Mayor Rob Ford lost an important ally at City Hall, but gained one at Queen's Park, as Etobicoke-Lakeshore sent Deputy Mayor Doug Holyday to the provincial legislature Thursday.
The decision to install a Progressive Conservative in a seat long held by the Liberals is a major Toronto breakthrough for the PCs and perhaps a vote of confidence for Mayor Rob Ford, who campaigned tirelessly on behalf of his longtime friend. In 2011, Liberal Laurel Broten won by more than 10,000 votes.
Ford's former chief of staff stops by Holyday's campaign party
The provincial by-election in Etobicoke-Lakeshore reunited an estranged pair Thursday night — or at least brought them into the same room.
Mark Towhey, Mayor Rob Ford's former chief of staff, attended Deputy Mayor Doug Holyday's campaign party at The Brawley, on The Queensway.
The mayor also made an appearance. Mr. Ford fired Mr. Towhey at the height of the crisis regarding crack cocaine allegations against the mayor.
Mr. Towhey spoke highly of Mr. Holyday, calling him a man of integrity. And despite his unceremonious departure from city hall, Mr. Towhey had positive words about Mr. Ford.
"What Rob Ford stands for resonates," said Mr. Towhey.
"People may not like the way he looks, how he dresses, the way he talks sometime, but what he's saying people understand and it's very much what they're thinking."
This is the first PC win in Toronto since 1999.
This time, the race was too close to call leading up to the vote, with competing polls giving the lead to either Mr. Holyday or Councillor Peter Milczyn, the Liberal candidate and Mr. Holyday's seat-mate on the city's executive committee.
With all 260 polls reporting, Mr. Holyday had garnered 16,130 votes and Mr. Milczyn 14,513.
Mr. Holyday took the stage around 11:30 p.m., raising his hands humbly as the crowd chanted his name. He said he "didn't have intentions to switch careers at this stage" but he was convinced by PC leader Tim Hudak and others that it would be the right step.
He bristled at suggestions that the Conservatives should have won more seats, noting the five spots up for grabs weren't "regular seats that fell out of the sky" but Liberal strongholds.
"For us to take one tells me we can take more and we will," said Mr. Holyday.
In the dying days of the campaign, the Liberals blasted Mayor Ford for campaigning for his deputy, claiming he was trying to turn the provincial race into a referendum on the Ford tenure.
"It's not about us, it's about [Mr. Holyday]," insisted Mayor Ford upon arriving at Mr. Holyday's post campaign party at The Brawley, a pub on The Queensway. "People I've talked to are fed up with this Liberal nonsense."
The race garnered attention because it pit two well known Etobicoke politicians against one another. Whatever the outcome, City Hall was bound to lose a familiar face, and the mayor a reliable vote.
In Mr. Holyday, a former mayor of Etobicoke, Mr. Ford has lost one of his most loyal allies. In the heady days of the crack cocaine allegations, as the administration was engulfed in scandal, it was often only Doug Ford and Doug Holyday who were by the mayor's side. Mr. Holyday also did heavy lifting during tense contract negotiations with the city's major unions.
People I've talked to are fed up with this Liberal nonsense
"It's obviously going to be a challenge, he will be very much missed at city hall," said Mark Towhey, the mayor's former chief of staff, who came to the bar to support Mr. Holyday. But he suggested Mr. Holyday's move to Queen's Park will help the municipality.
"Quite honestly, we will miss one or the other," said Councillor John Parker, who was a member of provincial parliament in the Mike Harris government. "Peter and Doug are both strong performers at city hall. It's a shame that the two of them are going head to head."
With Mr. Holyday gone, veteran Scarborough councillor and former Liberal MP Norm Kelly will assume the role of Deputy Mayor.
Once the results are confirmed, city council will declare Mr. Holyday's Etobicoke-Centre ward seat vacant at its next meeting and decide whether to appoint someone or call a byelection. Mr. Holyday also chairs the employee and labour relations committee.
Speaking to reporters afterwards, as Madonna's Holiday song blared from the speakers, Mr. Holyday, 70, said he's looking forward to learning a new job. "What the heck, you're never too young to learn and I think I'll do well when I get there. At least I hope I will," he said. Mr. Holyday said he plans to watch how the Liberal government spends money and make sure "they don't blow any more."
He downplayed what his departure from City Hall will mean for Mr. Ford. "I'll only be a phone call away," he added.
Peter Milczyn, who like Mr. Holyday took a leave from his council duties to campaign, will return as representative for Ward 5, Etobicoke-Lakeshore. He chairs the planning and growth committee. Mayor Ford said Thursday he still wants Mr. Milczyn on his executive.
"Peter is a great guy, there is nothing wrong with Peter. He's just in the wrong party," he said.
The byelections in Toronto took a nasty turn in recent days. On Tuesday, Mayor Ford said a vote for the Liberals is like "giving a bank robber another gun and say[ing] go rob another bank."
On Wednesday, the Liberals attacked the mayor's involvement in the campaigns, accusing him of overstepping his bounds by working to send his "puppet" Mr. Holyday to the provincial legislature. "A provincial election is none of the mayor's business," Transportation Minister Glen Murray charged.
People at Mr. Holyday's party last night steered clear of calling the deputy mayor's victory a vote of confidence in the mayor, who has weathered his share of scandals in the past year. Mr. Parker said, "This election isn't about the mayor. It's about Queen's Park. It's a referendum on the performance of the provincial government."
The mayor, meanwhile, steered clear of any crowing, and sounded a conciliatory note, insisting that he will be able to work with the Kathleen Wynne government.
"After… it's over [you] shake hands, and say good game and get on with business," said Mayor Ford.
National Post
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