Toronto had moved to direct elections in 1985, but the other cities had still had a selection of council members dually seated at Metro.

Lakeshore Queensway Councillor Chris Stockwell resigned when he won a seat in the 1990 Provincial Election.

The left on council ran a joint Reform Toronto campaign focused on curbing the development industry.

The vote was a major triumph for the left on city council with two prominent and long-serving conservatives defeated: Fred Beavis, who had served on council since 1961, was defeated by environmentalist Marilyn Churley, and in the north end, conservative Michael Gee lost to Howard Levine.

A by-election was held on November 29, 1990: The election in East York was a rather tame affair with the mayor, Dave Johnson handily re-elected by a large plurality.

[21] A 1990 article in the Toronto Star newspaper drew attention to the fact that the York adjustment committee approved every single proposal put forward by Faraone in 1989 through 1990, despite serious concerns from local residents in some instances.

Faraone denied any suggestion of wrongdoing, and argued that his success rate was a reflection of his experience in the building industry.

[22] Mayor Fergy Brown responded to the article by saying that he would raise the matter at the next council meeting, and recommended the city's legal department start an investigation.