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Toronto City Council By-Elections and Appointments 2014-2018 Term

animatronic

animatronic

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Discussion of the upcoming Ward 2 by-election / appointment and others that will occur before the next general election. While Council has the power to appoint at any time, the current (non-binding) policy is that all vacancies declared prior to Nov 30th 2017 will be filled via by-election.

Background info:
City of Toronto By-Elections Page
2014 Election Ward-by-Ward Results
Relevant section of the City of Toronto Act
2000 (non-binding) Council policy on filling vacancies
2014 Staff report on rescinding the policy for filling vacancies on City Council

List of Vacancies:
Ward 2: Vacated 22 March 2016 / Not Filled
 
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207.If the office of a member of city council becomes vacant under section 204, the council shall at its next meeting declare the office to be vacant, except if a vacancy occurs as a result of the death of a member, the declaration may be made at either of its next two meetings. 2006, c. 11, Sched. A, s. 207.

208. (1) If a vacancy occurs in the office of a member of city council, the City shall, subject to this section,
(a) fill the vacancy by appointing a person who has consented to accept the office if appointed; or
(b) require a by-election to be held to fill the vacancy in accordance with the Municipal Elections Act, 1996. 2006, c. 11, Sched. A, s. 208 (1).

(3) The following rules apply to filling vacancies:
1. Within 60 days after the day a declaration of vacancy is made with respect to the vacancy under section 207, the City shall,
i. appoint a person to fill the vacancy under subsection (1), or
ii. pass a by-law requiring a by-election be held to fill the vacancy under subsection (1).
2. Despite paragraph 1, if a court declares an office to be vacant, the City shall act under subsection (1) within 60 days after the day the court makes its declaration.
3. Despite subsections (1) and (2), if a vacancy occurs within 90 days before voting day of a regular election, the City is not required to fill the vacancy. 2006, c. 11, Sched. A, s. 208 (3).
 
Here's a timeline for Ward 2:
  • The next Council meeting (#17) is scheduled for March 30th, so that's the earliest they can declare Ward 2 vacant
  • However since it's a death they can wait until the next meeting (#18), scheduled for May 3-4
  • The declaration period therefore is 30 March to 4 May
  • After that they have up to 60 days to declare an appointment (highly unlikely) or pass a by-election bylaw
  • That means the by-election could be called as early as 30 March or as late as June 8th (the July meeting being >60 days)
  • Once an election is called, there must be a nomination day within 60 days. This could be as early as Mid-May or as late as July 8th
  • The election takes place 45 days after the nomination
  • Therefore, the election could be as early as late June or as late as end-August
Edit: they could hold a special council meeting as late as July 3rd to choose an election. That plus 105 days gets you to mid-October.
 
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So is there any word if there will be a real fight for the seat? Let's assume that Mikey or Doug are going to run. Is there anyone with name recognition or credibility to mount a serious challenge?
 
animatronic said:
So is there any word if there will be a real fight for the seat? Let's assume that Mikey or Doug are going to run. Is there anyone with name recognition or credibility to mount a serious challenge?
Click to expand...

Doug would have to be a real momma's boy to run again given how much he obviously hated it the first time around; and that was with actual power nearby (ear of the mayor).

I think we might see Michael run and he might even win. Frankly, he wouldn't be the worst councillor in Toronto simply because he appears to pay attention and take an interset. He might actually be a really good councillor in 10 years.
 
I see here one of the advantages of ranked ballots. There are always these drawn out debates, especially when the seat is vacated closer to the end of term, about whether to undergo the expense of an election or appoint someone. With ranked ballots they should be able to eliminate the former seatholder from the election results and then calculate who next passes 50%. Then offer that person the position. And down the list until they find the person still interested in the job. In Ward 2 it might be Luc LaRocque or Andray Domise, although they came far back of Ford in first past the post. It's an incentive for serious challengers to put themselves forward for election even if the seat appears to be a lock for the incumbent.
 
He would have to resign as trustee first, wouldn't he? So if he resigned and ran for council and lost we would be Ford-free till the end of the term.
 
EagleEye said:
He would have to resign as trustee first, wouldn't he? So if he resigned and ran for council and lost we would be Ford-free till the end of the term.
Click to expand...
No restrictions or requirement to resign that I'm aware of. Unless there is a special trustee policy, it's only MPP/MP/Senate/judges that are banned.
 
So apart from Doug telegraphing that a Ford will be running in Ward 2, no real indication if it will be Doug or Mikey.
 
So, with Ron Moeser sick, is there a chance that two seats become vacant? I see him as the type to actually resign and not hold onto power.
 
typezed said:
In Ward 2 it might be Luc LaRocque or Andray Domise, although they came far back of Ford in first past the post. It's an incentive for serious challengers to put themselves forward for election even if the seat appears to be a lock for the incumbent.
Click to expand...

I would be very, very surprised if Domise ran again. He's a bright guy and I admire the work he is doing with Techdale but he lost a lot of political capital after burning through $68,000 of donations and huge media coverage only to finish third, with a paltry 8% of the vote.
 
Looks like a Ford acolyte has thrown his hat into the ring: https://twitter.com/kevinclarkewwe.

CfT9-WBXEAIhcBj.jpg:large
 
That guy runs in every election and by-election, and stands no chance of winning. He's also absolutely nothing like Rob Ford.
 
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