Time for an urban premier at Queen’s Park

Quick quiz: when was the last time Ontario had a premier that was from a downtown Toronto riding?

It’s OK if you can’t remember. I couldn’t either. It’s been nearly 65 years since Progressive Conservative leader George A. Drew, MPP for High Park, led the province. He was in power as young men across Ontario were sent off to fight in the Second World War. The world was still broadcast in black and white.

The 10 premiers that followed Drew came from mostly suburban or rural backgrounds, and tended to govern accordingly. While some were partially in step with the needs of Toronto, several brokered adversarial relationships with the city, especially when it came to urban issues like public transportation, affordable housing or social support for those living in poverty.

With the sudden resignation of Premier Dalton McGuinty last week, Ontario has an opportunity to think about what kind of leader we need in this province. From my perspective, the choice is clear: After 65 years, it’s high time for an urban premier.

We need someone at Queen’s Park who inherently understands how cities work and how to grow them.

Ontario has changed a lot since the days of George Drew. Where the province was once a sleepy backwater, standing in the shadow of Quebec, it’s now an economic powerhouse. Ontario produces almost 40 per cent of Canada’s GDP, more than double that of any other province or territory. And its capital, home to a thriving financial sector, is now larger by population than every American city, save New York and Los Angeles.

In recent decades, the provincial economy has continued to shift away from manufacturing jobs towards a more city-centric, knowledge-based economy. Anyone thinking about taking up leadership at Queen’s Park needs to understand that the best way to grow Ontario’s economy is to invest in Ontario’s cities.

Our ongoing debate about transportation and transit is a perfect example. While that seemingly endless conversation gets mired in details, the real driving force behind the issue is an economic one. The Board of Trade pegs lost economic output due to gridlock and poor transit connectivity at more than $6 billion every year.

Dealing with an urban issue like transportation isn’t something that can be delayed until the deficit is reduced. Instead, fighting gridlock through strategic investment is a critical part of deficit reduction itself.

This isn’t to say that the next premier should ignore Ontario’s northern and rural communities. But anyone serious about building this province out of its downturn needs to understand the role urban areas must play in that recovery. A downtown premier just might be best equipped to do that.

Because a lot can change in 65 years.