In one year, Toronto residents will be going to the polls to elect a mayor and 44 city councillors. Elections are a time of renewal. They are an opportunity for new ideas and new leadership to be injected into the clamshell. But rarely do you see that at city hall. That’s why I continue to champion democratic reforms that I believe Toronto needs so we can have better representation at city hall.

It’s a fact — Toronto’s city council does not reflect the population that elected them. Fifty per cent of the city are visible minorities. Fifty per cent of the city are women. On council, only 14 per cent are visible minorities and 32 per cent are women.

I strongly believe this is because Toronto’s municipal system favours the incumbent over new candidates. About 90 per cent of councillors seeking re-election win back their seat.

In 2010, I unseated an incumbent, one who had been deputy mayor, speaker, and strongly entrenched in a political party. It was one of the biggest upsets in Toronto politics. But this is rare. I was fortunate with timing, a disgruntled electorate looking for change, and a creative and energetic campaign effort.

This is why I support term limits and will not be running next year. I promised to stay for two terms. This is healthy for Toronto, for our neighbourhoods, and for politicians. In 2010, 15 new councillors were elected. It was a breath of fresh air flowing into city hall! We were keen, excited, and filled with energy and new ideas. We revisited the food truck issue, pushed Toronto to become a music city, and provided leadership in a tumultuous time. Turnover is good. Change is healthy.

Ranked ballots would also go a long way in better representation at city hall. Strategic voting often means we end up supporting a candidate who isn’t really our first choice, out of fear. A ranked ballot would allow voters to prioritize who they would like to see as their representative.

We need to make it easier for people to vote. While the voter turnout was high in the last election, we need to aim for 100 per cent participation. During the last election, polling stations opened at 10 a.m. when most people already dropped their kids off at school or have gone to work. Opening polling stations early in the morning so people can add it into their morning routine would go a long way.

As Toronto’s population grows and our neighbourhoods change, we need to look at the makeup of our wards. While I don’t think we need more politicians at city hall, councillors are going to find it difficult to represent their constituents if they have over 100,000 residents in their ward.

At city hall, we talk a good game. Councillors repeatedly push for better representation at council — gender equity, young people, and diversity. But when push comes to shove and we have to vote on it — council does not step up. In 2013, council killed term limits. In 2016, council killed ranked ballots. Councillors are forcing a review on previously approved ward boundaries.

As we enter election fever with both provincial and municipal elections next year, I encourage all politicians to reflect on their time in office, their accomplishments, and their chance to hand over the torch to someone new. Leave the party while you are still having fun! Give someone else a chance. Continue to city build on the outside.

Get in, do a good job, and then pass the role over to someone else. It is public service not a career.

Mary-Margaret McMahon is the city councillor for Ward 32—Beaches-East York.