‘It’s bittersweet’: Toronto councillor Mike Layton not running for re-election in fall

Veteran Toronto councillor Mike Layton says he won’t be running for re-election in the fall municipal election after 12 years in office at City Hall.

Layton, councillor for University-Rosedale, told CityNews it’s time for something new with a job that gives him more time to spend with his two young children.

“After those 12 years you kind of have to do some reflection about what you want to contribute in the future. And in this case I think I can make a bigger difference around the issues that I’m passionate about. Fighting inequality, fighting climate change. From the outside. In a different role,” he said in an interview with CityNews on Wednesday.

“At the same time, re-balancing my life so I have more time with my kids … They’re only going to be young once. This is a very demanding job with lots of late nights. I have missed altogether too many bedtimes and I’m not willing to miss any more.”

Layton also said he doesn’t have a new gig lined up at this point.

“I don’t have anything planned. I am looking to see how I can make a difference. It’s not about title, it’s not about power, it’s about influencing, making a difference in the world,” he said.

Layton said he has mixed emotions about leaving his job as a councillor.

“It’s bittersweet, there’s some sense of accomplishment that I did have an impact. I helped craft the climate action plan for Net Zero by 2040, I helped build safer streets in the City of Toronto.”

It has been a great honour to serve the local community and the City of Toronto these past 12 years. I owe my sincerest thanks to the constituents who put their trust in me, and to the residents and staff I’ve worked with to build a better Toronto.A letter https://t.co/ghB7UZqMK9 pic.twitter.com/8jtlYBabpS

— Mike Layton (@m_layton) July 27, 2022

Mayor John Tory said Layton called him Tuesday night to inform him of his decision.

“I appreciate his strong advocacy on Indigenous issues and the environment and thank him for working with me on these important matters. I wish him and his family all the best in the next chapter,” Tory said in a tweet on Wednesday.

I want to thank @m_layton for his 12 years of public service on City Council. He called me last night to let me know he won't be running for re-election this fall.

— John Tory (@TorontosMayor) July 27, 2022

Toronto-St. Paul’s Coun. Josh Matlow said Layton is a voice of conscience on council and was the leading voice in combating climate change.

“He’s just a pleasure to work with on local issues. He and I share a ward boundary and we used to have a lot of fun together while we fight the good fight and challenge the bad things together too. So I am going to miss him.”

Joe Cressy, who resigned earlier this year as councillor and chair Toronto Board of Health, said “Layton is the kindest and most decent man I know. He’s also strategic, tireless, and extremely effective.”

⁦Layton’s departure reinforces the fact that the October election will result in at least seven new faces on Toronto city council after a long period of relatively low turnover.

Aside from Layton and Cressy, other councillors not seeking re-election are Ana Bailão, who is also the deputy mayor, Denzil Minnan-Wong and John Filion.

Former councillors Kristyn Wong-Tam and Michael Ford both won seats as MPPs in the provincial election, Wong as an NDP and Ford as a Conservative.

The municipal elections across Ontario are to be held on Oct. 24.

Layton on his time in office and what’s next

Layton has been vocal on council over the past 12 years and has worked on various issues impacting residents in his riding and across the city as a whole, such as Net Zero by 2040, the Home Energy Loan Program, the Bio Diversity Strategy, and affordable housing.

“I was elected when I was 30 and very eager to move forward policies and I’ve been fortunate that the councillors around me, all across the spectrum, have worked with me on some of those,” he reflected.

Layton also reflected on the impact family life and the loss of his father, former federal NDP leader and councillor Jack Layton, had on him.

“In the first couple of years of being elected I lost my dad. And during that time you can see from my office here I got to look out on that square with the chalk in the lineups of people … that gave me hope and realized what you can do in this job and in elected office.”

“I’ve since gotten married and also had two children and that re-prioritizes things. It makes you think about what contribution and how you want to leave the planet for those kids and those future generations.”

Layton also spoke about the “strong mayor” system proposed by Premier Doug Ford. Last week, city council voted to ask Ford for more power as a city, not just one person.

“The province needs to give us new power and that doesn’t mean a strong mayor system. It means a strong city. That’s what we need,” he said on Wednesday.

When asked if he was saying goodbye to politics for good, he said, “While you can never say never in this line of work, I think there’s circumstances that might be able to pull me back in but certainly not now.

“This is me doing something new to try and make a contribution including that re-balancing of life so that I get to have a moment with my kids before they grow up.”