New Toronto councillors to hit the ground running at City Hall as new term starts
Posted November 15, 2022 4:05 pm.
Last Updated November 15, 2022 5:53 pm.
Tuesday marks the start of the new term at City Hall, and seven city councillors say they’re ready to take on the challenge.
Davenport City Councillor Alejandro Bravo said her team had been eagerly preparing for the opportunity.
“We’ve already been working since election day to think about what kind of team we want to build. Whether we want to have a community office which we will. And building the team that’s going to provide the services and be as responsive to the community as possible,” Bravo said.
“There’s a lot to be done, a lot to learn. And a lot of relationships to be built. That’s very important.”
Bravo said she and her fellow new councillors have already begun meeting with Mayor John Tory and other councillors to form relationships.
Bravo tells CityNews she has had discussions with Tory about where their views align, including building more affordable housing and the city’s transit issues.
“I’m very fortunate to be part of this new group of councillors. It’s a big turnover and an opportunity to bring new ideas and perspectives into city council and city governance,” she said.
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Ward 13 – Toronto Centre councillor, Chris Moise, is among those new faces at City Hall. Moise has been hiring staff for the last two weeks and meeting with city managers and heads of the department but says the first official day felt different.
“It makes it real. Seeing my name on the door, my access card works and has my name on it. So, it feels good to be official,” said Moise.
Like Bravo, he is not wasting any time getting to work.
“We already have some motions put aside for the first council meeting. It’s more procedural, but our staff and I have been working towards getting the work done,” said Moise. “We’ve hit the ground running. I’ve hit the ground running. So, I’m feeling confident about the work ahead.”
The other new councillors include Amber Morley, Jamaal Myers, Ausma Malik, Dianne Saxe, Jon Burnside and Lily Cheng. Vincent Crisanti and Jon Burnside were newly elected this year but had previously served as councillors.
Tory said he’s looking forward to a “collaborative term in office.”
“There are debates and differences, but I think the overall level of discussion and discourse was dramatically improved. I think the output was improved on productivity on things like housing, and I’m optimistic for that to continue.”
“There will be votes taken that won’t be unanimous, but that’s a democracy, and I accept that, and we’ll move forward,” Tory added about the council term ahead.
As she reflected on her 12 years as a councillor, frustrating yet rewarding is how the outgoing councillor for Davenport, Ana Bailão, described working in Toronto City Hall.
“How privileged I was to serve my community, to serve this city that has given me so much for 12 years,” Bailão, Deputy Mayor for the last six years, told CityNews.
“To learn from so many people around this place from contributing to a better place, a better city, that’s why all of us come here for.”
Bailão’s advice to the incoming councillors and her successor Bravo is simple. She says you can make an impact if you come in ready to do the work.
“Any city councillor can pick up the phone, call the city manager, put a motion at council, advocate, work with your colleagues, work around and make sure your motions have the votes,” Bailão said.
“So, if you’re willing to do the work, you can impact this city.”
Bailão told CityNews another vital piece of advice for new councillors would be to create symmetry away from the job.
“A big thing is also to keep a balance between your personal life and your professional life. This job, especially now with the bigger wards, you could work 20 hours a day, and it wouldn’t be enough.”
Bailão said she hopes to continue her work on housing, one of her main focuses as Deputy Mayor.
“The crisis has never been as big, to be honest with you. Because the market is so different,” said Bailão.
“It is something I’m very passionate about and intend to work on. I think it’s foundational to our city and our residents and to the social and economic well-being of the city and our society.”
The first official council meeting of the new term will be held on Nov. 23.
