Toronto Councilor Mike Layton joins the growing list of veteran politicians who will not be returning to City Council in October.
Layton confirmed to CP24 on Wednesday that he will not be running for re-election in the upcoming municipal election. He cited his desire to focus more of his energy on fighting climate change while “rebalancing his life” so he can spend more time with his family.
“I want to make sure that all my energy is devoted to what I believe is the next global crisis that we face,” he said. “It needs to inject more energy into it and so I’m going to look at what the options are to try to increase the solutions.”
“That’s what I really enjoyed about focusing on City Hall, finding solutions to problems and then expanding on them.”
Layton said she doesn’t have any jobs lined up, but is not considering a run for leader of the New Democratic Party of Ontario, a position now open after the resignation of Andrea Horwath. Layton’s father, Jack Layton, served as leader of the federal NDP for about eight years before his death in 2011.
“My second goal in this career change is to rebalance my life to spend more time with my children,” she said. “I don’t think becoming leader of a provincial party, leader of the official opposition, would really contribute to that.”
The University-Rosedale alderman has been on the city council for 12 years and was known for expressing progressive ideas, particularly on affordable housing and climate change, as well as transit and bicycle infrastructure.
Toronto Mayor John Tory said Layton will be missed on council, adding that he has been an inspiration in forging a path toward reconciliation with Indigenous people and setting climate change goals in all the city.
“Mike Layton is a very decent guy,” Tory said. “I wish him the best in his future endeavours. I feel like we haven’t seen the last of him in politics because he’s a young man and he can have another career and then go back to politics if he wants to. I think he’s in his DNA”.
Just over a quarter of the municipal races will not have a candidate in October. Former Deputy Mayor Denzil Minnan-Wong, Willowdale Councilman John Filion and Davenport Councilwoman Ana Bailão have also announced they will not seek re-election.
Three more seats have been left open after the current councilors leave their duties.
Former Toronto Board of Health president and Spadina-Fort York representative Joe Cressy resigned in April to pursue a career at George Brown College, while the Toronto Center Council. Kristyn Wong-Tam and Etobicoke North Council. Michael Ford left to run in the provincial election.
Nominations for the municipal races are open until August 19. The elections are scheduled for October 24.