Joint Appointment of Waterfront Toronto Chair - by Mayor John Tory, seconded by Councillor Joe Cressy

Since then the board has selected a chair from among the other twelve members, as is prescribed in the Act. I have been involved in discussions with the other levels of government about filling the Chair's position by joint appointment. I have secured an agreement from them to jointly appoint Stephen Diamond provided that City Council agrees. I am attaching letters from the other governments to demonstrate their commitment. I believe that Stephen Diamond has the necessary skills, qualifications and experience required to lead the revitalization of Toronto's waterfront on behalf of the governments of Canada, Ontario and Toronto. For the past three years he has served as one of City Council's three public appointees to the board. The City retains the power to appoint its four members. City Council recently appointed Councillor Joe Cressy to the board for a term ending December 12, 2021. The terms of the three public members - Susie Henderson, Mohamed Dhanani and Stephen Diamond - end on March 31, 2019 and City Council is scheduled to consider appointments for the next three-year term at its May 2019 meeting. Unlike other appointments City Council makes, the terms of the three public members end on March 31, 2019 with no provision for them to be extended until successors are appointed. Accordingly, to ensure the City is adequately represented on the board, City Council should extend their appointments until City Council appoints their successors later in the spring. If the three governments complete their joint appointment of Stephen Diamond before his successor is appointed to his City seat, there will be a vacancy until City Council does so.