Tory easily wins 2nd term as Toronto mayor

Toronto Mayor John Tory easily won re-election on Monday, trouncing the city’s former planner after a campaign marked by unprecedented interference from the provincial government, but at least a dozen other communities were forced to extend voting by as much as a day due to technical or other difficulties.

Tory took about 63 per cent of the vote while his main rival, Jennifer Keesmaat, took about 23 per cent — giving the incumbent mayor a far more significant victory than when he was first elected four years ago.

“That’s quite an evening isn’t it,” Tory, 64, joked in his victory speech, calling his mandate historic. “I want to acknowledge Jennifer Keesmaat, who brought ideas forward which I’m sure we’ll discuss in the coming days.”

In all, voters in more than 400 communities across Ontario cast ballots for their next municipal government after campaigns that had seen everything from legal battles to electoral reform. Entire councils in 26 municipalities were unopposed and were acclaimed.

In Toronto, Keesmaat and other critics had tried to paint Tory as weak and unwilling to stand up for the city after Premier Doug Ford slashed the number of council seats from 47 to 25 mid-race.

Tory countered by arguing a low-key approach allows him to get on with upper levels of government and get things done. A total of 242 candidates vied for a spot on the shrunken council.

Keesmaat was gracious in defeat, while still pushing some of her favourite themes.

“Mr. Tory has worked hard his whole life in political office, and I’m sure that our mayor will return to office determined to make his time there count.”