John Tory supports byelection for Rob Ford's vacant council seat

A byelection will be held for the late Rob Ford's Toronto citycouncil seat this summer, if Mayor John Tory gets his way.

Speaking to reporters at an unrelated event on Thursday, Tory said he wants Ford's replacementchosen by the voters in Ward 2rather than by a council appointment

• Doug Ford doesn't rule out run by family member for Toronto's Ward 2
• Options for filling Rob Ford's council seat: byelection or appointment
• Rob Ford's old ward has many other hopeful candidates

Under provincial law, councilmust declare Ford's seat vacant at the nextmeeting, scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday next week. Councillors then have60 days to decide whether to appoint someone to the seat, or call a byelection.

"I'll bestrongly supportive of a byelection, andofproceeding with it as quickly as possible," Tory said.

The decision between abyelection or appointment is not Tory's alone, but council's.

If council opts for abyelection, the city estimates the cost at $150,000 to $200,000. After council passes a bylaw calling abyelection. thecity clerk is required to set a nomination datewithin 60 days. Voting day must be 45 days after nomination day.

"I would anticipate[the byelection]would take place in the early summer," said Tory.

If council decides to fill the vacancy by appointment, it establishes its own rules on how to do so,since there are no procedures laid out in either the City of Toronto Actor the Municipal Elections Act.

In 2014, council filled vacant seats in Wards 5 and 20 by appointment. Applicantshad the opportunity toaddress council for five minutes. Each councillorwas allowed to ask one question, then council voted to determine the winner.

Ford died of cancer March 22.