Howard Moscoe dies at 86 after 31 years in Toronto politics

howard moscoe, the former Toronto city councillor and TTC chair, has died at age 86. Mayor Olivia Chow announced his death on Saturday, saying he was a friend to many people in the Toronto area and beyond.

Moscoe was born on Nov. 28, 1939, and served in municipal politics for 31 years. His career began as a North York alderman in 1978, before he later served as a Metro councillor and Toronto city councillor.

Olivia Chow on Moscoe

Chow said Moscoe’s contribution to a better Toronto was enormous and described him as a tenacious fighter for social justice. She also said he had a lifelong commitment to struggle for a fair, just and equitable Toronto.

Before entering politics, Moscoe worked as a high school art teacher in North York and later became president of the North York Teachers’ Federation. He was also a governor with the Ontario Teachers’ Federation, which placed him in local education circles before he moved into city government.

Toronto transit changes

Moscoe became the first chair of the TTC after municipal amalgamation in 1997. In that role, he pushed for transit expansion, ridership growth and accessibility improvements for Wheel-Trans users.

Chow said he was an early and strong supporter of uploading the Don Valley Parkway and Gardiner Expressway to the province, and she pointed to the purchase of new subway vehicles built in Thunder Bay now serving Line 1 as an example of his tenacity. Those decisions and purchases remain part of the transit and road network he helped shape.

Perruzza and Bradford

Anthony Perruzza called Moscoe a dedicated City Councillor and a true champion for the little guy, saying he believed deeply in fairness, compassion, and standing up for those whose voices were too often overlooked. Brad Bradford described him as a larger-than-life personality with many strong views and said he met him during his time as a TTC commissioner.

Bradford also said Moscoe was deeply involved in Toronto’s Jewish community, while Perruzza said his thoughts were with Moscoe’s wife, daughters, family and friends. The circumstances surrounding Moscoe’s passing were unclear.