In 1991, Japan began its lost decade — in 2014, Toronto entered one of its own. This is when John Tory’s election as mayor initiated a yawning stretch of undeniable decline. Perhaps, with his resignation, the city still has a chance.
On Friday night, shockwaves reverberated across the country as the Toronto Star first reported Tory engaged in an affair with a 31-year-old staffer. Then, just about an hour later, Tory did something politicians simply don’t do anymore: resign.
On the surface, it was a stunning turn of events for a mayor whose entire brand was being boring. After the tumultuous Rob Ford years, scandal-weary Torontonians would’ve elected drywall if they could. In Tory, they elected the next best thing.
