City Council Increases Representation During Black History Month

Toronto’s political stage hasn’t kept up with the city’s varied population, with the majority of city council members being white.

Nonetheless, three new Black councillors were elected in last fall’s municipal election, raising expectations that the city’s government will be more representative of its residents.

More than four months after Toronto’s fall election, Global News asked councillors Amber Morley, Chris Moise, and Jamaal Myers to reflect on their paths to victory, the progress made increasing representation in municipal politics, and the challenges they’ve identified to move the needle for future generations.

Despite the fact that the three new councillors were elected in the same election, each took a different road to city hall.

Moise, a former school trustee, was touted as the natural successor to his downtown ward’s long-serving member when they both went on to provincial politics.

Morley successfully upset a formidable incumbent four years after almost losing out on the opportunity. And Myers won at the end of the campaign, after a popular incumbent died only days before the election.