Toronto’s municipal spending revealed a striking disparity in costs associated with its ward representatives in 2025. A recent analysis of city documents uncovered that five councillors – Alejandra Bravo, Ausma Malik, Chris Moise, Amber Morley, and Jamaal Myers – each exceeded $1 million in total remuneration and expenses.
These five councillors share a significant connection: they are all close allies of Mayor Olivia Chow, who herself surpassed the $3-million mark in total compensation for the year. The figures encompass not only salaries and benefits, but also the substantial cost of support staff, which constituted over half of each councillor’s overall expense.
The total expenditure on salaries and benefits for Mayor Chow and all city councillors reached $5.3 million in 2025, a significant increase of over $1 million compared to the previous year. This jump was directly linked to a council decision in March 2025, granting councillors a substantial 24% pay raise.
When factoring in all remuneration and expenses, the total cost to taxpayers soared to $24.3 million, a 13.7% increase from the $21.4 million spent in 2024 – representing a difference of nearly $3 million. This substantial rise sparked debate about the value delivered relative to the financial commitment.
Chris Moise led the pack with the highest total expenditure at $1,081,639, while Josh Matlow came closest to the $1 million threshold at $981,852. Lily Cheng and Parthi Kandavel also exceeded $900,000 in total costs.
In stark contrast, Stephen Holyday recorded the lowest spending at just $32.86, with Gord Perks following at $12,470.93 among councillors who served a full term. Michael Thompson and Frances Nunziata also represented comparatively lower costs, each falling between $550,000 and $590,000.
The data highlights a considerable range in how taxpayer money was allocated across different wards, raising questions about resource management and the financial implications of political alignment within the city council.
