Wong-Tam, a consultant for Ward 13 – Toronto Center, issued a statement Friday morning saying she’s resigning from the city council after more than a decade in power and plans to run in the election. of June.
“To the residents of Ward 13 – Toronto Center, I am very grateful and loving to announce that I will not seek re-election to the City Council in October. In addition, after much thought and discussion with my family and close friends, I decided to submit the name “I will run for the NDP to become the next member of the provincial council for the Center of Toronto,” she wrote in a statement.
Wong-Tam says her last day with the city council will be on May 4.
With great gratitude and love I announce that I will not run for re-election for the Municipal Council in October. I decided to submit my name to look for the @OntarioNDP nomination to become the next MPP for the Center of Toronto. Read my full letter: pic.twitter.com/2QXP8BmA2F
– Kristyn Wong-Tam (@kristynwongtam) April 8, 2022
NDP leader Andrea Horwath is set to announce Wong-Tam’s candidacy today at 10:15 a.m.
An NDP source told CP24 that Wong-Tam is the only candidate in this ride and that the nominations are closed.
Suze Morrison was elected the NDP’s first MPP for the Toronto Center in 2018, but announced earlier this week that she is not running for re-election due to a medical condition.
“I was diagnosed with endometriosis in 2019 and my pain has worsened over the last two years. I’m fine, but being an MPP is a demanding role and I have to slow down for a while,” Morrison wrote on her website.
Wong-Tam’s departure from the city council marks a second downtown district that will be vacant for this October’s municipal election, after councilor Joe Cressy announced earlier this week that he was resigning in Spadina-Fort York.
Wong-Tam is a prominent supporter of the LGBTQ community and was first elected to the city council in 2010 as the first outspoken lesbian councilor.
-With files from CP24 by Cristina Tenaglia
