He entered politics as an alderman in North York in 1964, serving until 1973. In 1970, he was appointed to North York's Board of Control to fill a vacancy caused by the death of Controller John Booth. He also joined Metropolitan Toronto Council for the first time, by virtue of being a Controller. He was re-elected to the Board of Control in 1969. In 1973, he was appointed Chairman of Metropolitan Toronto following the death of Metro chairman Albert Campbell, and served until 1984.