In a surprise announcment, Ward 11 University-Rosedale city councillor Mike Layton will not seek re-election in the upcoming municipal election in October later this year.

Layton served as city councillor for the west end communities since 2010, when he replaced Joe Patalone in Ward 19. Following the city council seat reduction in 2018, Layton has represented Ward 11.

He became of fixture in city council and was a vocal leader against provincial cuts to healthcare and communities amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Layton's time as councillor IS highlighted by his support for several initiatives centered around battling climate change and helping the city's under-served communities.

"I’ve dedicated my career to fighting climate change and inequality, and I’m proud that I took every opportunity I had as Councillor to make progress on both fronts,” Layton writes in his farewell letter on Twitter. 

Layton thanked the city staff, his council colleagues, communities and businesses that supported him throughout his time as councillor in the letter as well. 

Coun. Layton helped establish several community hubs in the University-Rosedale area. This includes Blackhurst, which continues its development this summer. Photo by Daniel Centeno/CJRU.

He was vocal in the continued expansion of bike lanes and protection for cyclists across the city. Layton was a strong proponent of making the downtown core more pedestrian friendly and finding greener ways for transportation. This adovoacy includes helping to implement bike lanes along Bloor St., which is considered one of Toronto's busiest streets and a transportation hub for commuters.

Further, Layton was a strong advocate for the creation of Toronto's Community Crisis Response Pilot Project. The project, which was created to help respond to mental health crises without the need for police and to eliminate the potential for physical violence, recently expanded to western portions of the downtown core and North York earlier this month.

In March, Layton emphasized the need for resources to ensure the project does not fail - he promised to vote on every motion that would allow the project to continue and seek expansion.

Other projects Layton helped spearhead include establishing affordable housing units and helping to launch cultural centres like Blackhurst along Bloor and Bathurst St.

“There is much more work to be done," Layton writes. "This isn’t the end of my commitment to improving Toronto and I will continue working on these issues. Now it’s time for me to continue this work in a different capacity, while being the best dad and partner I can be.” 

Layton is the son of the late Jack Layton, the longtime federal NDP leader who led the party to its best election result with 103 seats in 2011.

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