Mayor John Tory may be acting (as Rob Ford observes), like a dog off a leash, but some think that’s a better demeanor than like a bear in hibernation from the office or a bull in the China shop.
As Tory marks his 100th day as mayor of Toronto on Tuesday, I give him a grade of 95 per cent, or an “A” if you prefer. Why? Because I think he has over-performed in many ways. He starts early in the morning and finishes late at night. He has a jam-packed schedule that he publishes daily and makes himself available to answer for every action he takes or doesn’t.
He came out of the gate to take action on the pledge to reduce congestion with a high-profile ticket-and-tow campaign that those who drive the city say has made a difference. He has been proactive, as recently as last week, when he stepped up on his own to rail against the Spadina extension boondoggle. He stepped up to network corporate friends into sponsoring outdoor skating rinks until the end of March break, and is asking tough questions of bureaucrats who are not used to being held accountable.
Tory proactively arranged face-to-face meetings with federal leaders and stake holders, in an attempt to get support for his SmartTrack transit scheme and has for the most part, repaired the city’s relationship with Queen’s Park.
However, he has already broken the election pledge to not raise TTC fares. Politically, that is never an acceptable thing to do because it fuels public cynicism that always sits beneath the surface. In this case, he at least took the blame for being wrong in making the pledge. He has taken all of the political hits from his opponents and critics without trying to charm his way out of it.
Tory was characterized during the election by his political opponents and critics as an indecisive dither, but so far, there has been no sign of that. I give him a 95 per cent mark on his first report card, or make that an “A” if you prefer, with a margin note that “Johnny Tory’s enthusiasm is boundless.”
