Tory appoints Coun. Jennifer McKelvie as Toronto deputy mayor

Mayor John Tory has appointed Coun. Jennifer McKelvie as Toronto’s deputy mayor, as the new term at City Hall is now underway.

McKelvie, the councillor for Ward 25 (Scarborough-Rouge Park), starts her new role as “statutory deputy mayor” effective immediately.

“Jennifer McKelvie is a hardworking, experienced City Councillor” Mayor Tory said in a release. “I am confident that she shares my commitment to getting more housing built as quickly as possible, getting our $28 billion transit plan built across the city, keeping our city as affordable as possible, and making sure the nuts and bolts of municipal government work.

Tory and McKelvie were both re-elected in the municipal election on Oct. 24, with Tory securing his third consecutive term as mayor and McKelvie her second term as councillor.

“Mayor Tory has a strong mandate to get things done for the people of Toronto this term and I am proud to support that agenda as his Deputy Mayor,” said McKelvie.

The deputy mayor can act as mayor when the sitting one is absent from the city or away because of illness, or when the office of the mayor is vacant, as well as assisting the mayor in other capacities.

The role of “statutory deputy mayor” was previously held by former city councillor Denzil Minnan-Wong, who didn’t run for re-election in the October vote after being in that role for Tory’s previous two terms as mayor.

The mayor can also appoint additional deputy mayors in more ceremonial roles. During his last term, Tory had four deputy mayors.

His other deputies were Ana Bailão, who also didn’t run for re-election, Michael Thompson, who had the title stripped after he was charged with sexual assault, and Stephen Holyday.

The new term at City Hall got underway on Tuesday, with nine new faces on city council. The first official council meeting of the new term will be held on Nov. 23.

The mayor’s office said all other appointments will be announced next week.