Councillor Paula Fletcher speaks to Phil Perkins about her decision to pull out of the race to represent Toronto-Danforth to retire.
Coun. Paula Fletcher has changed her mind about running for re-election, just two days after announcing that she was seeking another term.
A Toronto city councillor since 2003, she announced her intention to withdraw her candidacy in Toronto-Danforth on Wednesday.
In a lengthy statement posted on X, the Ward 14 representative shared that she made the decision while on one of her frequent paddleboard rides on Lake Ontario.
“While I looked out over our beautiful city in the morning light, I thought long and hard about the past 23 years and the great privilege I’ve had to serve the many communities in Toronto-Danforth,” Fletcher wrote.
“There, out on the water, I felt a sense of great calm and made a big decision. I decided to remove my name from the ballot and not seek re-election. Today, I am announcing my retirement from City Hall.”
Coun. Fletcher paddleboarding A photo of Coun. Paula Fletcher paddleboarding on Lake Ontario. (PaulaFletcherTO/X) ‘Time for a new chapter’
Fletcher said while many encouraged her to run again, she ultimately decided that the time has come to “pass the torch to the next generation.”
“It’s time for a new chapter—for our community, and for me,” she wrote, saying that she’ll finish her term in mid-November when a new local councillor will be elected.
Speaking with CP24 late Wednesday afternoon, Fletcher said she had initially decided to run again, knowing that there was “lots to do” however, after further reflection, she said she came to the realization that she’s “done a lot” and the time has come to hang up her municipal politician hat.
“You’ve had a dream job, and you’ve got this beautiful waterfront that you’ve worked on for so long, for years and years, and just be proud of that. You can retire, and so I decided to do that,” Fletcher said, sharing with CP24 the inner dialogue she had as she came to this decision.
Coun. Paula Fletcher retiring Coun. Paula Fletcher speaks with CP24 on Aug. 18, shortly after announcing her decision to retire from Toronto City Hall. ‘Strong progressive voice at City Hall’
The long-time east-end resident first became involved as a community leader in the East End Parent Network. She was then elected as a trustee with the Toronto District School Board in 2000. moving into municipal politics three years later with her election as city councillor in 2003. Fletcher took over from the late Jack Layton, who vacated the seat to serve as the local MP and leader of the federal NDP.
Self-described in her online biography as a “strong progressive voice at City Hall,” Fletcher said she has focused her efforts on “creating affordable housing, improving public transit, parks, and other public spaces, fighting the climate crisis along with enhancing community and road safety for all users.”
She serves on several key committees and boards, including the Executive Committee, where she’s responsible for major city-wide issues and key priorities, and the Infrastructure and Environment Committee, which she chairs. She also chairs the Film, Television, and Digital Media Board, is Mayor Chow’s designate on the CreateTO and TOLive boards, is on the Toronto and East York Community Council, and is also the Deputy Speaker of City Council.
Paula Fletcher
Fletcher said she counts among Biidaasige Park, along with the affordable housing that will one day be built there, as one of her biggest accomplishments. She also pointed to the Red Door Shelter and Crow’s Theatre, two innovative projects incorporated into condominium projects in her ward.
“Doing creative things like that just gives me a lot of joy and a lot of juice. There is so much to do. When you want to help and you want to be creative, there’s a lot you can do. And I’m not done in that part, but I’m done here,” she said.
“I have always fought for what I believe in—and I’m so proud of the work we’ve done together over the last 23 years.”
Future plans include volunteering, supporting local causes
Fletcher said down the line her plan is to continue volunteering and supporting local causes.
“Well, I will be on the water more instead of 8:30 (a.m.) meetings and I will probably go and volunteer at the food hub and volunteer at places that I’ve worked on building that I’m very proud of, and I’ll be there at waterfront meetings,” she said.
“I’m always available if people need advice, but I won’t be up and at it every morning at 6 o’clock.”
Paula Fletcher
As for her City Hall replacement, she said they must be someone who supports and loves the community’s strong values, including affordable housing, people having homes, the waterfront, road safety, and bike lanes on the Danforth, to name a few.
“I think anybody coming behind me will really have to have those values because those are the values of the people that live in my community,” she said.
Torontonians head to the polls on Oct. 26.