CITY HALL BUREAU CHIEF
Michael Layton, son of the federal NDP Leader, launched his campaign for Toronto City Council with a bike ride.
The 31-year-old environmentalist's choice of photo-op reflected one of the few positions he was willing to take in the maiden speech and scrum of his bid to replace mayoral candidate Joe Pantalone in Ward 19 Trinity-Spadina.
"I think that major arteries should be for all of those that use the roads ... not just those in cars," Mr. Layton said yesterday in response to a question about whether bike lanes belong on Toronto's main thoroughfares.
In an enthusiastic speech that also betrayed the jitters of a first-time candidate, Mr. Layton promised to consult widely with voters in the ward west of downtown.
"I hope that we can talk about the issues our community is facing and what we can do to overcome the challenges," he said. "Together, we will make our city work."
Mr. Layton said he was keen to forge an identity distinct from his father, who was first elected to Toronto City Council in 1982 and became a leader of its left wing.
"I can't be my father in a number of ways," the younger Mr. Layton said, after acknowledging he had learned much from his "many parents," a group that includes stepmother Olivia Chow, the MP for Trinity-Spadina, and mother Sally Halford, who attended the announcement. Ms. Chow and Mr. Layton weren't there.
But it's clear he won't be a political rebel like his father, the son of a Progressive Conservative cabinet minister. He talked up child care, recycling and targeted property-tax relief for low-income seniors. He praised Mr. Pantalone, the most progressive of the serious mayoral candidates.
"I'd like to think he could do a really good job. I'm impressed with some of the stuff that he's had to say to date," Mr. Layton said, adding he has not decided whom he'll endorse for mayor.
He said it was too early to say whether he'll win the all-important endorsement of Mr. Pantalone, the area's councillor for three decades. Mr. Layton, a deputy director for Environmental Defence, has lived in Trinity-Spadina for years, including while working on an undergraduate degree in political science at the University of Toronto. He also holds a master's degree in environmental studies from York University.