Jason Thorne lands top planning job in Toronto

Former Hamilton Planning and Economic Development Director Jason Thorne will take over the chief planning post in Toronto. The move reunites Thorne with Paul Johnson, now Toronto City Manager, and former colleague of Thorne’s when he was GM of Healthy and Safe Communities in Hamilton. The move marks the third time a senior Hamilton official has moved to Toronto in recent years, starting with former Hamilton City Manager Chris Murray’s move to Toronto in the same role in 2018. Thorne announced he was leaving his Hamilton post in March to take a position with the engineering firm Stantec.

Mayor Olivia Chow welcomed Thorne’s appointment. “I’m excited to welcome Jason Thorne as Chief Planner and Executive Director of City Planning. He’s a proven city builder with 25+ years of experience in the public and private sectors. I look forward to working together to build more housing and create vibrant communities.”

Thorne, spent a decade as Hamilton’s general manager of planning and economic development. Prior to Hamilton, Thorne held several positions with the province, including senior manager with the Ministry of Public Infrastructure Renewal. He was also previously director of policy and planning at Metrolinx, manager with the province’s growth secretariat, and one of the original architects of the growth plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe.

To date a replacement for Thorne in Hamilton has not been named.