By 
TORONTO, ON — Karen Stintz, one of Canada’s most trusted and experienced civic leaders, has made a striking entrance into the literary world with her highly anticipated debut book, Beyond Good Enough: Toronto and the Crisis of Urban Complacency. Published by Canadian publishing house Sutherland House Experts, the book has attracted significant attention ahead of Toronto’s crucial municipal election on October 26, 2026.
Stintz has hit the ground running. Beyond Good Enough reached No. 8 in Urban Planning & Development Books, No. 2 in Urban Planning & Development on the Kindle Store, and sold out online at Indigo.
The author and, as of this release, the newly appointed Managing Director of Transit and Rail (TRACCS) will host the Let’s Talk, Toronto book tour. Built around the theme “Six former municipalities. Six conversations. One city. One future,” the tour invites residents to choose a stop, join the conversation, and make their voices heard.
A city at a crossroads
Beyond Good Enough is a powerful reflection on the Toronto of today. Drawing on decades of political experience, the respected former city councillor and TTC chair examines the city’s gradual drift from functional excellence into urban complacency and offers a bold, actionable vision for renewal.
The book tells the tale of two cities: the Toronto we have and the Toronto we long for. For much of its history, Toronto was celebrated globally as safe, clean, and affordable. That is no longer the case.
In 1998, amalgamation transformed six municipalities into one “mega-city,” creating Canada’s largest urban centre and the third largest in North America. The promise was bold; the promise was not kept. From housing affordability, transit, and congestion to infrastructure and governance, Stintz tackles the core issues shaping everyday life in Canada’s largest city and pairs her analysis with concrete policy recommendations.
Beyond Good Enough presents an ambitious but practical roadmap for change. Ahead of the election, Stintz challenges leaders and citizens alike to reject mediocrity, reclaim their ambition, and speak up for the Toronto they want.
Stintz pulls back the curtain on city politics at a pivotal moment. With the policies that shape the city and residents’ lives on the line, Beyond Good Enough serves as a vital playbook for voters, policymakers, and civic leaders. It is time for Toronto to get its house in order.
While chair of the Toronto Transit Commission, Karen Stintz was named one of Toronto Life magazine’s 50 Most Influential People and one of Women of Influence magazine’s Top 25 Women of Influence in Canada. In recognition of her contributions to community and country, she received the King Charles III Coronation Medal in 2025.
A regular contributor to print and broadcast media, Stintz has written for the Toronto Star, Toronto Sun, and National Post, where for 10 years she shed light on significant municipal issues. She also appears regularly on Newstalk 1010, AM 640, and Zoomer Radio.
Stintz holds a BA from Western University, an MSc in Journalism from Boston University, and an MPA from Queen’s University.
