Beyond Good Enough (Toronto and the Crisis of Urban Complacency)

For most of Toronto's history, the city was characterized as a safe, clean, and affordable. It was once even referred to as, “New York run by the Swiss.” Then, in 1998, amalgamation transformed six municipalities into one “mega-city,” creating Canada’s largest urban center and the third largest in North America. The promise was bold: Toronto would evolve beyond its comfortable mediocrity into a more ambitious, globally competitive city that could lead on the world stage.

That promise was never fully realized. Over time, the city has become less safe, less clean, much less affordable, and poorly governed. For many residents, Toronto no longer feels like a city on the rise, but one in slow decline.

In Beyond Good Enough, former city councillor Karen Stintz delivers a powerful and timely examination of how Toronto gradually drifted from functional excellence into urban complacency. Drawing on decades of political experience, policy insight, and deep personal investment in the city’s future, Stintz chronicles Toronto's drift while offering a bold vision for renewal. She explores the structural, political, and cultural failures that have held the city back—and outlines what must change to restore Toronto’s standing as one of the world’s great cities. 

Part civic critique, part policy roadmap, and part call to action, Beyond Good Enough challenges leaders and citizens alike to reject mediocrity, reclaim ambition, and build a stronger future.