About John

68 years old

Hometown: Toronto, Ontario

John Tory held various positions at a law firm until serving as the Principal Secretary to the Premier and Associate Secretary of the Cabinet under Premier Bill Davis in 1981. Tory later served as Tour Director and Campaign Chairman to then Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, and managed the 1993 federal election campaign of Kim Campbell. After leaving politics, Tory served as President and CEO of Rogers Communications and Commissioner of the Canadian Football League. He was made a member of the Order of Ontario in 2012.

Tory has not taken a firm stance on the Toronto Island Airport expansion. He has urged the Executive Committee to further investigate the proposal before making a decision.^[1]

Gardiner Expressway

If elected, Tory would pursue the "hybrid" proposal to reconfigure the eastern Gardiner Expressway.^[2]

Auto Congestion

Tory has proposed a number of initiatives including adding queue-jumping bus lanes to key intersections outside of downtown to improve bus commute times and the installation of smart traffic lights.^[3]

If elected, Tory proposes the creation of a 53-kilometre, 22-stop, $8-billion surface rail line called the "SmartTrack," which would be constructed largely on existing GO Transit tracks.^[4]

John Tory supports the immediate construction of the council-approved and fully funded three-stop subway extension to the Scarborough RT and the construction of a "Yonge Street Relief Line".^[4]

Transit

John Tory has proposed investigating the use of ferries on Lake Ontario as an alternative form of transit.^[3]

Tory has committed to spending up to $7 million more per year on city tree-planting with a goal of planting a total of 3.8 million trees over 10 years.^[5]

Culture

If elected, Tory would work towards making Toronto a ‘music city’ by creating a stand-alone Music Office to reduce red tape and stimulate greater activity in the music community. The office would work to create a more active outdoor festival line up to attract more music tourists to the city.^[6]

Cycling

Tory is in favour of building a network of separated bike lanes "where it is practical".^[7]

If elected John Tory would outsource the collection of garbage East of Yonge Street.^[8]

After School Programs

No specific policy has been suggested in the party's current platform.

Public Housing

If elected, Tory will explore incentives, such as reduced development charges, to promote the creation of more affordable housing in new buildings. He will form a new task force to review and recommend changes to the corporate structure of TCHC, and immediately invest $864 million into repairs to it’s buildings.^[9]

Tory has stated that low property taxes are essential, and any increases should be at or below the rate of inflation.^[10]

If elected, Tory would retain the land transfer tax. "I'm not going to talk about putting away with it until I can find someone to replace that money," said Tory.^[11]

Small Businesses

Tory vows to modernize the city permit process so permit applications are quicker.^[12]

If elected, Tory will support the creation of a second major business district in the East Don Lands inspired by London’s Canary Wharf.^[13]

Tory has committed to doubling the number of companies in the Partnership to Advance Youth Employment program which he says will result in 1,000 new youth employment jobs in his first term.^[14]