Governing Toronto: Bringing Back the City That Worked


​In stark contrast to the dysfunctional megacity of today, The Municipality of Metropolitan Toronto was a city that worked. Some refer to this period from 1954 to 1998 as Toronto’s “Golden Age”.

This book traces the growth and governance of the city from its creation in 1834 through its successful Metro years to why and how the decision was made to establish the present megacity while at the same time either accidentally or deliberately turning the Ontario government into both a provincial government and a regional government, as well, for a significantly enlarged Greater Toronto Area.

Then it urges the provincial government to initiate a long over-due review of the governance of the city aimed at returning it to a city that works either by way of a de-amalgamation, as successfully achieved in Montreal, or at the very least by a decentralization of local responsibilities.

Reviews for Governing Toronto

The HON. JEAN CHAREST, FORMER PREMIER OF QUEBEC:

“When I had the privilege of serving as the Premier of Quebec my government passed legislation to allow municipalities formerly amalgamated to become de-amalgamated. Many took advantage of this opportunity including a number previously merged with the city of Montreal. While calling for an Ontario government review of the existing governance of Toronto, my friend Alan Redway in this book points out  not only that de-amalgamations have been successfully achieved in Quebec but also that the present borough system of government in the city of Montreal itself could well be a model for a more decentralized Toronto form of government.”
JOHN SEWELL, FORMER MAYOR OF TORONTO:

“Who knew that a history of local government in the Toronto area could be so lively and chock full of interesting quotes? Alan Redway has done a superb job of pulling together so many back-room stories about how decisions were made over a fifty year period leading up to the creation of the megacity–and why it should be rethought. Bravo!”
ANDREW SANCTON, PROFESSOR OF POLITICAL SCIENCE AT WESTERN UNIVERSITY AND AUTHOR OF MERGER MANIA

"As a former mayor of East York and federal cabinet minister, Alan Redway obviously knows his way around Toronto politics. His new book demonstrates that he also knows his way around Toronto’s archives. He guides us through the creation and evolution of Metro Toronto and of the amalgamated city, often enlivening his account with new information from interviews with key players, including Mike Harris. Toronto’s current policy-makers – both provincially and locally – should carefully consider his plea to 'Bring Back the City that Worked'."