John Tory taps Denzil Minnan-Wong as deputy mayor

Mayor-elect John Tory has revealed his picks for deputy mayor, the executive committee, and several other important positions for the next term of council.

Denzil Minnan-Wong, who most recently made headlines for holding a sign outside a public bathroom, will serve as Tory's official second in command, but the incoming mayor wants to appoint three other deputies to represent different parts of the city: Vince Crisanti in the west, Glenn DeBaeremaeker in the east, and Pam McConnell downtown. The move requires the approval of council, which will meet for the first time on Tuesday.

Under plans revealed Sunday, Cllr. Josh Colle, a SmartTrack supporter, will become the new TTC chair, Jaye Robinson the chair of the public works committee, and Gary Crawford the budget chief. Michelle Berardinetti will take over control of the parks committee, Paul Ainslie will be responsible for the government management committee, while Michael Thompson will stay on as chair of the economic development committee.

David Shiner will head up the planning committee chair, and Cesar Palacio will take on the municipal licensing and standards committee.

Rob Ford, perhaps for health reasons, is not expected to become part of the inner circle.

Under Tory, the executive committee will consist of two downtown councillors for the first time since the Ford era, Ana Bailao and Mary-Margaret McMahon, but other left-leaners have been shut out.

Surprisingly, Cllr. Frances Nunziata, who wasn't exactly renowned for her coolheaded control of the council chamber, will return for a second stint as speaker. Shelley Carroll will be her deputy.

The incoming mayor will also be sit on the police services board with Cllr. Carroll and Cllr. Chin Lee.

Norm Kelly, who was deputy and then de facto mayor after Ford was stripped of his powers, will not be returning to a key position at his own request, the Toronto Sun reports.

Notably absent, of course, are left-leaning councillors. One imagines that this team isn't so different from the one that Doug Ford would have assembled should he have been elected mayor. What do you think of Tory's choices?

Tory is due to meet Premier Kathleen Wynne tomorrow. He will be officially sworn in ahead of the first council meeting.

Chris Bateman is a staff writer at blogTO. Follow him on Twitter at @chrisbateman.

Image: Jesse Milns/blogTO

by Chris Bateman via blogTO