Toronto’s 50 Most Influential: #2, John Tory

John Tory

Mayor

2 When John Tory took office a year ago, there was only one thing he really needed to do: not be Rob Ford. Beyond that baseline accomplishment, he has made his first steps toward defining his legacy. Unlike his predecessor, Tory makes time for ideologically opposed councillors. And he’s willing to change his mind, as he did on the carding file (albeit twice) in the summer. When the future of the Gardiner Expressway came before city council for a vote, he won over fence-sitters on council, enabling his preferred “hybrid” option for the highway to eke out a narrow victory. Equally important as his ability to build consensus, from the perspective of the average Torontonian: city hall is no longer fodder for late-night comedians, and CP24 is no longer the best reality show on TV.

Up Next:

Finding a way to make SmartTrack, his $8-billion transit plan, ­actually work.

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