13th Annual Toronto City Manager’s Address

In the past two budgets, Torontonians have been asked to invest in their city at levels above historical averages. At IMFG’s 13th Annual City Manager’s Address, Toronto City Manager Paul Johnson highlighted where those investments are improving outcomes and how the Toronto public service is driving improved performance across the City’s six strategic priorities: achieving financial sustainability, ensuring a well-run city, maintaining and creating affordable housing, keeping Toronto moving, investing in people and neighbourhoods, and tackling climate change while building resilience.

Building on last year’s discussion of the Province’s New Deal for Toronto, Johnson reflected on the progress made over the past year – what’s been achieved, what’s ahead, and how the City is working toward better outcomes for its residents.

Speaker:

Paul Johnson is the City Manager for the City of Toronto. As the fourth largest city in North America, Paul oversees delivery of programs and services to more than three million people whose diversity and experiences make this great city Canada’s leading economic engine. A proud public servant, Paul is committed to making community connections and enhancing the quality of life for all Toronto residents. Away from work Paul is a basketball official who has "blown the whistle" at thousands of games at the local, provincial and national levels.

Moderator:

Sabine Matheson has been a principal at StrategyCorp since 1998. She is the founder of StrategyCorp’s Municipal Affairs Practice Group, which has served hundreds of municipalities across Canada on strategic projects of all kinds. In 2023, she co-led the consultant team that wrote Toronto’s Long Term Financial Plan. Currently, she is deeply involved in transition discussions on behalf of the Region of Peel and, she is advisor to Ontario’s Big City Mayors. Previously, she was Chief of Staff to Ontario’s Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, during the time of the amalgamations, property tax reform, and “Who Does What”.

A well-known commentator on the municipal world, she is the principal author of StrategyCorp’s Annual Survey of City Managers and CAOs. She has a BA (Honours) from Queen's University and an LL.B from University of Toronto Law, and was called to the Bar of Ontario in 1993.