Toronto Region Board of Trade Comments on Upcoming Mayoral Election

We thank Mr. Tory for his eight years of service as Toronto's Mayor. He led with a steady hand through the pandemic, focusing on the safety and well-being of residents and supporting businesses during an unprecedented lockdown. His achievements include historic investments in expanded public transit, significant commitments towards developing affordable housing, and the city's emergence as a top-tier global tech hub. Moreover, his steady leadership and conciliatory style provided a substantial measure of stability to the city during exceptionally rapid growth and change. 

The Board looks forward to working with interim Mayor Jennifer McKelvie to improve core services that can strengthen the city's economy and fuel business growth, enabling the full recovery of a vibrant downtown core and generating urgently needed revenues for transit, housing, road repair, front line services, vital support programs, and community amenities. 

In the run-up to the by-election that will select Toronto's next mayor, we urge candidates to seize the opportunity to strengthen our region's economy as the best way to level up, providing a more comprehensive opportunity for all. We look forward to fresh leadership dedicated to the foundational investments that will advance the Toronto Region's growth and competitiveness - public transit infrastructure and service improvements, strategies to reduce congestion, accelerating the transition to a low carbon economy, lowering costs and delays associated with permitting and regulatory compliance, and a new fiscal framework to lay the foundation for more robust economic growth and improved quality of life for all residents. 

We look forward to working collaboratively with City Council through this transition period to further our shared goal of making Toronto one of the world's most competitive, livable, and sought-after business regions.