Toronto elects for John Tory and a return to normalcy

On the evening he was elected to be Toronto’s next mayor, John Tory did something that seems, based on the past four years, somewhat inappropriate for someone set to step into Rob Ford’s shoes: He went to bed.

After beating Doug Ford to become the 65th Mayor of Toronto, Tory attended his victory party, thanked his mother, went home to bed and woke up early the next morning.

This, at least, according to what Tory told Newstalk 1010 in an interview early Tuesday morning. And unlike our current mayor, to be officially relieved at the end of November, we’ve got no reason to think John Tory is lying.

This is what Toronto might need to learn to expect from its new mayor – who was voted into office based largely on the fact that he was a slightly dull, certainly sober alternative to Ford, whose behaviour has dragged city hall into a bog of shame and embarrassment.

On the other hand, no one can say the last four years hasn’t been interesting.

Whether Ford was flipping the bird at mothers and children in traffic, knocking councillors over while charging across council chambers to fight with civilian observers, denying and then admitting to using drugs, denying and then admitted to using other drugs, fighting with the media, running into video cameras, falling off of oversized scales, being possibly photographed at Tim Hortons while allegedly being in rehab, tripping while trying to play football, wearing one of several ridiculous football-themed ties – and sorry I forgot where I was going with this.

The fog can be quite overwhelming.

Regardless, Ford has been a bastion of entertainment for those who follow local politics, a field generally focussed on zoning variances, parking bylaws and sending dull reports back to committee for further discussion.

In some ways, that is what Toronto voted for on Monday –they’ve asked for a return to boring. They’ve asked for a return of city council meetings that might not descent into shouting matches and name calling, and debates that might not end with pseudo-racist diatribes and false apologies.

Rob Ford was a four-year bender, capped off with a steak and eggs breakfast and a splash of cologne to cover the smell. John Tory is an early bedtime, a cup of morning tea and remembering to floss.

Want proof? Here are a few excerpts from Tory’s victory speech. Hold onto your hat:

• "I am humbled and I am honoured…"

• "…a prosperous, fair and caring Toronto…"

• "I will be a balanced and accountable leader…"

• "…a beacon of respect for everyone."

Lacks some of the “burn it down and start over” mentality we got in 2010. While promises of rationality, respect, teamwork and maturity will be greeted by some with relief, it could be a difficult shift.

In an Toronto Star opinion piece published shortly after Tory’s victory, John Barber called Tory “as boring as Nebraska,” before expounding further on the notion:

That’s a point worth noting. Indeed, in the darkest days an opinion was often shared that at least Ford was fostering interest in local politics.

But it wasn’t local politics that people became interested in so much as political theatre. Those who came to love Ford embraced the Braveheart-ian notion that a great hero was fighting to end their oppression, while those who were drawn in by the Jimmy Kimmel segments and internet memes tuned in for the train wreck.

Save for controversial stances on Toronto’s Pride parade, his bullheaded “subways, subways, subways” declarations and a few other instances where the Ford circus crossed into matters of actual relevance, it was the sideshow that captured us. And beyond that, there was the damage done.

The Mayor’s Office was dragged into a criminal investigation, and the mayor worked hard to discredit law enforcement officials and shake the public’s confidence.

The international spectacle Toronto became damaged its international reputation, even the Fords agree with that now.

John Tory promises to be a cure for the hangover. But don’t forget, Rob Ford has returned to his old position as a city councillor. The controversial Giorgio Mammoliti was inexplicably re-elected and former MP Jim Karygiannis, who never hid from the fray on Parliament Hill, secured a seat.

There will be plenty of opportunity for fireworks, name-calling and sideshows. Thankfully, the sideshows won’t be in the centre ring. That’s where John Tory will be, well rested, well informed and doing absolutely nothing that will lead to a late-night television segment.

Toronto could get used to that.