Municipal government of Toronto

City of Toronto
Municipal government

Municipal logo

Toronto City Hall, the seat of government
Formation
  • January 1, 1834 (1834-01-01) (historic)
  • January 1, 1998 (1998-01-01) (current)
Statutory authorityCity of Toronto Act, 2006
S.O. 2006, c. 11, Sched. A
TypeSingle-tier municipality with a mayor-council system
Websitetoronto.ca
City of Toronto
MayorOlivia Chow
Deputy MayorAusma Malik
City ManagerPaul Johnson
Toronto City Council
Head of councilOlivia Chow
SpeakerFrances Nunziata
Membership
  • 1 mayor
  • 25 city councillors
Appointed byDirect election every four years
SeatToronto City Hall

The municipal government of Toronto is administered by Toronto City Council and includes the City of Toronto, the primary corporation which implements the decisions of council, as well as agencies and other city-owned corporations which are overseen by a board. A creation of provincial statute, its structure and powers are set out in the City of Toronto Act.

City council is composed of 25 councillors and the mayor of Toronto. Council passes by-laws, approves spending, and has direct responsibility and oversight of services delivered by the city and its agencies; the mayor is head of council and the nominal chief executive officer (CEO). The mayor appoints the city's senior management, selects councillors to chair the city's committees, and develops the annual budget.

The Toronto Public Service is the municipal civil service. The city employs over 43,000 staff, who provide politically neutral advice and implement the policies, programs and decisions of city council. The city manager sits at the top of the city's administrative structure as head of the Toronto Public Service and the chief administrative officer (CAO). The city manager, along with other senior leadership roles such as deputy city managers and the general managers of city divisions, are appointed by the mayor and take direction from council.