Former NDP MP Olivia Chow is Toronto’s next mayor.
In her second attempt to become mayor of Canada’s largest city, Chow beat a crowded slate of candidates, garnering 37.17% of the vote.
Like her late husband and long-time federal NDP leader Jack Layton, Chow campaigned on a left-of-centre platform with proposals to address homelessness, affordable housing, and tenant protection.
Her marquee campaign promise is a pledge to build 25,000 rent-controlled rental units on city-owned land within eight years, for which she’s earmarked an estimated $404 million.
Chow’s campaign was also built on tenant advocacy, pledging to prevent ‘renovictions’—a loophole landlords often use to evict tenants—through the Affordable Homes Fund.
Chow has also vowed to refrain from using Toronto’s newly created ‘strong mayor’ powers that would allow a mayor to move legislation through City Hall faster, and without the majority of the council’s support.
Chow had been a career politician before she lost her bid to become Toronto’s mayor in 2014 to John Tory, having previously served as a school board trustee from 1985-1991, a Toronto city councillor from 1991-2005, and a federal NDP MP from 2006-2015.
Between losing her MP seat in the 2015 federal election and entering the mayoral race this April, Chow had been working in the private sector, advocating progressive causes.
During the campaign, Chow allegedly met with multiple Toronto-area groups that have connections to the People’s Republic of China (PPC), specifically accepting a gifted porcelain vase from the Council of Newcomer Organizations, a pro-state government organization that maligned Hong Kong’s pro-democracy protests in 2019.
Ana Bailão – who was endorsed by former mayor Tory – placed 2nd, garnering 32.45% of the vote.
Anthony Furey – who is currently on leave as True North’s VP for editorial and content – got 4.95% of the vote, placing 4th.
Former police chief Mark Saunders finished in 3rd place, garnering 8.58% of the vote.
Other mainstream candidates include Mitzie Hunter who gained 2.93% of the vote, Josh Matlow who garnered 4.91% of the vote, and Brad Bradford who gained 1.28% of votes.
