Mayor John Tory gets his first Toronto report card

John Tory, Rob Ford, mayor, Toronto, promises, 2018, re-election, election

A year in office, John Tory has ended the city hall circus, restored civility, shows up to work and is a visible, respectable face of Canada’s largest city. Yet, he stumbled needlessly on policing, broke some promises and has miles to go before Toronto can decide if he’s worth keeping.

BEHAVIOUR - A

Just showing up to work sober gets him a passing grade. But he’s done more, often chiding colleagues who berate and disrespect citizens and bureaucrats. A refreshing change.

BUDGET - B

He broke a promise not to raise TTC fares. But children 12 and under now ride free. Not much fuss over inflationary tax hikes, reasonable spending on poverty reduction and new TTC bus routes. Relatively good economic times offer little challenge.

POLICE - F

Who rushed to the aid of a police chief, embraced toxic carding practice, hired a new chief in sync with the abomination — only to reverse field, throw the new chief under the bus and ruin his relationship with the black community? Tory did.

ROADS/TRAFFIC - B-

More chief traffic cop than chief magistrate most days. Embraced the mantra of gridlock-buster with gusto, towing illegally-parked rush-hour vehicles. The “B-” is for trying. Imagine similar single-mindedness on transit.

TRANSIT - Incomplete

SmartTrack was a great electoral weapon, promising quick transit, cheaply. Queen’s Park and Ottawa have aligned themselves, just because it’s the mayor’s mandate. But a year later, not a single important question is answered.

VISION - C

If you were expecting signs of greatness or a stab at creation of a futuristic city, disappointment awaits. Maintenance is more Tory’s comfort zone. See positions on the Gardiner Expressway, Olympic bid.

OVERALL GRADE: C+

Vast improvement over his predecessor, but the bar had been set depressingly low. Grade will improve if he delivers transit improvements and avoids meddling in issues only to make them worse, as in policing.