Mayor-elect John Tory names his transition team

The team that will help transition John Tory into his role as mayor includes key members of his campaign team, mayoral candidate David Soknacki, and non-profit, business and academic leaders.

Tory announced on Tuesday afternoon that Christopher Eby, a former National Post and CTV journalist-turned communications expert who previously worked on Tory’s campaign, will be his new chief of staff.

“I’m honoured to have been asked to take on this role and, along with the Mayor-elect, I’m eager to get down to work getting results for the residents of Toronto,” Eby said.

Tory will have two teams, both led by former deputy mayor Case Ootes. Ootes also led Rob Ford’s transition team in 2010.

“The best transition team is people that have the knowledge of city hall both at bureaucracy and the political scene,” Ootes said. “But also some outside people that will have a fresh perspective.”

The transition team includes Eby, former Conservative MP candidate Vic Gupta, and campaign strategist Nick Kouvalis.

A second team, the advisory council, will include former Queen’s Park speaker Alvin Curling, Ryserson University President Sheldon Levy and Pan Am CEO Saad Rafi.

Ootes said the teams will provide advice in confidence to Tory. The advisory council will focus on three issues: transportation planning and SmartTrack, congestion and gridlock, and housing.

David Soknacki, who dropped out of the mayoral race after receiving much acclaim for his thorough approach to policy, was named one of 20 members of the advisory council.

“His name’s come up some time ago,” Ootes said. “I think it’s important that he be part of this because he did run. He had some good ideas and we want to take advantage of that.

The full list of the new teams:

Transition team

Transition Advisory Council

Sevaun Palvetzian, CEO of the Greater Toronto CivicAction Alliance

MORE

Mayor-elect John Tory wants opponents Olivia Chow, David Soknacki on his team

• SHARE: