Canada: He registers his dog as a candidate for mayor of Toronto

There was minus one. Registration was nearing completion as the last candidate ran for Mayor of Toronto, Canada on Friday, May 12th. Arriving on roller skates with a dog on a leash, Toby Hips filled out a questionnaire, writing his name on it. But he was not a real candidate, but … his dog Molly, 7, he told reporters present at the scene.

Barred from official competition due to “anthropocentric” voting rules, this seven-year-old rescue dog has “great ideas to present in this campaign,” her owner told the local daily Toronto Star. Starting with a law requiring any mayor who does not keep his promises to collect litter, “including his own,” for a year.

“Excellent team of consultants”

Molly has gathered around her a “great team of advisors,” her host also told a Canadian newspaper, and intends to apply a “common sense” policy on issues such as public transportation and affordable housing. One of his big problems is the use of road salt in the city during the winter, which causes his paws to hurt while walking.

Toby Heeps said that with Molly as mayor, “you’ll have a much more civilized dialogue” at city council meetings, as “when there’s an animal in the room, people become more humane.”

A total of 102 candidates submitted their candidacies in the next Toronto municipal elections in June. Previous mayor John Tory resigned in February after he admitted to an extramarital affair with a former employee.