Jamaal Myers
Chair of the Toronto Transit Commission
Assumed office
August 11, 2023
Preceded byJon Burnside
Toronto City Councillor
for Ward 23 Scarborough North
Assumed office
November 15, 2022
Preceded byCynthia Lai
Personal details
EducationUniversity of Western Ontario (B.A., 2006)
London School of Economics (M.Sc., 2007)
New York University (J.D., 2013)
Occupation
  • Politician
  • lawyer
Websitewww.jamaalmyers.com

Jamaal Michael Anthony Myers is a Canadian lawyer and politician who has been the chair of the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) since August 11, 2023. Myers has represented Ward 23 Scarborough North on Toronto City Council since November 15, 2022. Before entering politics, he worked as a corporate lawyer.

Early life and education

Jamaal Michael Anthony Myers[1] was born in Scarborough to Jamaican parents and raised in Toronto Community Housing.[2]

He attended the University of Western Ontario, graduating in 2006 with a bachelor's in political science, before completing a master's in comparative politics and research methodology at the London School of Economics in 2007. Myers earned a law degree from the New York University School of Law in 2013.[3]

Career

Myers was previously employed at TD Bank and was promoted to senior legal counsel in 2020, with his work focusing on environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG).[4]

He served as vice-chair of TAIBU Community Health Center and director of the Scarborough Business Association. Moreover, he was a volunteer with HousingNowTO and Scarborough Transit Action.[5][6]

Political career

Myers was elected to Toronto City Council during the 2022 Toronto municipal election, replacing the late incumbent Cynthia Lai who died days before the municipal election on October 21, 2022.[7] Due to her death, Lai's votes were not counted.[8]

Myers ran on a platform of affordable housing, easier access to healthcare, increased funding and more buses for the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) in wake of the Line 3 Scarborough closure, as well as maintaining the ActiveTO program.[9][6][10] He was endorsed by the Toronto Star, Toronto & York Region Labour Council, and Progress Toronto.[5][11][12]

Myers began his first term on council by releasing a statement alongside other councillors opposing the Better Municipal Governance Act, 2022, which is a controversial provincial legislation which would give the mayors of Toronto and Ottawa the power to pass local bylaws with only a third of city council’s support.[13]

Myers was appointed as chair of the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) Board on August 11, 2023, by Mayor Olivia Chow.[14]

Electoral history

2022 Toronto municipal election, Ward 23 Scarborough North
Candidate Vote  %
Jamaal Myers 5,315 51.09
Phillip Francis 2,755 26.48
Virginia Jones 2,333 22.43
Cynthia Lai[lower-alpha 1] N/A N/A
Total 10,403
100%
Source: City of Toronto[15]

References

  1. ↑ "Jamaal Michael Anthony Myers". Law Society of Ontario.
  2. ↑ "Jamaal Myers is running for City Council because "Toronto's in trouble'". The Caribbean Camera.
  3. ↑ "Jamaal Myers | LinkedIn". LinkedIn.
  4. ↑ "Jamaal Myers leverages his skillset to focus on ESG reporting matters at TD Bank". Canadian Lawyer Magazine.
  5. 1 2 "Progress Toronto Progressive Champions". progresstoronto.ca. Retrieved 2022-10-24.
  6. 1 2 "Ward 23 — Scarborough North". thelocal.to. 15 September 2022. Retrieved 2022-10-24.
  7. ↑ "Toronto councillor Cynthia Lai, running for re-election, dies". thestar.com. 2022-10-21. Retrieved 2022-10-22.
  8. ↑ "'I'm going to work to earn their trust': Scarborough North has new councillor as Cynthia Lai supporters mourn". toronto.com. 2022-10-24. Retrieved 2022-10-24.
  9. ↑ "I Believe in Scarborough". jamaal4scarbto.com. 2022-10-21. Retrieved 2022-10-24.
  10. ↑ "Ward 23: Scarborough North". ttcriders.ca. Retrieved 2022-10-24.
  11. ↑ "The Star's endorsements for Toronto Council in Wards 17 to 25". thestar.com. 2022-10-21. Retrieved 2022-10-24.
  12. ↑ "2022 Municipal Election". labourcouncil.ca. Retrieved 2022-10-24.
  13. ↑ "Five former Toronto mayors call on Tory to 'soundly' reject strong mayor legislation". CTV News Toronto.
  14. ↑ "The Board". Toronto Transit Commission. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
  15. ↑ Elvidge, John D. (October 27, 2022). "Declaration of Results" (PDF). Toronto City Clerk's Office.

Notes

  1. ↑ Lai passed away on October 21, 2022. As the ballots were already printed prior to her death, she will still appear on the ballot, however will not get any votes.
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