Chairman of the Municipality of Metropolitan Toronto
Encyclopedia
The Chairman of the Municipality of Metropolitan Toronto or Metro Chairman was the leader of Metropolitan Toronto
, Canada
, and the most senior political figure in the municipality. The Metro Chairman was elected by the members of Metropolitan Toronto Council.
. "Metropolitan Toronto" had exactly the same boundaries as the present-day City of Toronto, but originally consisted of thirteen cities and boroughs, each with its own mayor. These cities included Toronto
itself, alongside what were then its surrounding suburbs: York, East York, Willowdale, Forest Hill, Swansea, Mimico, Etobicoke, Rexdale, Scarborough, North York, West Hill and Leaside. "Metropolitan Toronto" was the government entity responsible for co-ordinating various activities within the metropolitan area, including policing and transportation.
Fred Gardiner was appointed by the Premier of Ontario
Leslie Frost
as the first Metro Chairman. He was subsequently re-elected to the position by Metro Council.
Metro's first two chairmen—Fred Gardiner and William R. Allen—were both honoured with an expressway bearing their name upon retirement.
In 1987, Metro Council was reformed by the province so that Metro councillors were directly elected to the body. (They had previously been drawn from among local city and borough councils.) Under this reform, the chair was required to be a Metro Councillor representing a ward and could not be a non or former member of Metro Council. City mayors, who remained on the reformed Metro Council, were also not permitted to be elected to the position of Metro Chairman.
Accordingly, in the 1988 municipal election
incumbent Metro Chairman Dennis Flynn
was required to run for election from a Metro ward if he wanted to be re-elected as Metro Chairman. As well, Alan Tonks
, ran for a Metro Council seat rather than for re-election as Mayor of York as he wished to challenge Flynn for the position of Metro Chairman which was voted upon by Metro Council at its first meeting following the municipal election. Both Flynn and Tonks were elected as Metro Councillors and Tonks defeated Flynn in the vote for Metro Chairman.
into the City of Toronto
. The newly created position of mayor for the resulting single-tier "megacity" replaced not only the mayors of the former Metro areas, but also abolished the office of Metro Chairman.
Metropolitan Toronto
The Municipality of Metropolitan Toronto was a senior level of municipal government in the Toronto, Ontario, Canada area from 1954 to 1998. It was created out of York County and was a precursor to the later concept of a regional municipality, being formed of smaller municipalities but having more...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, and the most senior political figure in the municipality. The Metro Chairman was elected by the members of Metropolitan Toronto Council.
New Level of Government
The position was created in 1954 when Metropolitan Toronto was created by the province of OntarioOntario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
. "Metropolitan Toronto" had exactly the same boundaries as the present-day City of Toronto, but originally consisted of thirteen cities and boroughs, each with its own mayor. These cities included Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
itself, alongside what were then its surrounding suburbs: York, East York, Willowdale, Forest Hill, Swansea, Mimico, Etobicoke, Rexdale, Scarborough, North York, West Hill and Leaside. "Metropolitan Toronto" was the government entity responsible for co-ordinating various activities within the metropolitan area, including policing and transportation.
Fred Gardiner was appointed by the Premier of Ontario
Premier of Ontario
The Premier of Ontario is the first Minister of the Crown for the Canadian province of Ontario. The Premier is appointed as the province's head of government by the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, and presides over the Executive council, or Cabinet. The Executive Council Act The Premier of Ontario...
Leslie Frost
Leslie Frost
Leslie Miscampbell Frost, was a politician in Ontario, Canada, who served as the 16th Premier from May 4, 1949 to November 8, 1961. Due to his lengthy tenure, he gained the nickname "Old Man Ontario".-Early years:...
as the first Metro Chairman. He was subsequently re-elected to the position by Metro Council.
Metro's first two chairmen—Fred Gardiner and William R. Allen—were both honoured with an expressway bearing their name upon retirement.
Chair's relationship to council
For Metro's first three decades, the Metro Chairman was not required to be an elected member of Metro Council, and it was customary for a new Metro Chairman to resign from his previous position upon becoming chairman.In 1987, Metro Council was reformed by the province so that Metro councillors were directly elected to the body. (They had previously been drawn from among local city and borough councils.) Under this reform, the chair was required to be a Metro Councillor representing a ward and could not be a non or former member of Metro Council. City mayors, who remained on the reformed Metro Council, were also not permitted to be elected to the position of Metro Chairman.
Accordingly, in the 1988 municipal election
Toronto municipal election, 1988
The 1988 Toronto municipal election was held to elect members of municipal councils, school boards, and hydro commissions in the six municipalities that made up Metropolitan Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The election was held November 14, 1988.-Metro:...
incumbent Metro Chairman Dennis Flynn
Dennis Flynn
Christopher Dennis Flynn O.Ont, was Chairman of Metropolitan Toronto from 1984 to 1988. Flynn rarely used his first name and was commonly known as Dennis Flynn.-Background:...
was required to run for election from a Metro ward if he wanted to be re-elected as Metro Chairman. As well, Alan Tonks
Alan Tonks
Alan Tonks is a Canadian politician. He was the Liberal MP for the federal electoral district of York South—Weston in Toronto from 2000 to 2011, and was the final Metro Toronto Chairman before the amalgamation of Metro Toronto into the new City of Toronto.-Background:Tonks is the son of the late...
, ran for a Metro Council seat rather than for re-election as Mayor of York as he wished to challenge Flynn for the position of Metro Chairman which was voted upon by Metro Council at its first meeting following the municipal election. Both Flynn and Tonks were elected as Metro Councillors and Tonks defeated Flynn in the vote for Metro Chairman.
Amalgamation
The position ceased to be when the six municipalities of Metro Toronto were amalgamatedAmalgamation (politics)
A merger or amalgamation in a political or administrative sense is the combination of two or more political or administrative entities such as municipalities , counties, districts, etc. into a single entity. This term is used when the process occurs within a sovereign entity...
into the City of Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
. The newly created position of mayor for the resulting single-tier "megacity" replaced not only the mayors of the former Metro areas, but also abolished the office of Metro Chairman.
Chairmen of the Municipality of Metropolitan Toronto
- Fred Gardiner (1953-1962) - Former Reeve of Forest Hill
- William R. Allen (1962-1969) - Former member of the Board of Control for the City of Toronto.
- Albert Campbell (1969-1973) - Former Mayor of ScarboroughScarborough, OntarioScarborough is a dissolved municipality within the city of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Geographically, it comprises the eastern part of Toronto. It is bordered on the south by Lake Ontario, on the west by Victoria Park Avenue, on the north by Steeles Avenue East, and on the east by the Rouge River...
- Paul GodfreyPaul GodfreyPaul Victor Godfrey, CM, OOnt is a businessman and former Canadian politician. During his career, Godfrey was a North York alderman, Chairman of Metro Toronto, President of the Toronto Sun and head of the Toronto Blue Jays. He was instrumental in bringing the Toronto Blue Jays to Toronto and has...
(1973-1984) - Former alderman for the Borough of North York - Dennis FlynnDennis FlynnChristopher Dennis Flynn O.Ont, was Chairman of Metropolitan Toronto from 1984 to 1988. Flynn rarely used his first name and was commonly known as Dennis Flynn.-Background:...
(1984-1987) - Former Mayor of Etobicoke - Alan TonksAlan TonksAlan Tonks is a Canadian politician. He was the Liberal MP for the federal electoral district of York South—Weston in Toronto from 2000 to 2011, and was the final Metro Toronto Chairman before the amalgamation of Metro Toronto into the new City of Toronto.-Background:Tonks is the son of the late...
(1987-1997) - Metro Councillor from and former Mayor of the City of YorkYork, OntarioYork is a dissolved municipality in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Geographically, it is located northwest of Old Toronto, southwest of North York and east of Etobicoke, where it is bounded by the Humber River. Formerly a separate city, it was one of six municipalities that amalgamated in 1998 to form...
See also
- Gardiner ExpresswayGardiner ExpresswayThe Frederick G. Gardiner Expressway, colloquially referred to as "the Gardiner", is a municipal expressway in the Canadian province of Ontario, connecting downtown Toronto with its western suburbs...
- William R. Allen RoadAllen RoadWilliam R. Allen Road, known more commonly as Allen Road, The Allen Expressway or simply The Allen and formerly as the Spadina Expressway, is a short expressway/freeway in Toronto, Ontario, which runs from Kennard Avenue in the north, to Eglinton Avenue West in the south...
- Albert Campbell Collegiate InstituteAlbert Campbell Collegiate InstituteAlbert Campbell Collegiate Institute is a Toronto public high school located in north Scarborough. The school is named after former Scarborough reeve and mayor Albert McTaggart Campbell....
and Albert Campbell SquareAlbert Campbell SquareAlbert Campbell Square is a hard surface civic square in Toronto's eastern district of Scarborough outside of the Scarborough Civic Centre, named for the former politician, Metro Chairman and first mayor of Scarborough Albert Campbell.... - List of Toronto mayors - the "megacity" mayor replaced the Metro Chairman in 1998