Paula Fletcher

Paula Fletcher (born 1951) is a Canadian politician who has served on Toronto City Council since 2003. She represents Ward 14 Toronto—Danforth and has served as deputy speaker of city council since 2023 and chair of its Infrastructure and Environment Committee since 2025.

Fletcher announced on August 19, 2026, that she would retire from politics at the end of the 2022–2026 council term and would not seek re-election in the 2026 Toronto municipal election.

Early life and family Fletcher was born in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario and moved to Toronto, then to Winnipeg, Manitoba, before again relocating to Toronto.

She lives in Toronto with her husband John Cartwright and their two children. Her husband is a former president of the Toronto & York Region Labour Council. A carpenter by trade, Cartwright was formerly the business manager of the Construction Trades Council and co-chair of the Metro Jobstart Coalition.

Early career In Winnipeg, Fletcher worked as an educator in international development and became a community activist. She was a union organizer in a Toronto garment mill in the early 1970s. She later worked at the Downsview De Havilland Canada plant, where she went by the nickname "Rosie the Riveter". She ran in the 1981 and 1986 provincial elections in the Winnipeg riding of Burrows, receiving 144 and 131 votes respectively. In the early 1980s, she sang with a group called Rank and File.

In the 2003 municipal election, eight candidates competed in Ward 30. Prominent candidates included Chris Phibbs, a former executive assistant to councillor Kyle Rae, and Maureen Gilroy, who had the backing of Liberal MP Dennis Mills. A key issue was the proposed fixed link to the Toronto Island Airport, which Fletcher opposed.

As a councillor, Fletcher rallied city council to oppose the Portlands Energy Centre, a 550-megawatt power plant in the Port Lands beside the Hearn Generating Station. The campaign was unsuccessful and the plant was completed in 2007. Developments in Ward 30 that Fletcher supported included Filmport, now Pinewood Toronto Studios, and the Zhong Hua Men Archway.

Second term Fletcher was re-elected in the 2006 municipal election with 60.2 per cent of the vote.

During her second term, Fletcher chaired the Parks and Environment Committee and served on mayor David Miller's Executive Committee. She also served on the boards of Toronto Public Health and the Toronto Community Housing Corporation.

Leslieville SmartCentres development In 2009, Fletcher opposed an application by SmartCentres to build a retail development on land occupied by Toronto Film Studios in the city's Studio District. The project required rezoning industrial land for retail use. City council rejected the proposal and the Ontario Municipal Board upheld the decision in March 2009.

2010 budget outburst On March 2, 2010, Fletcher had a heated exchange with a member of the public during deputations on Toronto's budget. After the speaker told Fletcher that she should be fired, she responded, "Oh, come and run against me. Come on down, baby!" Fletcher subsequently apologized for her comments.

Cycling Fletcher has advocated for expanded cycling infrastructure in Toronto. In May 2010, however, she mistakenly voted against a proposal for bicycle lanes on University Avenue. The proposal failed on a 15–13 vote. Fletcher said afterward that she had intended to vote in favour and attributed the error to fatigue and the electronic voting system.

Third and fourth terms In the 2010 municipal election, Fletcher narrowly defeated former Citytv reporter Liz West by 259 votes. West had received the support of mayoral candidate Rob Ford.

Fletcher was re-elected in the 2014 municipal election, defeating West and four other candidates with 49.63 per cent of the vote.

Fifth term For the 2018 Toronto municipal election, the Ontario government's reduction of Toronto City Council from 47 proposed wards to 25 combined Fletcher's Ward 30 with much of neighbouring Ward 29. Fletcher consequently ran against Ward 29 incumbent Mary Fragedakis in the newly created Ward 14 Toronto—Danforth. Fletcher won with 42.27 per cent of the vote, compared with 26.18 per cent for Fragedakis.

During the term, Fletcher became closely involved in the redesign of Danforth Avenue. In May 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, city council approved temporary ActiveTO cycle tracks on Danforth Avenue from Broadview Avenue to Dawes Road. Fletcher successfully moved amendments directing staff to incorporate patios, seating areas and other economic-vitality measures into the project. The Danforth cycle tracks were subsequently incorporated into the permanent cycling network in December 2021.

Fletcher was elected vice-chair of the city's Planning and Housing Committee in January 2021 for the remainder of the 2018–2022 council term.

She also served on the board of the Toronto Seniors Housing Corporation, the municipal corporation established to manage housing for senior tenants.

Sixth term Fletcher was re-elected in the 2022 Toronto municipal election with 20,305 votes, or 74.02 per cent of ballots cast.

In February 2023, Fletcher moved to establish a subcommittee of the Toronto and East York Community Council to examine construction of the Ontario Line and its effects on communities along the route. The subcommittee subsequently developed recommendations concerning construction management, traffic, pedestrian safety, noise, community benefits and communication with communities affected by the project. Fletcher continued to raise Ontario Line construction issues in later council and community council proceedings.

In September 2023, council adopted a Fletcher motion directing staff to establish a Ward 14 affordable-housing pilot for active development applications, including the East Harbour and Gerrard-Carlaw North transit-oriented communities. The pilot called for affordable-housing targets at least equal to those required by the city's inclusionary-zoning policy.

On August 10, 2023, city council elected Fletcher deputy speaker for the remainder of the 2022–2026 council term following the resignation of Stephen Holyday from the position. In the role, Fletcher presides over meetings of council when the speaker is absent.

Mayor Olivia Chow also appointed Fletcher as the mayor's designate on several city bodies, including CreateTO and the TO Live board.

On May 21, 2025, Chow appointed Fletcher chair of the Infrastructure and Environment Committee, effective immediately and continuing through November 14, 2026.

On August 19, 2026, Fletcher announced that she would not seek re-election in the 2026 Toronto municipal election, ending plans she had previously made to run again. Her retirement at the conclusion of the term would end 23 years on Toronto City Council.

2014 Toronto municipal election, Ward 30 Toronto—Danforth CandidateVotes%Paula Fletcher 11,924 49.63%Liz West 6,644 27.65%Jane Farrow 4,815 20.04%Mark Borden 302 1.26%Francis Russell 206 0.86%Daniel Trayes 134 0.56%Total 24,025 100%

2010 Toronto municipal election, Ward 30 Toronto—Danforth CandidateVotes%Paula Fletcher 8,766 45.35%Liz West 8,507 44.01%Andrew James 620 3.20%Mark Dewdney 518 2.68%Mihaly Varga 313 1.62%Angie Tingas 262 1.36%Andreas Bogojevic 198 1.02%Gary Walsh 143 0.74%Total 19,327 100%