Mayor Olivia Chow's Toronto

[narduch]

Bradford is unlikeable. I don't know why he's running again

 

[thettctransitfanatic]

Bradford is unlikeable. I don't know why he's running again

Cause Conservative donors want him to run...

 

[Richard White]

Mayor Olivia Chow has vaulted into a 18 point lead over Councillor Brad Bradford, with Michael Ford in a distant third at just 16%. She has a 58% approval rating, and 50% of Torontonians say the city is moving in the right direction, which is up 1 point. She leads everywhere, even Etobicoke.

"First, the undecided number has jumped 7 points, from 10% to 17%. In that environment, the mayor has gone from 40% to 44%. Most of that 4-point increase appears to be a function of there being fewer decided voters in the pool.

For context, in last month’s fielding among all voters, including undecided, the mayor was at 36%, which is the same number she is at now."

Councillor Brad Bradford is also up this week. Among all voters, he has moved from 16% to 21%, a 5-point increase. Among decided and leaning voters, he is up 8 points, from 18% to 26%.



Regardless, the mayor still holds a double-digit lead in a race where the opposition remains split. Whether that lead is 18 points, 14 points, or 10 points, the result is the same: she is ahead by a lot.

While Tory has exited the race, Michael Ford has signalled he may throw his hat in the ring. The former cabinet minister, former city councillor, and the Premier’s nephew would start from a position of strength in Etobicoke, the heart of Ford Nation. If he runs, 31% of Etobicoke voters say they would support him for mayor.

There is a long way to go until October's vote but for now the mayor is doing well. If an elected were held today she would be easily re-elected."

Toronto: Chow 44%, Bradford 26%, Ford 16%

March 10, 2026 (Toronto, ON) – A new Liaison Strategies survey reveals a major shift in the city’s political landscape following John Tory’s announcement that he will not seek a return to the mayoralty. In a field without the former mayor, incumbent Olivia Chow has established a commanding 18-point

press.liaisonstrategies.ca

Honestly, I don't think Olivia is the right person to lead Toronto. She is polling well because there is nobody else running that has name recognition or clout.

Her version of left wing politics is not neccessarily a bad thing but when you build your own agenda around it and whip the vote it can be problematic.

I don't care about spending more money on the homeless, on grants for festivals or a glorified report to council, what I care about is better transit, clean streets and getting s*** done.

Mind you though, this is not entirely her fault. There are also a number of councilors who are either clueless or not seeing the bigger picture.

For all it's faults, this is one reason why I always say it is better to have the city broken up. Then you would not have city councilors trying to save a parkette in Etobicoke used by 2 people a day at the expense of better services in Scarborough for example.

 

[Northern Light]

Honestly, I don't think Olivia is the right person to lead Toronto. She is polling well because there is nobody else running that has name recognition or clout.

Her version of left wing politics is not neccessarily a bad thing but when you build your own agenda around it and whip the vote it can be problematic.

I don't care about spending more money on the homeless, on grants for festivals or a glorified report to council, what I care about is better transit, clean streets and getting s*** done.

Mind you though, this is not entirely her fault. There are also a number of councilors who are either clueless or not seeing the bigger picture.

For all it's faults, this is one reason why I always say it is better to have the city broken up. Then you would not have city councilors trying to save a parkette in Etobicoke used by 2 people a day at the expense of better services in Scarborough for example.

I disagree with you entirely on this.

I would ask you to read my post on Olivia's record, here:

2026 Toronto Mayoral Race

Tory saw the latest polls. 🫣 I do hope this opens the possibility that someone in the centre runs against Chow and Bradford. I'd never vote for Brad Brad but Olivia has been a mild disappointment to me. While she's been barely competent and surprisingly effective at dealing with Doug Ford...

urbantoronto.ca

Comment in this thread or that one, please.

 

[gabe]

In the wake of last week’s shootings at three GTA synagogues and an Iranian-owned business, the U.S. Consulate in Toronto was targeted. No injuries were reported and police are on scene.

Sad times in the city.

WATCH LIVE: Police provide update on shooting at U.S. Consulate in Toronto

Road closures are in place in Toronto’s downtown core after police say someone discharged a firearm at the U.S. Consulate early Tuesday morning.

www.ctvnews.ca

 

[Admiral Beez]

Honestly, I don't think Olivia is the right person to lead Toronto. She is polling well because there is nobody else running that has name recognition or clout.

Her version of left wing politics is not neccessarily a bad thing but when you build your own agenda around it and whip the vote it can be problematic.

I don't care about spending more money on the homeless, on grants for festivals or a glorified report to council, what I care about is better transit, clean streets and getting s*** done.

Mind you though, this is not entirely her fault. There are also a number of councilors who are either clueless or not seeing the bigger picture.

For all it's faults, this is one reason why I always say it is better to have the city broken up. Then you would not have city councilors trying to save a parkette in Etobicoke used by 2 people a day at the expense of better services in Scarborough for example.

I was annoyed that she caved on low rise and six-plexes outside of downtown.

 

[christiesplits]

I was annoyed that she caved on low rise and six-plexes outside of downtown.

I was disappointed by the council vote, but in retrospect, there was no way Chow was gaining the council votes for it to pass.

If Chow had used her strong mayor powers to force it through, a right-wing mayoral candidate could very likely have turned the policy against her, mobilizing suburban opposition and winning the October election—ultimately undoing any progress that had been made on the housing file.

Hell, given Doug Ford’s hardline response to the Bloor bike lanes, it’s possible he might have struck down the six-plex policy had it passed.

 

[Northern Light]

I was annoyed that she caved on low rise and six-plexes outside of downtown.

She could not whip that vote, it was either take the split (old Toronto + 2 wards) or get nothing.

 

[Admiral Beez]

She could not whip that vote, it was either take the split (old Toronto + 2 wards) or get nothing.

I thought the Premier granted her super powers to overcome resistance like this?

 

[Mihairokov]

I thought the Premier granted her super powers to overcome resistance like this?

See:

If Chow had used her strong mayor powers to force it through, a right-wing mayoral candidate could very likely have turned the policy against her, mobilizing suburban opposition and winning the October election—ultimately undoing any progress that had been made on the housing file.

 

[Monarch Butterfly]

I thought the Premier granted her super powers to overcome resistance like this?

Strong mayor powers give heads of council the power to set budgets, veto bylaws, and pass bylaws with just one-third of their council’s support, only if these bylaws deal with provincial priorities outlined in O. Reg. 580/22, including the province’s goal to build 1.5 million homes by 2031.

Powers are only awarded to mayors of municipalities who submitted a pledge to help the provincial government meet its target of building 1.5 million homes by 2031.

This is a significant shift in how municipalities are governed in Ontario. The “Weak Mayor System” has traditionally been used in Ontario and is used in all local governments across Canada. It is characterized by compromise and concession amongst an elected council and a one representative/one vote standard.

 

[DSCToronto]

Interesting Report, no mention of Toronto (or many N. American places, only San Francisco makes the Top 10)

 

[Admiral Beez]

Bradford is unlikeable. I don't know why he's running again

To remove himself from city council. Thank god.

 

[Admiral Beez]

Strong mayor powers give heads of council the power to set budgets, veto bylaws, and pass bylaws with just one-third of their council’s support, only if these bylaws deal with provincial priorities outlined in O. Reg. 580/22, including the province’s goal to build 1.5 million homes by 2031.

Powers are only awarded to mayors of municipalities who submitted a pledge to help the provincial government meet its target of building 1.5 million homes by 2031.

This is a significant shift in how municipalities are governed in Ontario. The “Weak Mayor System” has traditionally been used in Ontario and is used in all local governments across Canada. It is characterized by compromise and concession amongst an elected council and a one representative/one vote standard.

Well, Chow had at least 1/3 support. Why didn’t she push this through? As a downtown east resident myself I feel that my area is expected to accept multiplexes and high rises without question. Why not elsewhere?

 

[Northern Light]

Well, Chow had at least 1/3 support. Why didn’t she push this through? As a downtown east resident myself I feel that my area is expected to accept multiplexes and high rises without question. Why not elsewhere?

She pledged in the last election not to use this power, which she deemed undemocratic.

She has never used this power yet.

If she broke her promise, on the heels of running for re-election, on an issue that is highly divisive, including in areas she needs to win, like Scarborough, and south Etobicoke, that wouldn't be great campaign strategy.