Former Toronto Councillor Defends Multiple Municipal Roles Amid Scrutiny
Joe Mihevc, a veteran figure in Toronto municipal politics, is pushing back against what he calls excessive scrutiny of his current professional engagements. The former city councillor, who served for nearly three decades, now occupies several positions simultaneously: a paid consultant for the city's shelter services, vice-chairman of the Toronto Transit Commission board, and a registered lobbyist for property developers. Mihevc insists he has broken no rules and that the city supports his activities.
A "Layer Cake" of Responsibilities
Mihevc's consulting contract, obtained through a freedom-of-information request, shows he was paid $79,500 for community engagement work related to new homeless shelters at three Toronto locations: 3838 Bloor St. W., 2 Buttonwood Ave., and 68 Sheppard Ave. W. The city explained that aggressive shelter rollout timelines necessitated hiring experienced facilitators like Mihevc through sole-source contracts, though his agreement ends this month.
"This is a bit much here," Mihevc told the Toronto Sun, expressing frustration with the attention. "I have acted with integrity and honesty in all my dealings with the city, while I was a councillor up to now. That's what matters to me."
Navigating the Lobbying Landscape
After losing his council seat in 2018, Mihevc established Mihevc Consulting and Mediation. Records show 14 active lobbying registrations related to planning and development, plus 25 that have elapsed. He briefly returned to council in 2022 through appointment rather than election, triggering another cooling-off period before resuming lobbying activities.
His TTC role adds complexity: as vice-chairman, he receives $10,000 annually plus meeting per diems, and the position is specifically reserved for non-politicians. Interestingly, city records show fellow former councillor Glenn De Baeremaeker has lobbied Mihevc in this capacity.
Defending the Arrangement
Mihevc argues there's "nothing unusual or untoward" about his situation. "There are lines, and you can do both. In fact, many folks do both," he said, referring to balancing lobbying with public service roles. He maintains he doesn't lobby for transit interests or use city positions to attract clients.
The city confirmed Mihevc completed a conflict declaration that was reviewed before his engagement work began, noting that lobbying bylaws don't prohibit registered lobbyists from holding public office.
Critics Raise Concerns
Duff Conacher, co-founder of Democracy Watch, describes Mihevc's situation as "a layer cake of conflicts of interest." He argues that even the appearance of conflict is problematic, as inaction can benefit private interests as much as action.
"You can't be making decisions where you're supposed to be upholding the public interest while you are lobbying for private interests," Conacher said. "It's a fundamental conflict of interest, and if it isn't illegal, it should be illegal."
Local Perspective and Future Outlook
Councillor Stephen Holyday, while critical of the city's consultation process for shelters, acknowledged Mihevc has been "genial with the public" and put in substantial work hours. "I don't think I can criticize the work that he's done," Holyday said.
Mihevc, now in his 70s, remains active beyond his municipal roles with a garden suite business and teaching urban studies at York University. He characterizes the scrutiny as preparation for "an assassination piece when there's no material basis for it," maintaining that his varied contributions to Toronto reflect his ongoing commitment to public service rather than ethical breaches.
The debate highlights ongoing questions about post-political careers and the boundaries between public service and private interests in municipal governance.
