Torontonians to head to the polls June 26 for mayoral byelection, city clerk says

The byelection to replace John Tory as Toronto's mayor is tentatively set for Monday, June 26, the city clerk confirmed Thursday.

Nominations are set to open April 3 at 8:30 a.m. and close May 12 at 2 p.m.

Advance voting will take place June 8 to 13.

In a news release Thursday, the city said the byelection is contingent on an upcoming meeting of city council, where staff will consider recommendations from the clerk to formally the declare the office of the mayor vacant and to pass a bylaw requiring a byelection for Tory's replacement.

The release added the city clerk would not normally announce a byelection in advance of passing a bylaw, but that in this circumstance, it was considered "to be in the best interests of the city."

Announcing the dates now means the clerk can begin making preparations such as hiring election staff and booking voting locations, the release added. 

The estimated budget for the byelection is approximately $13 million. Actual expenses for the October 24, 2022 general election totalled of $14.5 million.

Though it remains to be seen, there may be a push to delay the byelection to the fall months, as some councillors previously discussed on CBC Radio's Metro Morning.

The city's last election (like many municipal elections) saw a dismal voter turnout with just 30 per cent of eligible residents casting a ballot.

News of the byelection comes less than two weeks after Tory announced on Feb. 10 he would step down after the Toronto Star revealed the 68-year-old mayor had an extramarital affair with a 31-year-old former staffer.

Tory spoke to reporters that night, saying the consensual relationship ended earlier this year, calling the affair a "serious error in judgment."

The mayor had just begun his third term in office at the time.

Tory's official resignation came on Feb. 17, with Deputy Mayor Jennifer McKelvie taking over his post. 

McKelvie has said she will not run for Mayor.