New Toronto council meets for first time amid debate over 'strong mayor' powers, housing bill

The first day a new Toronto city council meets is normally a time of ceremony and smiles, as new councillors get introduced and statutory business gets done — but when council gets together on Wednesday for the first time since last month's election, it might just be a more tense affair than usual.

Experts say the first two-day session on Wednesday and Thursday will be a fascinating gathering as seven new councillors join the mix and a larger progressive wing arrives at city hall. It will also be the first opportunity for the new council to address a pair of controversial issues — the impact of John Tory's new "strong mayor" powers and the province's sweeping new housing bill.

While Tory's powers aren't explicitly on the meeting agenda, Wayne Petrozzi, a professor of political science at Toronto Metropolitan University, said he expects to see the first signs of pushback from councillors against the mayor.

"I think you'll have a more organized and larger opposition to him on the council," he said. "I think he's in for a tougher term than what he hoped for on his farewell tour."

Tory, who was elected to his third term as mayor last month, has said this will be his last in the role.

Ontario's plan to give the mayors of Toronto and Ottawa additional powers to help speed up construction of new housing has proved controversial. Tory has said he supported the measures, which give him sweeping control over the city budget and hiring and firing of staff. 

Last week, the province introduced legislation mandating expanded powers for both mayors, which would allow them to pass bylaws that are deemed provincial priorities by securing the votes of only one third of council.. 

Tory said he requested the "proactive veto," which has not yet been passed into law, to help ensure more housing is built and so the system will "work as efficiently as possible."

Petrozzi said the new powers, and Tory's request for them, set a poor tone out of the gate between the mayor and councillors.

"Why would you knee-cap your entire council without even having a single meeting with them?" he asked.

"So is that going to rub them, the council members, the wrong way? I think it will. And [Tory's] going to have times where he's going to think 'What the hell did I do?'"

Tory's office said in a statement that his leadership style and overall approach to council won't change.

"[The mayor] has indicated since the introduction of the bill that he expects to make very limited use of this measure," spokesperson Don Peat said. 

Council is also set to discuss Ontario's controversial new legislation to spur housing construction, Bill 23. A report from interim City Manager Tracey Cook outlines in stark terms what city staff feel the impact legislation will have on Toronto.