collins | May 12, 2023 | ||
Frank D'Amico | April 28, 2023 | Toronto Catholic District School Board (TCDSB) Trustee for Ward 6 | |
Frank D'Angelo | April 3, 2023 | Entrepreneur in the food, restaurant and entertainment industries.[70] | |
Philip D'Cruze | April 3, 2023 | Retired member of the Canadian Armed Forces.[71] | |
Rob Davis | April 3, 2023 | Former TTC vice-chair and city councillor for Ward 28 – York Eglinton (1997-2000). 1996 Progressive Conservative by-election candidate in York South[72] | Stop the construction of additional bike lanes.[73] |
Samson Deb | May 1, 2023 | ||
Habiba Desai | May 8, 2023 | Ran for councillor of Ward 24 in the 2022 municipal election, placing third. | |
Cory Deville | April 3, 2023 | ||
Simryn Fenby | May 9, 2023 | Actor[74] | |
Monica Forrester | May 11, 2023 | Support worker in the transgender community[75] | |
Anthony Furey | April 3, 2023 | Former Toronto Sun columnist and broadcaster.[76] | End funding for supervised injection sites, in favor of involuntary treatment.[77] Eliminate cycling infrastructure on major roads.[78] Remove land transfer tax.[79] |
Scott Furnival | May 12, 2023 | ||
Isabella Gamk | April 3, 2023 | Housing advocate, and founder of nonprofit calling for increased funding for disability benefits.[37] | |
Feng Gao | May 2, 2023 | ||
Xiao Hua Gong | April 11, 2023 | Businessman, former theatre director, and former pyramid scheme operator.[80][81] | |
Adil Goraya | April 26, 2023 | ||
Brian Graff | April 13, 2023 | Placed 3rd in Ward 32 in the 2014 Toronto municipal election. Attempted leadership bid for federal NDP in 2017.[82] | |
Ari Grosman | April 28, 2023 | ||
James Guglielmin | May 11, 2023 | ||
David Gulyas | May 1, 2023 | ||
Thomas Hall | April 20, 2023 | ||
Peter Handjis | April 6, 2023 | Placed 31st of 31 candidates in the 2022 mayoral election. | |
Heather He | April 11, 2023 | ||
Toby Heaps | May 12, 2023 | Co-founder and CEO of Corporate Knights. Campaign manager for Ralph Nader's 2008 presidential campaign.[83] Purports his dog Molly to be an unofficial co-candidate.[84] | Empathic and non-business as usual ideas for dogs, affordable housing and the environment .[84] |
Monowar Hossain | April 17, 2023 | Perennial candidate. Ran for mayor last six elections, 2003 to 2022. | |
Mitzie Hunter | April 3, 2023 | Liberal MPP for Scarborough—Guildwood (2013–2023), Minister of Advanced Education and Skills Development (2018), Minister of Education (2016–2018).[85] | Create a climate change Chief Resiliency Office.[43] Do not use strong-mayor powers.[86] Request permission to decriminalize recreational drugs.[44] |
Sheila Igodan | May 1, 2023 | ||
Daniel Irmya | May 11, 2023 | ||
Syed Jaffery | April 3, 2023 | Ran as People's Party of Canada candidate in Toronto Centre in the 2021 federal election.[87] | |
Michael Jensen | May 3, 2023 | ||
Patricia Johnston | April 25, 2023 | ||
Serge Korovitsyn | April 25, 2023 | Chairperson of the Ontario Libertarian Party[88] | |
Michael Lamoureaux | April 4, 2023 | ||
Kris Langenfeld | April 3, 2023 | Former accountant, computer consultant, and software developer. Placed 28th in the 2018 and 23rd in the 2022 Toronto mayoral elections.[71] | |
Rick Lee | May 12, 2023 | ||
Mark LeLiever | May 4, 2023 | ||
John Letonja | April 12, 2023 | Twenty ninth-place finisher in the 2022 mayoral election. Thirtieth-place finisher in the 2010 mayoral election. | |
Walayat Khan | May 12, 2023 | ||
Norman MacLeod | May 11, 2023 | ||
Giorgio Mammoliti | April 3, 2023 | Former city councillor for York West (2000–2018), former New Democratic MPP for Yorkview (1990–1995).[89] | |
Steve Mann | May 12, 2023 | ||
Cleveland Marshall | May 12, 2023 | ||
Josh Matlow | April 3, 2023 | City councillor for Toronto—St. Paul's (2010–present).[90] | Increase property taxes by 2% and create a public agency to develop government housing.[91][92] Implement a commercial parking lot tax.[73] Request permission to decriminalize recreational drugs.[44] |
Faizul Mohee | May 9, 2023 | Engineer and Professor. | |
Bob Murphy | May 12, 2023 | ||
Michael Nicula | May 1, 2023 | Founder and former party leader of the now deregistered Party for Accountability, Competency and Transparency. Ran for mayor in 2014 and 2018, and three times for MP in various ridings (2012, 2013, 2015). | |
Jamil Nowwarah | May 11, 2023 | ||
Anthony Perruzza | April 12, 2023 | City councillor for Ward 8 York West (2006–2018), City councillor for Ward 7 Humber River—Black Creek (2018–present), NDP MPP for Downsview (1990–1995). | Freeze property taxes, TTC fares and user fees.[93] |
John Ransome | April 28, 2023 | ||
D!ONNE Renée | May 4, 2023 | Ran in the 2014, 2018, and 2022 mayoral elections. | |
Willie Reodica | May 4, 2023 | Father to Jeffery Reodica, who was fatally shot by a Toronto Police officer in 2004.[94] | |
Walter Rubino | April 3, 2023 | ||
Chris Saccoccia | April 3, 2023 | A.k.a. Chris Sky. Former property developer, conspiracy theorist, anti-lockdown and anti-vaccine activist, and anti-semite.[95][96] | Prohibit the creation of 15-minute cities and digital IDs.[97] |
Lyall Sanders | April 6, 2023 | ||
Mark Saunders | April 3, 2023 | Former chief of the Toronto Police Service (2015–2020), PC candidate for Don Valley West during the 2022 Ontario election.[98] | Increase the number of TTC special constables and give them body cameras.[99] Partially replace funding for supervised injection sites with funding for addiction treatment centres.[100] |
Rocco Schipano | May 9, 2023 | ||
Robert Shusterman | May 11, 2023 | Real estate agent[101] | |
Knia Singh | April 3, 2023 | Lawyer and human rights activist, twelfth-place finisher in the 2022 mayoral election.[102] | |
Partap Dua Singh | May 12, 2023 | ||
Raksheni Sivaneswaran | May 11, 2023 | ||
Erwin Sniedzins | April 4, 2023 | Ran as independent candidate for Eglinton—Lawrence in 2014, and as New Blue in 2022. | |
Sandeep Srivastava | April 3, 2023 | ||
Meir Straus | April 3, 2023 | High school student and youngest registered candidate.[103] | Replace public benches with beanbag chairs.[103] |
Weizhen Tang | April 11, 2023 | Former convicted fraudster.[104] | |
Mitchell Toye | May 12, 2023 | ||
Reginald Tull | April 3, 2023 | 10th place finisher in the 2022 mayor election. | |
Jeffery Tunney | April 3, 2023 | ||
Kiri Vadivelu | April 3, 2023 | Municipal Socialist Alliance candidate and tenant activist, ran in Ward 21 Scarborough Centre in 2022, placing fourth.[105] | |
Jack Weenen | April 3, 2023 | Perennial candidate (finished 65th[106] in the 2014 mayoral election and 31st[107] in the 2018 mayoral elections)[108] | |
Yuanqian Wei | April 13, 2023 | ||
Jody Williams | April 6, 2023 | ||
John Winter | May 12, 2023 | ||
Nathalie Xian Yi Yan | April 6, 2023 | Acupuncturist who was disciplined in 2018 by the College of Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners and Acupuncturists of Ontario for professional misconduct.[109] Perennial Candidate. Ran as independent for MP of Hamilton Centre in 2019 and 2021, and for MPP of Hamilton Centre in 2023. |
Name | Nomination date | Withdrawn date |
---|---|---|
James Chung | April 25, 2023 | May 1, 2023 |
Rupica Singh Waraich | April 3, 2023 | April 24, 2023 |
Joshua Singh | May 1, 2023 | May 12, 2023 |
Polling firm | Source | Date of poll | Sample size | MOE | Ana Bailão | Brad Bradford | Olivia Chow | Anthony Furey | Mitzie Hunter | Josh Matlow | Mark Saunders | Other |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liaison Strategies | IVR[214] | Jun 10–11, 2023 | 1,197 | ± 2.83% | 10% | 6% | 34% | 9% | 9% | 12% | 15% | 5% |
Forum Research | IVR[215] | Jun 9, 2023 | 1,047 | ± 3% | 10% | 5% | 35% | 11% | 7% | 9% | 14% | 9% |
Mainstreet Research | IVR[216] | Jun 7–8, 2023 | 706 | ± 3.7% | 20% | 4% | 29% | 9% | 9% | 11% | 13% | 7%[a] |
Liaison Strategies | IVR[217] | Jun 3–4, 2023 | 1,287 | ± 2.73% | 9% | 7% | 35% | 6% | 11% | 11% | 14% | 7% |
Forum Research | IVR[218] | Jun 2–2, 2023 | 1,032 | ± 3% | 8% | 5% | 38% | 10% | 7% | 12% | 13% | 8% |
Viewpoints Research | Online[219] | Jun 1–2, 2023 | 780 | ± 3% | 10% | 10% | 37% | 9% | 6% | 10% | 15% | 3% |
Mainstreet Research | IVR[220] | May 30–31, 2023 | 1,110 | ± 3% | 16% | 4% | 32% | 9% | 7% | 10% | 12% | 10%[b] |
Forum Research | IVR[221] | May 26–27, 2023 | 1,007 | ± 3% | 9% | 5% | 34% | 9% | 9% | 12% | 14% | 8% |
Liaison Strategies | IVR[222] | May 26–27, 2023 | 1,305 | ± 2.7% | 10% | 10% | 30% | 3% | 14% | 11% | 14% | 10% |
Mainstreet Research | IVR[223] | May 24–25, 2023 | 838 | ± 3.4% | 16% | 6% | 35% | 9% | 5% | 10% | 12% | 7%[c] |
Forum Research | IVR[224] | May 19–20, 2023 | 1,000 | ± 3% | 9% | 7% | 34% | – | 10% | 12% | 12% | 15% |
Liaison Strategies | IVR[225] | May 17–18, 2023 | 1,311 | ± 2.7% | 8% | 10% | 29% | 3% | 15% | 11% | 17% | 7% |
Mainstreet Research | IVR[226] | May 16–17, 2023 | 1,125 | ± 2.9% | 21% | 4% | 30% | 7% | 9% | 14% | 10% | 4%[d] |
Forum Research | IVR[227] | May 13–14, 2023 | 1,029 | ± 3% | 7% | 6% | 36% | – | 10% | 10% | 18% | 14% |
Liaison Strategies | IVR[228][227] | May 12–13, 2023 | 1,318 | ± 2.7% | 7% | 12% | 30% | 2% | 12% | 15% | 16% | 7%[e] |
Mainstreet Research | IVR[229] | May 10–11, 2023 | 1,205 | ± 2.8% | 15% | 6% | 31% | 7% | 9% | 10% | 12% | 10%[f] |
Forum Research | IVR[230] | May 6–7, 2023 | 2,000 | ± 2% | 7% | 7% | 33% | – | 8% | 14% | 14% | 17% |
Liaison Strategies | IVR[231] | May 5–6, 2023 | 1,257 | ± 2.76% | 9% | 12% | 27% | 1% | 10% | 16% | 16% | 8% |
Mainstreet Research | IVR[232] | May 2–3, 2023 | 1,056 | ± 3% | 17% | 6% | 31% | – | 9% | 15% | 12% | 11% |
Viewpoints Research | Online[233] | Apr 29 – May 2, 2023 | 400 | ± 4.9% | 10% | 15% | 32% | – | 6% | 11% | 19% | 8% |
Liaison Strategies | IVR[234] | Apr 28–29, 2023 | 1,253 | ± 2.76% | 7% | 10% | 26% | 2% | 10% | 19% | 20% | 7% |
Forum Research | IVR[235] | Apr 25–26, 2023 | 1,022 | ± 3% | 10% | 7% | 32% | – | 7% | 14% | 13% | 16% |
Mainstreet Research | IVR[236] | Apr 25–26, 2023 | 996 | ± 3.1% | 22% | 9% | 26% | – | 5% | 14% | 11% | 14% |
Liaison Strategies | IVR[237] | Apr 21–22, 2023 | 1,264 | ± 2.75% | 9% | 11% | 23% | 1% | 9% | 21% | 19% | 8% |
Mainstreet Research | IVR[238] | Apr 19–20, 2023 | 1,082 | ± 3% | 19% | 7% | 23% | – | 7% | 18% | 14% | 12% |
Mainstreet Research | IVR[239] | Apr 12–13, 2023 | 785 | ± 3.5% | 17% | 7% | 16% | 3% | 7% | 18% | 13% | 19% |
Mainstreet Research | IVR[240] | Apr 2–3, 2023 | 1,306 | ± 2.7% | 23% | 8% | 24% | – | 7% | 9% | 13% | 16% |
Prior to campaign period
Polling firm | Source | Date of poll | Sample size | MOE | Ana Bailão | Brad Bradford | Olivia Chow | Mitzie Hunter | Josh Matlow | Mark Saunders | Other[g] |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Forum Research | IVR[241] | Mar 23, 2023 | 1,009 | ± 3% | 11% | 5% | 24% | 12% | 18% | 8% | 22% |
Mainstreet Research | IVR[242] | Mar 19, 2023 | 985 | ± 3.1% | 22% | 6% | – | 11% | 18% | 8% | 35% |
Mainstreet Research | IVR[243] | Feb 19, 2023 | 1,701 | ± 2.4% | 17% | 9% | – | 16% | 13% | 12% | 33% |
Mainstreet Research | IVR[244] | Feb 14, 2023 | 1,947 | ± 2.2% | 10% | 7% | – | 12% | – | – | 70% |
Forum Research | IVR[245] | Feb 14, 2023 | 1,042 | ± 3% | 11% | 11% | – | – | – | – | 78% |