Josh Matlow
Josh Matlow is a Canadian politician who has served as the councillor for Ward 12 Toronto–St. Paul's on Toronto City Council since 2010.[1] With prior experience as co-director of Earthroots, a Toronto-based environmental non-profit organization, Matlow entered politics focusing on community advocacy and evidence-based policymaking.[2][3] Before his council role, he represented the St. Paul's area as a Toronto District School Board trustee from 2003 to 2010.[2] Matlow's tenure has emphasized improvements in public transit, affordable housing, childcare access, and environmental initiatives, including advocacy for renewable energy projects like the "Green Grid" on school rooftops and support for conservation efforts such as the Oak Ridges Moraine and Ontario's Greenbelt.[2] He has received recognition from local media outlets for his community engagement, including Toronto Star's "Newsmakers of the Year" and "People to Watch" listings.[2] In 2023, Matlow ran for mayor of Toronto, campaigning on progressive priorities including governance reform and enhanced city services, though he did not secure the position.[4][5] Matlow has faced controversies related to his public criticisms of city bureaucracy, notably in 2023 when Toronto City Council docked 10 days of his pay following findings by the integrity commissioner that his social media posts violated the code of conduct by targeting public servants.[6][7] This incident highlighted tensions between elected officials and administrative staff, with Matlow defending his comments as necessary accountability measures.[6] Earlier probes, such as a 2018 integrity review, have also scrutinized his conduct in council debates.[8]Background
Early life and family
Josh Matlow was born in Toronto, Ontario, to a Jewish family.<grok:render type="render_inline_citation">Education and early influences
Matlow was born in Toronto, where he grew up in a Jewish family.[9] He earned a degree in political science from Concordia University in Montreal.[9] [3] His early interests leaned toward community advocacy and environmental protection, as evidenced by his subsequent role co-directing Earthroots, a Toronto-based nonprofit focused on conservation efforts such as protecting the Oak Ridges Moraine and establishing Ontario's Greenbelt.[2] These formative experiences shaped his commitment to evidence-based policymaking and local environmental stewardship, themes that persisted into his public service.[3]Pre-political career
Professional roles in media and advocacy
Prior to his election to Toronto City Council in 2010, Josh Matlow served as co-director of Earthroots, a Toronto-based environmental non-governmental organization focused on conservation efforts.[1] In that capacity, he led campaigns advocating for the protection of ecologically sensitive lands, including successful pushes for the enactment of the Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Act in 2001 and the creation of Ontario's Greenbelt in 2005, which preserved over 2 million acres of farmland and natural habitats from urban development.[1] Matlow also pursued roles in media, engaging in radio broadcasting and journalism centered on urban and civic issues. He co-hosted weekly programs on AM 640 and CIUT 89.5 FM, platforms that allowed discussion of local policy and community concerns.[1] He hosted The City, a public affairs show on Newstalk 1010 (now 640 Toronto), where episodes addressed Toronto governance, transit, and environmental topics prior to his political tenure.[1] As a columnist, Matlow authored the weekly "City Hall Diary" for the Toronto Star, providing commentary on municipal affairs and bureaucratic processes.[1] He contributed opinion pieces and articles to other outlets, including the Toronto Sun, The Globe and Mail, Town Crier community newspapers, and Post City magazines, often critiquing city planning and advocating for transparency in public administration.[1] These media engagements positioned him as a vocal commentator on Toronto's civic landscape, bridging advocacy with public discourse before his formal entry into elected politics.[1]Political career
Toronto District School Board service (2003–2010)
Matlow was acclaimed as trustee for Toronto District School Board (TDSB) Ward 11—encompassing areas such as Davisville, Yonge-Eglinton, and parts of St. Paul's—in the municipal election held on November 10, 2003, facing no opponents.[10] He was re-elected to the position on November 13, 2006, securing 9,545 votes against Joseph Cohen (5,029 votes), Michael Wiener (3,897 votes), and Maya Tarom (2,653 votes).[11] Throughout his tenure, Matlow addressed provincial education funding challenges. In September 2006, he publicly urged the Ontario government to overhaul its school funding formula, describing it as outdated and detrimental to school operations and student outcomes.[12] Matlow also critiqued school safety measures following high-profile incidents of youth violence. In January 2008, responding to the 1,000-page Falconer Report—which proposed 126 recommendations after a student's fatal shooting—he argued the document was insufficient, "politically naive," and overlooked critical funding mechanisms while failing to tackle underlying issues like poverty and racism. He expressed preference for the anticipated May 2008 report by Roy McMurtry and Alvin Curling on youth violence prevention, viewing it as more comprehensive.[13] These positions highlighted his emphasis on systemic reforms over incremental policy adjustments, though they contrasted with endorsements from TDSB Director of Education Gerry Connelly and other trustees like Cathy Dandy. Matlow did not seek a third term in the 2010 TDSB election, opting instead to campaign successfully for Toronto City Council in Ward 22 (St. Paul's), where he has served continuously since.[14] His school board service laid groundwork for subsequent advocacy on public infrastructure and fiscal accountability in education.Toronto City Councillor (2010–present)
Josh Matlow was elected to Toronto City Council on October 25, 2010, representing Ward 22 (St. Paul's) after serving as a Toronto District School Board trustee; he succeeded long-serving councillor Michael Walker, who did not seek re-election.[14] Matlow campaigned on priorities including fiscal responsibility, transit improvements, and community safety, positioning himself as an independent voice amid the rise of mayor-elect Rob Ford's cost-cutting agenda.[15] Matlow secured re-election in Ward 22 on October 27, 2014, capturing 86 percent of the vote with 24,347 ballots against his closest competitor's 1,586.[16] His tenure has coincided with major municipal challenges, including debates over subway expansion, housing supply constraints, and provincial interventions in Toronto governance. In 2018, following Ontario legislation under Premier Doug Ford that reduced council wards from 47 to 25, Matlow adapted to the redrawn Ward 12 (Toronto—St. Paul's) and won re-election on October 22, defeating former councillor Joe Mihevc in a competitive race marked by opposition to the ward cuts.[17] He was re-elected to Ward 12 on October 24, 2022, maintaining his position amid voter concerns over affordability and infrastructure delays.[18] Throughout his council service, Matlow has prioritized environmental advocacy, leveraging his pre-political experience as co-director of Earthroots to support protections for the Oak Ridges Moraine and Ontario's Greenbelt while promoting urban green initiatives.[1] He has advanced community-focused efforts, including enhancements to parks, affordable housing options, childcare expansion, tenant rights, transit relief measures, support for local businesses and farmers' markets, and strategies for seniors and arts programming.[1] Additional emphases include youth equity programs, proactive responses to street safety issues like traffic fatalities, and calls for governance reforms across municipal, provincial, and federal levels to improve accountability and efficiency.[1] Matlow's approach has often involved public critiques of transit project mismanagement, such as delays on the Eglinton Crosstown LRT, and pushes for evidence-based policymaking over partisan alignment.[19]Electoral history and ward representation
Matlow was first elected to Toronto City Council in the 2010 municipal election on October 25, representing Ward 22 St. Paul's, where he received 11,892 votes to defeat four other candidates, including Chris Sellors with 8,037 votes.[20] He secured re-election in the same ward on October 27, 2014, with 24,347 votes against three challengers, notably Bob Murphy with 1,586 votes.[21] The 2018 municipal election on October 22 occurred amid provincial legislation (Bill 5) that reduced Toronto's wards from 47 to 25, reconfiguring boundaries and pitting Matlow against former Ward 16 councillor Joe Mihevc in the new Ward 12 Toronto–St. Paul's; Matlow prevailed with 20,371 votes to Mihevc's 16,634.[22] He was re-elected to Ward 12 on October 24, 2022, receiving 22,670 votes over three opponents, including Bryan Ashworth with 2,045 votes.[18]| Year | Ward | Matlow Votes | Main Opponent (Votes) | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 22 St. Paul's | 11,892 | Chris Sellors (8,037) | [20] |
| 2014 | 22 St. Paul's | 24,347 | Bob Murphy (1,586) | [21] |
| 2018 | 12 Toronto–St. Paul's | 20,371 | Joe Mihevc (16,634) | [22] |
| 2022 | 12 Toronto–St. Paul's | 22,670 | Bryan Ashworth (2,045) | [18] |