Former Ontario cabinet minister and Toronto mayoral candidate George Smitherman says he plans to run for a seat on city council in 2018.
Smitherman told CP24 Monday that he doesn’t want to threaten any incumbent and hopes to run in a new ward created by boundary changes.
“Even though it is a long ways off, I felt that people contemplating a run should know my plans,” Smitherman said Monday.
The former deputy premier and Ontario health minister stepped away from provincial politics in 2010 to run to become the mayor of Toronto but was defeated by the late Rob Ford.
Since then, Smitherman has mostly stayed out of the spotlight until 2014 when he made headlines for becoming one of Canada’s licensed medical marijuana producers.
At the time, he teamed up with retired Toronto deputy police chief Kim Derry and a GTA pharmacist to become one of about a dozen of Health Canada’s licensed commercial operations.
In a statement posted on Facebook Monday, Smitherman elaborated on his plans for a political comeback.
“The Toronto Centre territory where I have won the polls 4 times will have a new ward come the next election, so returning to politics can happen without any disruption to Councillors who are presently sitting and with whom I have terrific relations,” he wrote.
Smitherman told CTV News Toronto that while he has been busy being a single parent to his two children, he has missed representing the people of Toronto immensely.
“I’ve missed politics for every minute that I haven’t been in it,” he said. “I especially miss the family of politics and the family of community and the people of the downtown east side – that’s been my home for a long time and I really miss the opportunity to represent those folks.”
Smitherman became a single parent following the death of his husband Christopher Peloso in January 2014.
Peloso and Smitherman were married in August 2007 and they later adopted two children together.
Smitherman said that his six-year-old daughter and eight-year-old son have been a major influence in his new political path. As well, he said he has already purchased property in Toronto Centre and his new home will be built within the next few years.
“My ambitions are more appropriately suited to the resources that I have. I’m a solo parent. But, I think being able to work a ward that is walkable (distance) and balance that with being a good parent, I think those things are possible.”
Although Smitherman did previously run for mayor of Toronto, he said his situation is very different now and therefore that is not something he is considering anymore.
“Running for mayor is not something I have even considered (now). It’s so far beyond the realm of the possible.”
Since the election is not until October 2018, Smitherman said he will remain hopeful but focus on things that are currently happening in his life.
“The election is a long way off and there will be a Provincial election beforehand anyway. Meantime I will continue to tend to my family, business and community interests,” he said.
“I can't tell you enough how excited I am to be re-entering the arena, especially on the sacred territory of Toronto Centre where so much uplifting community happens.”
