Toronto Board of Control
The Board of Control of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, was a part of its municipal government until it was abolished in 1969. It served as the executive committee of the Toronto City Council. When it was initially created in 1896 by mandate of the provincial government, it consisted of three Controllers appointed from and by the aldermen, and presided over by the Mayor of Toronto.[1] Beginning in 1904, the Board of Control was directly elected by the city's electorate and consisted of four Controllers, presided over by the Mayor. Each voter could vote for up to four candidates, and the four with the most votes were elected. By tradition the controller who received the most votes would get the powerful budget chief position.
Functions
Under the Municipal Act, the Board of Control had the following duties and powers:[2]
- the preparation and certification of all estimates for expenditures
- the preparation of specifications for tenders, and making awards thereon
- the nomination to council of all heads of departments and related staff, and the recommendation of appropriate salaries
- the inspection and reporting (at least monthly) on all municipal works carried on or in progress
- the submission of by-laws to the council
- the authority to amalgamate departments and sub-departments
- other powers as the council has delegated by-law or resolution
With respect to the first three items, the board's actions could only be overturned by a two-thirds vote of the council.
History
From 1896 until 1904, the Toronto Board of Control was an executive branch of Council, chaired by the Mayor. It handled all daily business of Council and reported to Council.[3]
In the early 20th century, elected Boards of Control were introduced as a reform measure for all cities in Ontario. The board was designed to be the equivalent of a cabinet for municipal governments. It had certain specific duties such as issuing tenders and appointing department heads. In Toronto it often did not function as such. Since the controllers were elected separately from the mayor, there was no guarantee they would be allied. Moreover, since controllers contested citywide elections they were often seen as the natural contenders for the mayoralty and as challengers to the incumbent mayor. Many controllers thus had a self-interest in blocking the mayor from succeeding. Relations between the Board of Control and council were also sometimes difficult, with the Board often acting as an independent council at odds with the larger body.
In 1961 the provincial government allowed cities with more than 100,000 people to abolish the Board of Control. Toronto City Council voted to do so in December 1968 after a long debate. The move was opposed by Mayor William Dennison along with three of the sitting controllers, but it was passed by a significant majority of council. The Board of Control was replaced with a new executive committee that would be composed of and elected by city council members. The size of city council was expanded by four to retain the same overall number of councillors.
William Peyton Hubbard, the son of American slaves who had escaped to Canada through the Underground Railroad, was elected to the first Board of Control in 1904 and served for four terms - he would be he only Black person or person of colour to sit on the body;[4] Joseph Singer became the first Jewish candidate to win citywide office in 1923;[5] Jean Newman was the first woman elected to the Board and served from 1957 to 1960.[6][7]
City of Toronto Controllers
Names in boldface indicate Controllers that became Mayor of Toronto in other years. Names in italics are individuals who only sat on the Board of Control as mayor.
- X = elected as Controller
- M = sitting as Mayor
- B = elected as Controller in a by-election
- A = appointed Controller to fill a vacancy
From 1896 to 1903
Municipal Boards of Control were created by the provincial government as a reform measure. From 1896 to 1903 the Toronto Board of Control was appointed by vote of Toronto City Council from among its own members and acted as an executive committee or municipal cabinet. Controllers were chosen at the first council meeting in January after the annual municipal election. Three Controllers sat on the Board, in addition to the Mayor, until 1901 when the number of Controllers was increased to four.
| Controller | 1896 | 1897 | 1898 | 1899 | 1900 | 1901 | 1902 | 1903 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| William Burns[8][9] | A | A | A | |||||
| James Crane[10] | A | |||||||
| Robert Fleming*[11] | M | M | ||||||
| James Frame[12][13] | A | A | ||||||
| John James Graham[11][10] | A | A | A | |||||
| Oliver Aiken Howland[13][10] | M | M | ||||||
| William Peyton Hubbard[8] | A | A | ||||||
| Daniel Lamb[11] | A | A | A | |||||
| John Leslie[11][8] | A | A | ||||||
| John Francis Loudon[10][14] | A | A | ||||||
| Adam Lynd[9] | A | |||||||
| Ernest A. Macdonald[12] | M | |||||||
| George McMurrich[11][10] | A | A | ||||||
| Joseph Oliver[14] | A | |||||||
| Fred H. Richardson[14] | A | |||||||
| John Shaw*[8][9] | M | M | M | |||||
| Oliver Barton Sheppard[12] | A | A | ||||||
| Francis Stephen Spence[12] | A | |||||||
| Thomas Urquhart[14] | M | |||||||
| Francis H. Woods[9] | A |
*Fleming resigned as mayor on August 6, 1897. Council elected Shaw to complete his term.
From 1904 to 1929
Originally, the Board of Control was appointed by the city council. In 1903, the Ontario legislature passed a law requiring municipal boards of control to be chosen through direct election by the municipality's voters.[15] This requirement became effective in Toronto with the 1904 municipal election.
| Controller | 1904 | 1905 | 1906 | 1907 | 1908 | 1909 | 1910 | 1911 | 1912 | 1913 | 1914 | 1915 | 1916 | 1917 | 1918 | 1919 | 1920 | 1921 | 1922 | 1923 | 1924 | 1925 | 1926 | 1927 | 1928 | 1929 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| R.H. Cameron | X | X | X | X | X | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Emerson Coatsworth | M | M | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tommy Church | X | X | X | X | X | M | M | M | M | M | M | M | ||||||||||||||
| Thomas Foster | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | M | M | M | ||||||||||||||
| George Reginald Geary | X | M | M | M | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Joseph Gibbons | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | ||||||||||||||||
| Albert Hacker | X | X | X | X | X | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
| William Spence Harrison | X | X | X | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wesley Hiltz | X | X | X | M | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Horatio Clarence Hocken | X | X | X | X | X | M | M | |||||||||||||||||||
| William Peyton Hubbard | X | X | X | X | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| S. Alfred Jones | X | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| John F. Loudon | X | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Charles A. Maguire | X | X | X | X | M | M | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Sam McBride | X | X | X | M | M | |||||||||||||||||||||
| J.O. McCarthy | X | X | X | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| D.C. MacGregor | X | X | X | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| John O'Neill | X | X | X | X | X | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
| A.R. Nesbitt | X | X | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Joseph Oliver | M | M | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| J. George Ramsden | X | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fred H. Richardson* | X | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| William D. Robbins | X | X | X | X | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| John Shaw* | B | X | X | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| William Henry Shaw | X | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| James Simpson | X | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Joseph Singer | X | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Frank S. Spence | X | X | X | X | X | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
| W.A. Summerville | X | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Joseph Elijah Thompson | X | X | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Thomas Urquhart | M | M | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| John J. Ward | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | |||||||||||||||||||
| Bert Wemp | X | X | X |
* Richardson resigned after his election agent was charged with bribery. Shaw was elected to replace him in a by-election.
1930s and 1940s
| Controller | 1930 | 1931 | 1932 | 1933 | 1934 | 1935 | Jan 1936 | Dec 1936 | 1937 | 1939 | 1940 | 1941 | 1942 | 1943 | 1944 | 1945 | 1946 | 1947 | 1948 | 1949 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| David Balfour | X | X | X | X | X | X | ||||||||||||||
| Frederick J. Conboy | X | X | X | X | M | M | M | M | ||||||||||||
| Ralph Day | X | X | X | M | M | M | ||||||||||||||
| Lewis Duncan | X | X | X | |||||||||||||||||
| Albert Hacker | X | |||||||||||||||||||
| Fred Hamilton | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | ||||||||||||
| John Innes | X | X | X | |||||||||||||||||
| Allan Lamport | X | |||||||||||||||||||
| Sam McBride | X | X | X | X | M | |||||||||||||||
| Hiram E. McCallum | X | X | X | X | M | |||||||||||||||
| Kenneth Bert McKellar | X | X | X | |||||||||||||||||
| Douglas McNish | X | X | X | |||||||||||||||||
| Claude Pearce | X | |||||||||||||||||||
| J. George Ramsden | X | X | X | X | X | |||||||||||||||
| William D. Robbins | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | M | ||||||||||||
| Leslie Saunders | X | |||||||||||||||||||
| Robert Hood Saunders | X | X | X | X | M | M | M | M | ||||||||||||
| James Simpson | X | X | X | X | X | M | ||||||||||||||
| Stewart Smith | X | X | ||||||||||||||||||
| William James Stewart | M | M | M | M | ||||||||||||||||
| W.A. Summerville | X | |||||||||||||||||||
| William J. Wadsworth | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | |||||||||
| Bert Wemp | M |
From 1950 to abolition
With the formation of Metropolitan Toronto in April 1953, the two most senior controllers, in terms of votes at the municipal election, also sat on Metropolitan Toronto Council along with the Mayor of Toronto, the senior alderman from each of Toronto's nine wards, and mayors and reeves elected from the suburbs.[16][17][18]
| Controller | Jan 1950 | Dec 1950 | 1951 | 1952 | 1953 | 1954 | 1955 | 1956 | 1958 | 1960 | 1962 | 1964 | 1966 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| William Allen | X | X | X | X | |||||||||
| William Archer* | A | X | |||||||||||
| David Balfour | X | X | X | X | X | X | |||||||
| Roy Belyea* | A | X | |||||||||||
| Ford Brand | X | X | X | X | X | X | |||||||
| Margaret Campbell | X | X | |||||||||||
| Joseph Cornish | X | X | X | ||||||||||
| William Dennison | X | X | X | X | M | ||||||||
| Philip Givens*** | X | X/M | M | ||||||||||
| John Innes | X | X | |||||||||||
| Allan Lamport* | X | M | M | M | X | X | |||||||
| Ross Lipsett | A | ||||||||||||
| June Marks | X | ||||||||||||
| Hiram E. McCallum | M | M | |||||||||||
| Jean Newman | X | X | |||||||||||
| Herbert Orliffe | X | X | X | ||||||||||
| Nathan Phillips | M | M | M | M | M | ||||||||
| Leslie Saunders*** | X | X | X | X | X/M | X | |||||||
| Louis Shannon* | X | X | X | X | |||||||||
| Donald Summerville*** | X | X | M |
* Mayor Summerville died in office, Givens was appointed mayor in his place. Archer was appointed to the Board of Control to fill the vacancy.[19]
** In 1954, Controller Shannon died and Ward 9 Alderman Roy Belyea was appointed in his place.[19]
*** Mayor Lamport resigned as mayor to become vice-chairman of the Toronto Transit Commission, Saunders was appointed mayor in his place and Ward 8 Alderman Ross Lipsett was appointed to the Board of Control to fill the vacancy.[19]
Election results
- 1966
- Margaret Campbell - 88,036
- June Marks - 77,655
- Herbert Orliffe - 76,412
- Allan Lamport - 67,677
- George Ben - 63,206
- Joseph Piccininni - 58,122
- Phyllis Clarke - 10,162
- Arthur Young - 9,550
- John Charles Ewing - 6,071
- Dorothy Cureatz - 4,262
- Shaba Musa - 2,399
- 1964
- William Dennison - 68,892
- Herbert Orliffe - 66,280
- William Archer - 65,593
- Margaret Campbell - 60,900
- George Ben - 59,751
- Richard Horkins - 47,906
- Harry Bradley - 12,949
- Phyllis Clarke - 10,284
- Fred Graham - 9,673
- Patricia Mitchell - 6,750
- 1962
- Philip Givens - 88,629
- Allan Lamport - 84,902
- William Dennison - 76,504
- Herbert Orliffe - 73,118
- Margaret Campbell - 72,108
- Ken Waters - 62,019
- Phyllis Clarke - 16,151
- Frederick Graham - 10,475
- Dorothy Cureatz - 6,752
- 1960
- Donald Summerville - 110,893
- William Allen - 110,256
- William Dennison - 76,169
- Philip Givens - 66,972
- Herbert Orliffe - 65,418
- Francis Chambers - 30,696
- William Harris - 14,493
- Jessie Jackson - 14,062
- Burke - 13,240
- 1958
- Jean Newman - 59,243
- William Allen- 52,462
- Donald Summerville - 49,476
- William Dennison - 33,612
- Leslie Saunders - 33,469
- Roy Belyea - 27,024
- Ross Parry - 25,195
- James Karfilis - 10,971
- Harry Bradley - 10,499
- Ross Dowson - 4,539
- George Rolland - 3,834
- 1956
- Jean Newman - 54,785
- Ford Brand - 54,178
- William Allen - 54,038
- Joseph Cornish - 49,385
- Leslie Saunders - 47,048
- Harry Bradley - 16,450
- Charles Sims - 6961
- George Rolland - 5,632
- 1955
- Ford Brand - 59,264
- Joseph Cornish - 55,162
- William Allen - 53,455
- Leslie Saunders - 46,528
- Arthur Brown - 41,351
- Harry Bradley - 14,802
- Alex Hodgins - 13,503
- Harry Hunter - 9,493
- George Rolland - 3,923
- George Stanton - 3,863
- 1954
- Ford Brand - 69,540
- Roy Belyea - 66,223
- David Balfour - 62,871
- Joseph Cornish - 55,277
- Ross Lipsett - 45,385
- Harry Bradley - 20,488
- Harry Hunter - 14,114
- Nobleman - 9,413
- George Rolland - 5,280
- 1953
- Leslie Saunders - 62,397
- Louis Shannon - 57,635
- Ford Brand - 54,635
- David Balfour - 51,393
- Joseph Cornish - 46,701
- Harry Bradley - 18,686
- Harry Hunter - 14,194
- 1952
- Leslie Saunders - 71,597
- Louis Shannon - 61,154
- David Balfour - 58,898
- Ford Brand - 58,648
- Joseph Cornish - 41,086
- John McMechan - 30,219
- Stewart Smith - 19,061
- Harry Bradley - 17,480
- Frederick Vacher - 7,065
- Mahoney - 7,046
- 1951
- Leslie Saunders - 95,838
- Ford Brand - 92,725
- David Balfour - 91,474
- Louis Shannon - 87,440
- Stewart Smith - 31,317
- Frederick Vacher - 20,039
- December 1950
- John Innes - 93,656
- David Balfour - 81,577
- Leslie Saunders - 80,703
- Louis Shannon - 74,859
- Ford Brand - 66,235
- W.H. Collings - 59,380
- Stewart Smith - 28,309
- Mahoney - 8,210
- Frederick Vacher - 7,653
- January 1950
- John Innes - 96,139
- Leslie Saunders - 87,799
- David Balfour - 78,090
- Allan Lamport - 72,436
- Louis Shannon - 72,059
- Stewart Smith - 45,251
- Harry Bradley- 21,719
- Frederick Vacher - 9,850
- 1949
- John Innes - 53,599
- Leslie Saunders - 57,746
- David Balfour - 55,271
- Allan Lamport - 52,037
- Stewart Smith - 43,364
- Kenneth Bert McKellar (incumbent) - 41,846
- Leonard Reilly - 20,756
- E.C. Roelofson (incumbent) - 11,905
- Harry Bradley- 9,701
- 1948
- Hiram E. McCallum - 83,812
- John Innes - 80,834
- David Balfour - 77,087
- Kenneth Bert McKellar - 75,356
- Stewart Smith - 47,791
- Harry Bradley - 15,711
- Harry Clairmont - 4,858
- 1947
- Hiram E. McCallum - 58,524
- John Innes - 53,137
- David Balfour - 51,578
- Kenneth Bert McKellar - 49,680
- Stewart Smith - 42,106
- M.A. Sanderson - 26,136
- Harry Bradley - 10,749
- Harry Clairmont - 4,858
- 1946
- Hiram E. McCallum - 42,126
- Stewart Smith - 41,637
- David Balfour - 40,632
- Kenneth Bert McKellar - 35,627
- William J. Wadsworth - 35,477
- Leslie Saunders - 22,040
- Harry Bradley - 6,796
- 1945
- David Balfour - 47,931
- William J. Wadsworth - 45,942
- Stewart Smith - 41,691
- Hiram E. McCallum - 41,201
- Leslie Saunders - 34,587
- E.C. Bogart - 34,258
- C.D Millen - 30,235
- Harry Bradley - 9,589
- 1944
- Robert Hood Saunders (incumbent) - 73,383
- Fred Hamilton (incumbent) - 52,694
- William J. Wadsworth (incumbent) - 52,485
- David Balfour - 50,599
- Hiram E. McCallum - 50,337
- Stewart Smith - 41,277
- William Dennison - 30,026
- William Muir - 19,061
- Harry Bradley - 7,743
- 1943
- Lewis Duncan - 40,060
- Robert Hood Saunders - 33,081
- Fred Hamilton - 28,919
- William J. Wadsworth - 27,031
- C.E. Reynolds - 26,194
- Minerva Reid - 18,320
- J.C. Irwin - 16,860
- G.P. Granell - 5,010
- Harry Bradley - 3,590
- 1942
- Lewis Duncan - 41,656
- Robert Hood Saunders - 28,923
- Fred Hamilton - 28,853
- William J. Wadsworth - 27,022
- Ralph Day - 24,208
- Minerva Reid - 20,337
- J.C. Irwin - 18,272
- N. Macmillan - 5,179
- Harry Bradley - 3,102
- 1941
- Lewis Duncan - 49,382
- Fred Hamilton - 39,021
- Robert Hood Saunders - 37,417
- William J. Wadsworth - 33,411
- Adelaide Plumptre - 33,021
- Ernest Bray - 26,391
- David A. Balfour - 20,849
- Day - 4,645
- Harry Bradley - 3,271
- Harding - 2,523
- 1940
- Frederick J. Conboy - 78,672
- Douglas McNish - 68,774
- Fred Hamilton - 60,124
- William J. Wadsworth - 55,756
- David A. Balfour - 43,261
- Stewart Smith - 19,641
- Harding - 6,548
- January 1939
- Frederick J. Conboy - 80,720
- Douglas McNish - 73,252
- Fred Hamilton - 54,516
- William J. Wadsworth - 49,446
- William Croft - 48,798
- Tim Buck - 43,112
- Robert Hood Saunders - 40,973
- William D. Robbins - 24,745
- Harry Bradley - 3,489
- December 1937
- Frederick J. Conboy - 60,665
- William J. Wadsworth - 53,766
- Fred Hamilton - 47,493
- Douglas McNish - 44,402
- Tim Buck - 44,248
- Robert Hood Saunders - 41,817
- Robert Allen - 15,283
- Harry Bradley - 4,623
- December 1936
- Ralph Day - 56,847
- Frederick J. Conboy - 48,976
- William J. Wadsworth - 48,047
- Fred Hamilton - 39,003
- Douglas McNish - 32,265
- Tim Buck - 31,342
- Alfred Burgess - 3,983
- Harry Bradley - 3,295
- January 1936
- Ralph Day - 68,335
- William J. Wadsworth - 62,838
- J. George Ramsden - 52,170
- William D. Robbins - 51,465
- Joseph Enoch Thompson - 31,546
- Miller - 30,613
- Tim Buck - 20,873
- Harry Bradley - 4,986
- 1935
- Sam McBride - 71,177
- William J. Wadsworth - 58,783
- William D. Robbins - 44,820
- Ralph Day - 41,515
- Claude Pierce - 34,064
- Adelaide Plumptre - 32,872
- A.E Hacker - 29,110
- Frank Regan - 26,242
- Tim Buck - 9,938
- 1934
- Sam McBride - 54,855
- J. George Ramsden - 48,152
- James Simpson - 47,358
- William D. Robbins - 37,714
- William J. Wadsworth - 36,289
- Claude Pierce - 31,156
- Percy Quinn - 26,872
- Alice Buck - 9,767
- Harry Bradley - 2,623
- 1933
- J. George Ramsden - 55,503
- Sam McBride - 55,323
- James Simpson - 54,218
- William D. Robbins - 48,061
- Albert Hacker - 37,019
- John Boland - 36,645
- William Miller - 18,836
- Cotton - 11,871
- Alice Buck - 10,155
- W.J. Haire - 3,066
- J.H.H. Ballantyne - 2,183
- 1932
- James Simpson - 42,010
- J. George Ramsden - 38,200
- Sam McBride - 31,939
- William D. Robbins - 31,067
- Albert Hacker - 30,348
- Claude Pearce - 23,659
- Cotton - 6,440
- Tim Buck - 5,974
- Harry Bradley - 1,726
- 1931
- J. George Ramsden - 51,043
- William D. Robbins - 50,801
- James Simpson - 48,105
- Albert Hacker - 43,763
- John Boland - 41,779
- Claude Pearce (incumbent) - 40,431
- W.A. Summerville (incumbent) - 19,087
- Foster - 13,491
- Cotton - 9,014
- King - 3,154
- Tim Buck - 3,010
- 1930
- W.A. Summerville (incumbent) - 47,418
- Claude Pearce - 46,692
- James Simpson - 44,921
- William D. Robbins - 39,023
- Benjamin Miller - 37,156
- Frank Whetter (incumbent) - 31,772
- Brook Sykes - 28,043
- Wesley Benson - 25,054
- Harry Bradley - 2,617
- 1929
- Bert Wemp (incumbent) - 43,464
- Joseph Gibbons (incumbent) - 32,734
- W.A. Summerville - 30,292
- A.E. Hacker (incumbent) - 28,667
- R.H. Cameron - 27,266
- Claude Pearce - 27,245
- William D. Robbins (incumbent) - 23,796
- James Simpson - 12,816
- 1928
- Bert Wemp (incumbent) - 47,153
- Joseph Gibbons (incumbent) - 45,655
- A.E. Hacker (incumbent) - 33,433
- William D. Robbins - 29,359
- D.C. MacGregor (incumbent) - 28,858
- Brook Sykes - 24,427
- Miller - 18,122
- James Simpson - 12,954
- 1927
- Joseph Gibbons (incumbent) - 48,739
- A.E. Hacker (incumbent) - 43,153
- D.C. MacGregor (incumbent) - 34,813
- Bert Wemp - 34,450
- J. George Ramsden - 26,489
- Clifford Blackburn - 22,959
- Frank Whetter - 21,878
- James Simpson - 10,946
- 1926
- Joseph Gibbons (incumbent) - 37,608
- Sam McBride - 36,211
- A.E. Hacker (incumbent) - 31,427
- D.C. MacGregor (incumbent) - 30,975
- William D. Robbins - 30,320
- William C. McBrien - 29,923
- Bert Wemp - 28,024
- Frank Whetter - 21,722
- W.E. Hamilton - 2,590
- 1925
- Joseph Gibbons (incumbent) - 39,299
- A.E. Hacker (incumbent) - 34,369
- William D. Robbins - 33,172
- D.C. MacGregor - 30,326
- R.H. Cameron (incumbent) - 29,086
- James Simpson - 14,573
- Birks - 4,321
- 1924
- Joseph Gibbons (incumbent) - 42,778
- Thomas Foster (incumbent) - 34,435
- A.E. Hacker - 32,689
- R.H. Cameron - 30,621
- D.C. MacGregor - 26,637
- William D. Robbins - 26,594
- F.M. Johnston - 22,542
- J.R. Beamish - 20,161
- 1923
- Thomas Foster (incumbent) - 36,040
- Joseph Gibbons (incumbent) - 33,740
- Wesley Hiltz (incumbent) - 32,551
- Joseph Singer - 32,033
- Sam McBride - 30,606
- A.R. Nesbitt (incumbent) - 29,947
- Alfred Burgess - 24,876
- James Russell Lovett Starr - 25,931
- 1922
- Thomas Foster - 23,355
- Wesley Hiltz (incumbent) - 20,001
- Joseph Gibbons (incumbent) - 18,647
- A.R. Nesbitt (incumbent) - 16,453
- William D. Robbins - 16,814
- R.H. Cameron - 15,403
- J. George Ramsden - 14,721
- Clifford Blackburn - 12,950
- William Varley - 3,419
- 1921
- Charles A. Maguire (incumbent) - 34,141
- Wesley Hiltz - 22,615
- Joseph Gibbons (incumbent) - 18,612
- A.R. Nesbitt - 19,202
- William D. Robbins - 18,015
- R.H. Cameron (incumbent) - 17,872
- J. George Ramsden (incumbent) - 17,393
- Herbert Henry Ball - 16,911
- 1920
- Charles A. Maguire (incumbent) - 28,438
- Joseph Gibbons - 23,269
- R.H. Cameron (incumbent) - 21,055
- J. George Ramsden - 18,473
- William D. Robbins (incumbent) - 17,716
- Herbert Henry Ball - 16,506
- James Simpson - 10,832
- Wright - 7,927
- 1919
- Charles A. Maguire (incumbent) - 19,963
- R.H. Cameron - 19,094
- Sam McBride (incumbent) - 18,476
- William D. Robbins (incumbent) - 19,270
- Joseph Gibbons - 16,397
- Garnet Archibald - 15,603
- Fred McBrien - 13,570
- 1918
- John O'Neill (incumbent) - 24,952
- William D. Robbins - 19,000
- Sam McBride - 17,850
- Charles A. Maguire - 17,711
- William Henry Shaw (incumbent) - 14,255
- D.C. MacGregor - 14,468
- Garnet Archibald - 8,992
- Miles Vokes - 2,720
- Edward Meek - 2,262
- 1917
- R.H. Cameron (incumbent) - 15,615
- John O'Neill (incumbent) - 15,141
- Thomas Foster (incumbent) - 13,939
- William Henry Shaw - 11,967
- James Simpson - 10,779
- Sam McBride - 10,085
- Frank S. Spence - 9,281
- 1916
- Joseph Elijah Thompson (incumbent) -18,209
- John O'Neill (incumbent) - 17,572
- Thomas Foster (incumbent) - 16,085
- R.H. Cameron - 15,391
- James Simpson (incumbent) - 13,080
- Frank S. Spence (incumbent) - 12,652
- John Dunn - 11,009
- 1915
- John O'Neill (incumbent) - 20,751
- Thomas Foster - 18,608
- Frank S. Spence - 17,747
- Joseph Elijah Thompson - 16,505
- James Simpson (incumbent) - 16,349
- Fred McBrien - 15,447
- John Wanless - 13,044
- 1914
- James Simpson - 20,695
- J.O. McCarthy (incumbent) - 17,490
- Tommy Church (incumbent) - 17,085
- John O'Neill (incumbent) - 14,597
- Joseph Elijah Thompson - 14,233
- Thomas Foster (incumbent) - 13,929
- Robert Yeomans - 11,708
- Eckardt - 7,755
- 1913
- Thomas Foster (incumbent) - 15,861
- John O'Neill - 14,600
- J.O. McCarthy (incumbent) - 14,036
- Tommy Church (incumbent) - 12,765
- Frank S. Spence (incumbent) - 11,976
- Robert Yeomens - 10,713
- James Simpson - 10,122
- Charles A. Maguire - 9,388
- J.J. Ward - 9,278
- George R. Sweeny - 1,643
- Richard Woods - 498
- 1912
- Horatio Clarence Hocken (incumbent) - 16,904
- J.O. McCarthy - 14,897
- Thomas Foster - 14,462
- Tommy Church (incumbent) - 12,149
- Frank S. Spence (incumbent) - 12,003
- J.J. Ward (incumbent) - 11,735
- O'Donohue - 4,022
- George R. Sweeny - 3,921
- 1911
- Horatio Clarence Hocken - 22,761
- Frank S. Spence(incumbent) - 16,187
- J.J. Ward (incumbent) - 15,999
- Tommy Church (incumbent) - 15,760
- Thomas Foster (incumbent) - 15,540
- Thomas Davies - 3,285
- 1910
- Frank S. Spence - 13,879
- J.J. Ward (incumbent) - 13,401
- Tommy Church - 12,657
- Thomas Foster - 10,841
- William Spence Harrison (incumbent) - 9,946
- William Peyton Hubbard - 9,498
- Mark Bredin - 8,708
- James Henry McGhie - 7,511
- James Hales - 5,852
- Albert Chamberlain - 2,730
- 1909
- George Reginald Geary - 19,027
- Horatio Clarence Hocken (incumbent) - 17,380
- J.J. Ward (incumbent) - 15,782
- William Spence Harrison (incumbent) - 13,509
- Frank S. Spence (incumbent) - 12,933
- William Peyton Hubbard - 11,275
- Hales - 8,171
- Robert Buist Noble - 1,287
- James O'Hara - 779
- 1908
- Horatio Clarence Hocken (incumbent) - 16,844
- Frank S. Spence - 11,512
- William Spence Harrison (incumbent) - 10,312
- J.J. Ward (incumbent) - 10,075
- William Peyton Hubbard (incumbent) - 9,203
- John Shaw - 6,385
- Robert Fleming - 5,640
- Oliver Sheppard - 5,099
- John Dunn - 4,434
- John Enoch Thompson - 1,291
- James Lindala - 1,220
- Hugh MacMath - 1,013
- Robert Buist Noble - 745
- James O'Hara - 367
- Joel Marvin Briggs - 232
- 1907
- J.J. Ward (incumbent) - 9,362
- William Spence Harrison - 9,054
- Horatio Clarence Hocken - 8,639
- William Peyton Hubbard (incumbent) - 8,483
- Robert Fleming - 7,077
- S. Alfred Jones (incumbent) - 6,710
- John Shaw (incumbent) - 6,465
- John Dunn - 5,038
- Davies - 1,390
- Joel Marvin Briggs - 496
- 1906
- William Peyton Hubbard (incumbent) - 14,081
- S. Alfred Jones - 14,039
- J.J. Ward (incumbent) - 13,770
- John Shaw (incumbent) - 12,524
- Hastings - 11,308
- 1905
- Frank S. Spence (incumbent) - 13,032
- J.J. Ward - 12,993
- William Peyton Hubbard (incumbent) - 12,880
- John Shaw - 12,436
- James Russell Lovett Starr - 9,823
- Joseph Oliver - 8,141
- Thomas Foster - 6,395
- G.R. Ramsden - 5,839
- Frank Moses - 5,048
- A.R. Denison - 4,925
- Edward Hanlan - 2,178
- 1904
- Frank S. Spence - 12,294
- John F. Loudon - 11,121
- William Peyton Hubbard - 8,950
- Fred H. Richardson - 8,923
- William Burns - 8,641
- James Russell Lovett Starr - 8,639
- Joseph Oliver - 8,598
- John Shaw - 7,184
Suburban Boards of Control
Several other municipalities in Metropolitan Toronto also created Boards of Control. Etobicoke created its Board of Control in the 1962 municipal election and North York first elected its Board of Control in the 1964 municipal election. Scarborough and York launched their boards at the 1966 election. North York, and Scarborough had 5 person boards consisting of their respective mayors and four controllers elected at large while York's board consisted of a mayor and two Controllers. East York never created a Board of Control. Etobicoke's board consisted of the reeve and two Controllers until the 1966 election when it expanded to four Controllers and the mayor.
The top two candidates from the Toronto Board of Control also sat on, Metro Toronto Council. Beginning with the 1966 municipal election, several members of suburban Boards of Control sat on Metro Council as well as their borough's council - the number depended on the number of seats on Metro Council that borough was allocated.
With the 1988 municipal election, the suburban Boards of Control were abolished and Metro Councillors were instead directly elected from special Metro Wards (consisting of two local wards).
Etobicoke
Beginning in 1966, the top three candidates for Etobicoke's Board of Control also sat on Metro Council.
Names in boldface indicate Controllers that were or became Reeve or Mayor of Etobicoke in other years. Italics indicate those who only sat on the Board of Control as mayor.
X = elected as Controller
A = appointed Controller to fill a vacancy
M = sitting as Reeve or Mayor
| Controller | 1962 | 1964 | 1966 | 1969 | 1972 | 1974 | 1976 | 1978 | 1980 | 1982 | 1985 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| John Palmer MacBeth | M | M | |||||||||
| Murray Johnson | X | X | |||||||||
| John Carroll | X | X | X | X | |||||||
| Edward A. Horton | M | M | |||||||||
| Donald Russell | X | X | |||||||||
| David Lacey | X | X | X | ||||||||
| W. Kenneth Robinson | X | ||||||||||
| John Allen | X | X | X | ||||||||
| Dennis Flynn* | M | M | M | M | M | M | |||||
| Bruce Sinclair* | X | X | X | X | X | X/M | M | ||||
| Winfield (Bill) Stockwell | X | X | X | X | X | ||||||
| E. H. (Pete) Farrow | X | X | X | ||||||||
| Nora Pownall | X | X | X | ||||||||
| Morley Kells | X | X | |||||||||
| Dick O'Brien | X | X | X | ||||||||
| Leonard Braithwaite | X | X | |||||||||
| Christopher Stockwell | X | ||||||||||
| Lois Griffin* | A | X |
*Dennis Flynn resigned as mayor as a result of his appointment as Metro Chairman in August 1984. On September 4, 1984, Etobicoke City Council appointed Controller Bruce Sinclair to replace Flynn as mayor and appointed Lois Griffin to fill the Controller position vacated by Sinclair.[20]
North York
Names in boldface indicate Controllers that were or became Mayor of North York in other years. Italics indicate those who only sat on the Board of Control as mayor. Beginning in 1966, all of North York's Controllers also sat on Metro Council.
X = elected as Controller
A = appointed Controller to fill a vacancy
M = sitting as Reeve or Mayor
| Controller | 1964 | 1966 | 1969 | 1972 | 1974 | 1976 | 1978 | 1980 | 1982 | 1985 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| James Ditson Service | M | M | ||||||||
| G. Gordon Hurlburt | X | X | ||||||||
| Irving Paisley | X | X | X | |||||||
| Frank Watson | X | X | ||||||||
| Basil H. Hall | X | X | M | |||||||
| Paul Hunt | X | X | ||||||||
| Mel Lastman | X | M | M | M | M | M | M | M | ||
| John Booth* | X | |||||||||
| Paul Godfrey* | A | X | ||||||||
| John Williams | X | |||||||||
| Alex McGivern | X | X | ||||||||
| Barbara Greene | X | X | X | X | X | |||||
| William Sutherland* | A | X | X | X | ||||||
| Joseph Markin | X | |||||||||
| Esther Shiner** | X | X | X | X | X | |||||
| Ron Summers | X | |||||||||
| Robert Yuill | X | X | X | X | X | |||||
| Norm Gardner | X | X | ||||||||
| Howard Moscoe | X | |||||||||
| Mario Gentile** | A |
* Booth died in 1970 and was replaced by Paul Godfrey who served out the balance of his term.[21] Godfrey was reelected in 1972, but resigned when he was elected Metro Chairman in 1973 following the death of Metro Chairman Albert Campbell. North York Council elected Alderman William Sutherland to replace Godfrey on the Board of Control on July 23, 1973.[22]
**Shiner died on December 19, 1987. Councillor Mario Gentile was appointed to the Board of Control in February 1988 to fill Shiner's seat.[23]
Scarborough
All of Scarborough's Controllers also sat on Metro Council.
X = elected as Controller
A = appointed Controller to fill a vacancy
M = sitting as Mayor
| Controller | 1966 | 1969 | 1972 | 1974 | 1976 | 1978 | 1980 | 1982 | 1985 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albert Campbell* | M | ||||||||
| Robert W. White* | X/M | M | |||||||
| Gus Harris | X | X | X | X | X | M | M | M | M |
| Brian Harrison | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | |
| Karl Mallette | X | X | X | ||||||
| Ken Morrish* ** | A | X | X | X | X/M | X | X | ||
| Paul Cosgrove** | M | M | M | ||||||
| Joyce Trimmer*** | X | X | X | X | X | X | |||
| Frank Faubert** *** | A | X | X | X | |||||
| Carol Ruddell | X | X | X | ||||||
| Bill Belfontaine | X |
*Albert Campbell resigned as mayor after being elected Metro Chairman on October 1, 1969. Scarborough Council appointed Robert W. White to fill the vacancy as mayor and, on October 6, 1969, appointed Alderman Ken Morrish to the Board of Control to fill White's vacant position as Controller.[24]
**Paul Cosgrove resigned as mayor after being elected to the House of Commons of Canada in an October 16, 1978 by-election. Ken Morrish was appointed acting mayor in Cosgrove's place and Frank Faubert was appointed to the Board of Control to fill Morrish's vacated Controller position. Morrish was defeated by Gus Harris in the mayoral election a month later.
***Trimmer served as mayor from 1988 to 1993; Faubert was mayor from 1994 to 1997
York
York's two Controllers also sat on Metro Council.
Names in boldface indicate Controllers that were or became Mayor of York in other years. Italics indicate those who only sat on the Board of Control as mayor.
X = elected as Controller
A = appointed Controller to fill a vacancy
M = sitting as Reeve or Mayor
| Controller | 1966 | 1969 | 1972 | 1974 | 1976 | 1978 | 1980 | 1982 | 1985 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C. Wesley Boddington | X | ||||||||
| Fergy Brown* | X | X | X | X | |||||
| Gayle Christie | M | M | |||||||
| Jack Mould | M | ||||||||
| Doug Saunders | X | X | X | X | |||||
| Alan Tonks | X | X | M | M | |||||
| James Trimbee | X | X | X | ||||||
| Philip White | X | M | M | M | M | X | X | X |
*Brown served as mayor from 1988 to 1994
References
Bibliography:
- Russell, Victor (1982). The Mayors of Toronto: Volume 1: 1834–1909. Boston Mills Press. ISBN 0-919822-77-0.
Notes:
- Hull, James (2012). "Science in the City: Contesting the City Architect's Office in Toronto" (PDF). Science in Government. 35 (1–2): 8.
- "Municipal Act, RSO 1990, c. M.45, s. 68". archive.org.
- Russell 1982, p. 123.
- "City's political class remains mostly colourless", Royson, James. Toronto Star; Toronto, Ont. [Toronto, Ont]19 Feb 2015: GT.2.
- "Biographies of Early and Exceptional Ontario Lawyers of Diverse Communities Arranged By Year Called to the Bar, Part 1: 1797 to 1940". Archived from the original on 2016-05-18. Retrieved 2015-04-09.
- Former Alderman and Controller, Ms. Jean Newman dies at 66." Toronto Star. October 6, 1971.
- "A Gallery of Women". The Globe & Mail. February 12, 1959.
- "BURNS, HUBBARD AND LESLIE: Seen Fight For Places on the Board of Control Yesterday The Playor's Message Treats of Many Important Civic Questions Finances of the City The Civic Credit Railway Enterprises Cheap Power Manufacturing Industries Water Works Tunnel Scheme Disposal of Refuse--Harbor Square Railway Service to City Dock Street Paving St. Lawrence Market The New City Buildings", The Globe (1844-1936); Toronto, Ont. [Toronto, Ont]11 Jan 1898: 5
- "THE CIVIC INAUGURATION: Municipal Machine For. Ninety-nine Fairly Started on Its Way MAYOR'S MESSAGE Western Wards Furnish the Board of Control BURNS, LYND, WOODS Work For the Year Mapped Out to the Accompaniment of a Chanticleer Chorus Cock-a-Doodle Do-o-o Mayor's Inaugural Address New City Buildings Cattle Market Accommodation St. Lawrence Market Improvements Additional Park Property James Bay Railway Another Railway Scheme Improvements to the Harbor The City's Finances Electing Controllers", The Globe (1844-1936); Toronto, Ont. [Toronto, Ont]10 Jan 1899: 5.
- "INAUGURATION OF COUNCIL: Aid Graham, Crane, Loudon and McMurrich Controllers GAS AGREEMENT Aid Spence Moves For a Reconsideration PUBLIC OWNERSHIP", The Globe (1844-1936); Toronto, Ont. [Toronto, Ont]14 Jan 1902: 2.
- "AT THE PAVILION: Inaugural Meeting of the New City Council MAYOR ...", The Globe (1844-1936); Jan 12, 1897; ProQuest Historical Newspapers: The Globe and Mail, pg. 2
- CIVIC INAUGURATION: Mayor Macdonald's Message Outlines an Energetic Policy THREE NEW CONTROLLERS Mayor Favors Election of Controllers by the People and Abolition of the Double Vote--He Resents the "Vulgar and Intolerant Language" of Mr. Wm. Mackenzie, "the Representative of a Corrupt Plutocracy," and Accepts the Gauntlet Thrown Down by Covenant-breaking Corporations--Candidates For High School Board to Be Pledged--May or Complains of a Disgraceful Lobby--Send-off to Second Contingent, The Globe (1844-1936); Toronto, Ont. [Toronto, Ont]09 Jan 1900: 9
- CONSERVATIVE RULE IN CITY: Work of Machine Appears in Election of Controllers GAS CO. PURCHASE Mayor Says it is Declared Off by His Election GAMBLING MUST STOP Mayor Howland Says so in His inaugural Address-Fallacy of His Plan to Make a Cabinet of Board of Control", The Globe (1844-1936); Toronto, Ont. [Toronto, Ont]15 Jan 1901: 2
- "FIRST MEETING OF NEW COUNCIL: Board of Control Elected on the First Ballot THE MAYOR'S INAUGURAL Wm. Burns, Loudon, Oliver and Richardson Mayor Urquhart Urges More Power For the Board of Control-- The Standing Committees and Their Chairmen", The Globe (1844-1936); Toronto, Ont. [Toronto, Ont]13 Jan 1903: 4
- The Consolidated Municipal Act, 1903, S.O. 1903, c. 19, Part IV, Div. III
- "Metro's Day, Metro's Duty", The Globe and Mail (1936-2016); Toronto, Ont. [Toronto, Ont]05 Dec 1960: 6.
- "Dual Role: Metro's 2-Hatted 2 Dozen" The Globe and Mail (1936-2016); Toronto, Ont. [Toronto, Ont]09 Dec 1964: 5
- "Etobicoke adds new mayor's face to Metro Council: Metro Council will be more alert to public opinion", Baker, Alden. The Globe and Mail (1936-2016); Toronto, Ont. [Toronto, Ont]06 Dec 1966: 37.
- "Precedent Cited for Filling Vacancies From City Council, The Globe and Mail (1936-2016); Toronto, Ont. [Toronto, Ont]22 Nov 1963: 4
- "Sinclair named Etobicoke mayor",Toronto Star (1971-2015); Toronto, Ontario [Toronto, Ontario]05 Sep 1984: A7.
- "Godfrey captures vacant seat on North York Board of Control", The Globe and Mail (1936-Current); Toronto, Ont. [Toronto, Ont]26 Sep 1970
- "North York vacancy filled by Sutherland" The Globe and Mail (1936-Current); Toronto, Ont. [Toronto, Ont]24 July 1973: 5
- "North York seeks councillor to fill seat that Gentile vacated", Toronto Star, 2 February 1988
- Alderman gels controller post in Scarboro The Globe and Mail (1936-Current); Oct 7, 1969; ProQuest Historical Newspapers: The Globe and Mail pg. 5
- "Toronto Council Votes to Drop Board of Control." Toronto Star. December 19, 1968. pg 31
- "Farewell Board, of Control?" Toronto Star. December 20, 1968.