Deputy to Lead City Infrastructure Services

Summary#

Toronto City Council approved the appointment of a new Deputy City Manager for Infrastructure Services. The main change is that Will Johnston is appointed to this senior role, effective June 16, 2023, with the City Manager authorized to finalize his employment terms. The goal is to fill a key leadership vacancy and oversee major city services.

• Appoints Will Johnston as Deputy City Manager, Infrastructure Services, starting June 16, 2023 (subject to his written acceptance).
• Authorizes the City Manager to negotiate the employment contract.
• Releases the appointee’s name and résumé summary to the public after approval.
• States there are no extra costs beyond the 2023 approved operating budget.
• The role oversees: Engineering & Construction Services, Transit Expansion, Municipal Licensing & Standards, Toronto Emergency Management, Transportation Services, Toronto Water, Solid Waste Management Services, and Policy, Planning, Finance & Administration.
• Recruitment used an executive search firm (Odgers Berndtson) and two rounds of interviews with senior officials and councillors.

What it means for you#

• Residents:

  • No immediate change to day-to-day city services is set by this item.
  • The Deputy City Manager leads many essential services (water, waste, roads, emergency management, licensing). This leadership could shape future plans and service priorities, but the item itself does not change rules, fees, or service levels.

• Businesses (especially those needing city licences):

  • Oversight of licensing remains within this portfolio. The appointment does not change licensing rules; it sets who leads the division.

• City employees in the listed divisions:

  • There is a new senior leader to whom these divisions report.

• City governance:

  • Fills the vacancy created by the prior Deputy City Manager’s retirement, providing continuity for major infrastructure work and projects.

Expenses#

No direct new public cost is identified in the materials.

• The City states the costs for this position are covered within the 2023 Council-approved operating budget for Policy, Planning, Finance & Administration.
• No salary or contract cost figures are provided in the public report.
• The Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer reviewed the report and agreed with the stated financial impact.

Proponents' View#

• The item appears intended to quickly fill a critical leadership role after the previous Deputy City Manager retired, helping maintain stability in essential services.
• Central leadership over key divisions could improve coordination across infrastructure, transit expansion, transportation, water, waste, licensing, and emergency management.
• Using a recognized executive search firm and multi-stage interviews with senior officials and councillors could be seen as a thorough and fair hiring process.
• Having a named, experienced leader in place may support delivery of large, complex projects.

Opponents' View#

• One concern is limited public detail: the report uses a confidential attachment for personal information, and the public materials do not include salary, contract terms, or performance goals.
• It is unclear from the item how the appointee will set priorities across the many divisions, so residents may not know what changes, if any, to expect in services.
• No independent cost estimate beyond “within the existing budget” is provided, so the full financial implications (if any) are not detailed.