Toronto municipal election, 1969

Last updated March 15, 2019

Municipal elections were held in Toronto , Ontario, Canada, on December 1, 1969. Across Metro Toronto there were few surprising results, and city of Toronto incumbent mayor William Dennison was easily re-elected. The one dramatic exception to this was on Toronto city council, where a number of long-standing members lost to young new arrivals who shared a common vision of opposition to the megaprojects that had transformed Toronto throughout the post-war period. While the reform movement candidate for mayor lost, it gained a strong presence on city council. The 1970s reform faction dominated Toronto politics for the next decade.

Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the most populous city in Canada, with a population of 2,731,571 in 2016. Current to 2016, the Toronto census metropolitan area (CMA), of which the majority is within the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), held a population of 5,928,040, making it Canada's most populous CMA. Toronto is the anchor of an urban agglomeration, known as the Golden Horseshoe in Southern Ontario, located on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A global city, Toronto is a centre of business, finance, arts, and culture, and is recognized as one of the most multicultural and cosmopolitan cities in the world.

William Donald Dennison was a Canadian social-democratic politician that served in both the Ontario Legislative Assembly and finally as the City of Toronto's mayor. He served two nonconsecutive terms as a Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) in the 1940s and early 1950s. After his provincial-level career, he focused on Toronto's municipal politics, holding offices as an alderman, member of the Toronto Board of Control, and finally as the city's mayor. He was the mayor from 1967 to 1972, winning two consecutive three-year terms. Prior to entering politics, he was a school principal and teacher. As of 2015 he was the last mayor of Toronto to be a member of the Orange Order.

Toronto mayoral race

The NDP chose not to enter an official mayoral candidate, but tacitly endorsed incumbent William Dennison, who ran as an independent but had been active in the New Democratic Party, and its predecessor the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation, for many decades previously. The Liberals nominated University of Toronto professor Stephen Clarkson as their candidate. The third candidate was city controller Margaret Campbell. A Progressive Conservative, she ran on an explicitly reform platform.

The Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (CCF) was a social-democratic and democratic socialist political party in Canada. The CCF was founded in 1932 in Calgary, Alberta, by a number of socialist, agrarian, co-operative, and labour groups, and the League for Social Reconstruction. In 1944, the CCF formed the first social-democratic government in North America when it was elected to form the provincial government in Saskatchewan. In 1961, the CCF was succeeded by the New Democratic Party (NDP). The full, but little used, name of the party was Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (Farmer-Labour-Socialist).

The Liberal Party of Canada is the oldest and longest-serving governing political party in Canada. The Liberals form the current government, elected in 2015. The party has dominated federal politics for much of Canada's history, holding power for almost 69 years in the 20th century—more than any other party in a developed country—and as a result, it is sometimes referred to as Canada's "natural governing party".

Stephen Clarkson, was one of Canada’s preeminent political scientists and a professor of political economy at the University of Toronto.

One important issue in the race was the future of Metro Toronto, with Dennison pushing strongly for amalgamation of Metro into a single city. This initiative was opposed by the Progressive Conservative provincial government. During the election a non-binding referendum was held in the city, and found overwhelming support for amalgamation. There was also debate over whether Metro should continue to grow to incorporate the newly formed suburbs to the north in Markham and Thornhill.

Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario political party in Ontario, Canada

The Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario, often shortened to Ontario PC Party, PC, or Conservatives, is a centre-right political party in Ontario, Canada. The party has been led by Premier Doug Ford since March 10, 2018.

Markham, Ontario City in Ontario, Canada

Markham is a city in the Regional Municipality of York within the Greater Toronto Area of Southern Ontario, Canada. It is located approximately 30 km (19 mi) northeast of Downtown Toronto. The city is the fourth-most populous community within the Greater Toronto Area after Toronto, Mississauga and Brampton and is York Region's most populous municipality.

Thornhill is a suburban community in the Regional Municipality of York in Ontario, Canada. It is split between the cities of Vaughan and Markham, lying along the north border of Toronto, centred on Yonge Street. Once a police village, Thornhill is now a community and postal designation. According to the 2001 Census, Thornhill-Vaughan's population was 56,361, and the population of Thornhill-Markham was 47,333. It is immediately south and south-west of Richmond Hill.

Two of the most important issues was over the continuation of the urban renewal plans that had reshaped to Toronto in the 1950s and 1960s. Campbell staunchly opposed the Spadina Expressway and the further demolition of neighbourhoods to build apartment towers. Clarkson also opposed the expressway, but argued the city was giving up federal funding by abandoning the clearances program and that areas like Kensington Market and Trefann Court should be redeveloped.

Kensington Market is a distinctive multicultural neighbourhood in Downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Market is an older neighbourhood and one of the city's most well-known. In November 2006, it was designated a National Historic Site of Canada. Robert Fulford wrote in 1999 that "Kensington today is as much a legend as a district. The (partly) outdoor market has probably been photographed more often than any other site in Toronto."

Trefann Court is a small neighbourhood in the eastern part of downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is located on the north side of Queen Street between Parliament Street and River Street. It extends north only a short distance to Shuter St.

Results: William Dennison - 65,988; Margaret Campbell - 52,742; Stephen Clarkson (Civic Liberal) - 31,889; John Riddell (League for Socialist Action) - 2,363

Toronto city council

With this election, there were three important changes in how Toronto was governed. The Board of Control was abolished, replaced by an executive committee of city council. Political parties were introduced into municipal politics, with both the Liberals and New Democrats running slates. The Progressive Conservatives chose not to run as an organized slate, despite its supporters having a majority of seats on the council prior to the election. The locally based Civic Action Party (CIVAC) also organized for the election. Founded by Ryerson professor David Crombie, it was a loose coalition of moderate reform-minded candidates. The Trotskyist League for Socialist Action also ran candidates as a party. Thirdly, the ward map was redrawn with two new wards and the replacement of strip wards with had extended from the northern limits of the city to the lake with block wards with Bloor Street as a border. Under the previous boundaries wealthier neighbourhoods that tended to be north of Bloor were in the same wards as poorer neighbourhoods south of Bloor which usually resulted in alderman being elected from richer neighbourhoods with higher turnout. As a result of the new boundaries, more affluent neighbourhoods north of Bloor were separated from what were normally poorer neighbourhoods south of Bloor and that, as a result, the new wards south of Bloor were more likely to elect alderman who represented the interests of poorer working class residents. The change occurred as a result of demands by social activists who went to the Ontario Municipal Board demanding a "block ward" system. As a result, the 1969 election saw several "reform" aldermen being elected, including John Sewell and Karl Jaffary in the new Ward 7 which had been carved out of the old Ward 2. Mayor Dennison commented that "They never would have been elected in Ward 2".^[1]

In municipal government a Board of Control is an executive body that usually deals with financial and administrative matters. The idea is that a small body of four or five people is better able to make certain decisions than a large, unwieldy city council. Boards of Control were introduced in many North American municipalities in the early 20th century as a product of the municipal reform movement. They proved unpopular with many as they tended to centralize power in a small body while disempowering city councils.

The Metro New Democratic Party was a political party in Metropolitan Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It supported candidates for election to the municipal councils and school boards of the six municipalities that made up Metro Toronto. The party was organized by supporters of the social democratic New Democratic Party of Canada, and its provincial wing, the Ontario New Democratic Party (NDP).

David Edward Crombie is a Canadian politician, professor and consultant. Crombie served as mayor of Toronto from 1972 to 1978. In federal politics, he served as a Progressive Conservative Member of Parliament from 1978 to 1988 serving in several cabinet positions.

In the Toronto election, 22 aldermen were elected from 11 wards, with the two highest vote-getters in each ward being elected. The top vote-getter in each ward also won a seat on Metro Council. The election was a disaster for the Liberals: Clarkson finished a distant third, and only two members were elected to city council. Most successful of the parties was CIVAC, who won five seats. Three New Democrats were elected, and the rest of the winning candidates had run as independents.

The most striking change was the defeat of six incumbent, Tory, pro-development councillors by reform candidates. Michael Grayson, Oscar Sigsworth, Harold Menzies, Helen Johnston, Ken Dear, and Alice Summerville were defeated. Four other aldermen had retired prior to the election, and the new council contained ten new members. New arrivals included David Crombie, John Sewell, and Art Eggleton.

John Sewell, CM is a Canadian political activist and writer on municipal affairs; he was the mayor of Toronto, Ontario from 1978 to 1980.

Arthur C. "Art" Eggleton, is a retired Canadian Senator representing Ontario. He was the longest serving Mayor of Toronto, leading the city from 1980 to 1991. Eggleton has held several federal government posts, including President of the Treasury Board and Minister of Infrastructure from 1993–1996, Minister for International Trade from 1996–1997, and Minister of National Defense from 1997 until 2002.

A loose coalition was formed that controlled 11 of the 22 council seats, but there were sharp divisions between the left members such as Sewell and Jaffary and more right-wing members such as Hope and O'Donahue. The coalition soon broke down. O'Donohue, Rotenberg, Eggleton sided more often with the Old Guard pro-development faction leaving only seven members who consistently opposed urban renewal plans.^[2]

The top two from each ward were elected to Toronto City Council. The top candidate from each ward also won a seat on Metro Toronto council.

Ward 1 (Swansea and Bloor West Village): Ben Grys (incumbent)- 9,031; William Boytchuk - 4,544; Frank Paznar - 3,895; William Zock (NDP) - 2,861; Reta Hirons (NDP) - 2,069; Robert Karfell (Liberal) - 1,245; Harry Bradley - 800

Ward 2 (Parkdale and Brockton): Allan Lamport (incumbent) - 5,817; Archie Chisholm (NDP) - 4,412; Kenneth Dear (incumbent) - 3,526; Michael Comar (Liberal)- 1,670; Robert Grossi - 1,345; Nino De Costa (Liberal)- 1,116; Michael Kaschuck - 677; Harry Stone (League for Socialist Action)- 405

Ward 3 (Davenport and Corso Italia): Hugh Bruce (Liberal, incumbent) - 5,131; Joseph Piccininni (incumbent) - 4,340; Fortunato Rao (NDP) - 1,563; Marc Llanos (NDP) - 1,007; Pamela Ward - 559; Alice Maigis - 516

Ward 4 (Trinity-Bellwoods and Little Italy): Tony O'Donohue (incumbent, CIVAC) - 4,962; Art Eggleton (CIVAC) - 2,668; Johnny Lombardi - 2,473; Vernon Kimball (NDP) - 1,083; Frank Lacka - 1,044; Jack Matraia - 609; Norman Brudy - 392; Harold Peerenboom (Liberal) - 332

Ward 5 (The Annex and Yorkville): Ying Hope (CIVAC) - 6,016; William Archer - 5,370; Harold Menzies (incumbent) - 3,916; Hugh Marchand (NDP) - 3,058; Kenneth Counsell (Liberal) - 2,679; Frank Ricciuti (Liberal) - 2,300; Ted Culp (NDP) - 768; David Astle - 574; Joan Newbigging (League for Socialist Action) - 330

Ward 6 (Financial District, Toronto - University of Toronto): June Marks (incumbent) - 4,738; Horace Brown (incumbent) - 2,810; Peter Stollery (Liberal) - 2,768; Michael Grayson (incumbent) - 2,755; John Conforzi (CIVAC) - 2,314; Helen Roedde (NDP) - 2,052; Donald Flowers (Liberal) - 977; Charles Downes - 624; Dorothy Cureatz - 301; James Sanderson - 180

Ward 7 (Regent Park and Riverdale): Karl Jaffary (NDP) - 5,433; John Sewell - 5,054; Oscar Sigsworth (incumbent) - 3,093; Michael Doran - 2,554; Sam Rotenburg - 2,515; Douglas Loney (Liberal) - 1,379; Richard Fidler (League for Socialist Action) - 418; Charles Rolfe - 324; Steve Necheff - 270

Ward 8 (Riverdale): Fred Beavis (incumbent) - 7,154; Tom Clifford - 4,158; Tony Barclay (NDP) - 3,090; Betty Knight - 2,763; Steve Arvanitis (NDP) - 2,681; Tony Calderaro (Liberal) - 990; Kenneth Swire - 331

Ward 9 (The Beaches): Tom Wardle Sr. (incumbent) - 9,178; Reid Scott (NDP) - 8,965; Alice Summerville (incumbent) - 5,697; Gerry Thompson (NDP) - 3,528; Robert Fullerton - 1,733; Don Grills (Liberal) - 1,116

Ward 10 (Rosedale and North Toronto): Paul Pickett (incumbent) - 13,700; William Kilbourn (Liberal) - 8,221; Helen Johnston (incumbent) - 5,371; Ann Tomlinson (Liberal) - 3,508; Juanna Hemsol (CIVAC) - 2,353; Eleanor O'Connor (NDP) - 1,849; Michael Harper - 962

Ward 11 (Forest Hill and North Toronto): David Rotenberg (incumbent, CIVAC) - 15, 389; David Crombie (CIVAC) - 14,036; Samuel Kellner (Liberal) - 7,512; Bernard Eastman (NDP) - 1,773; Robert MacGilchrist - 1,466; Pauline Shapero - 673

Results are taken from the December 2, 1969 Toronto Star and might not exactly match final tallies.

Vacancy

Ward 9 Alderman Tom Wardle Sr., elected in the 1971 Provincial Election resigned September 12, 1972 when the provincial government passed legislation to prohibit MPPs from holding municipal office. His resignation was accepted on September 13 and the remaining Ward 9 Alderman Reid Scott was appointed Metro Councillor. .

Suburbs

There were few surprises in the elections outside the city of Toronto. Incumbent mayors True Davidson, Robert W. White, Edward A. Horton respectively in East York, Scarborough, and Etobicoke were reelected. Philip White won the vacant mayoralty in York and Basil Hall won the open seat in North York, defeating Ron Barbaro who was the nominee of the Liberal Party as part of its attempt to enter municipal politics.^[3] There were few upsets on the councils. One notable new arrival on North York council (Board of Control) was Bad Boy furniture owner Mel Lastman. Paul Godfrey was re-elected as an alderman by acclamation and Dennis Timbrell is elected alderman at the age of 23, Robert Yuill was re-elected as ward alderman.

East York

Mayor: (x)True Davidson 16,236 (62.6%); Royden Brigham 9,709 (37.4%)

(source: Toronto Daily Star, page 13, December 2, 1969)

Etobicoke

Mayor: (x)Edward A. Horton 25,016 (51.70%); Dennis Flynn 23,367 (48.29%)

Flynn, a City of Toronto information officer, came close to unseating Horton despite only beginning his campaign two days before election day. He would go on to be a long-time Mayor of Etobicoke and later Metro Chairman.

(source: Toronto Daily Star, page 12, December 2, 1969)

Board of Control (4 elected): (x)Donald Russell 30,852; (x)David Lacey 28,340; (x)John Carroll 25,660; John Allen 23,717; E. H. Farrow 21,203; Thomas Berry 17,893

(source: Toronto Daily Star, page 12, December 2, 1969)

Council

Sportswriter Dick Beddoes was elected alderman for Ward 2.

(source: Toronto Daily Star, page 12, December 2, 1969)

North York

Mayor: Basil H. Hall - 55,654 (67.26%); Ron Barbaro - 20,019 (24.19%); Sherman - 7,060 (8.53%)

Board of Control (4 elected): Irv Paisley - 41,328; (x)Paul Hunt - 41,212; Mel Lastman - 35,580; John Booth - 34,077; Donald Brill - 28,111; Alex McGivern - 27,944; Aldcorn - 22,111; Sam Wagman - 12,468; Ewins - 9,267

Scarborough

Mayor: Robert W. White - 44,307 (80.31%); Albert G. Early - 10,879 (19.69%)

Board of Control: {x) Gus Harris - 34,456; Ken Morrish - 33,890; (x)Brian Harrison - 30,050; (x)Karl Mallette - 28,671; Frank Faubert - 23,506; Peck - 22,685

York

Mayor: Philip White 13,749; C. Wesley Boddington 11,826

Controller Phillip White defeated fellow Controller and former Weston mayor Boddington.

Board of Control (2 elected): James Trimbee 12,561; Douglas Saunders 11,920; Shute 7,888; Christopher Tonks 6,959

York's first Board of Control was elected.

(source: Toronto Daily Star, page 13, December 2, 1969)

Notes

↑ Horrocks, Lisa. "Seven News: The Story of A Community Newspaper".
↑ Stoffman, Daniel. "Old Guard in Disarray." Toronto Star. December 5, 1972.
↑ "Hall sees victory as party repudiation", The Globe and Mail; Dec 2, 1969; ProQuest Historical Newspapers: The Globe and Mail, pg. 5

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References

Beast Michael, "Party Politics Provide a Lively Life in Race for Toronto City Council", Toronto Daily Star , November 29, 1969. pg 26-27.
"Election Results." Toronto Daily Star , December 2, 1969. pg. 8

Toronto municipal election, 1969

Contents

Toronto mayoral race

Toronto city council

Vacancy

Suburbs

East York

Etobicoke

North York

Scarborough

York

Notes

Related Research Articles

References

Further reading