Ontario | Olivia Chow and Doug Ford put their differences aside

(Toronto) Toronto’s new mayor and Ontario premier promised on Tuesday to put aside their political differences to get much-needed housing built in the city, although there were early indications that Olivia Chow and Doug Ford may clash on other issues in the future.

The two politicians exchanged earlier this month before M^me Chow won’t win Toronto’s mayoral by-election on Monday night – Mr Ford previously said Olivia Chow would be an ‘absolute disaster’ as Toronto’s next mayor, while the latter called the policies ‘mayor Ontario’s strong “undemocratic interference” in city politics.

A day after the election, however, both had softened their positions.

“I can absolutely work with Premier Doug Ford. We love this city,” said M.^me Chow arriving for meetings at City Hall on Tuesday afternoon.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford said Tuesday he would find common ground and work with her.

“She’s been in politics for quite a long time, and during the election you throw mud, but I’ll tell you one thing, people expect us to work together and that’s exactly what we’re going to do. “, he said.

“We’re going to find common ground when we sit down because he’s actually a pretty nice person,” he added.

Housing is a likely area where Mr. Ford and M^me Chow will find mutual understanding. Both have promised to build large quantities, although the methods and specifics may differ.

Other Disputes

But other issues could provoke clashes between the two leaders.

M^me Chow has strongly opposed the province’s plan to move the Ontario Science Center from its east Toronto location to Ontario Place on the city’s waterfront. She is also against Mr. Ford’s plan to see a spa built at Ontario Place.

While M^me Chow said she would not give up a city-owned parcel of land on the provincial site, the premier suggested on Tuesday that the project go ahead regardless.

“It’s progressing pretty quickly right now,” he said. I respect that the host city is Toronto…but it’s a provincial site and we’re going to do what’s good for the province. »

Mayor Chow reiterated Tuesday that she wants Ontario Place to remain public, adding that she will discuss the future of the project with Mr. Ford. A city committee voted in April to postpone a decision on a proposed land transfer until the province provides a copy of its lease to the tenant for the spa portion of the site.

M^me Chow also dismissed questions Tuesday about whether she would reconsider her stance against so-called strong mayoral powers if she faced resistance in council. She criticized the powers granted by the province, which allow the mayor to veto regulations and pass a budget with the support of one-third of council.

“I don’t want to violate the principle of democracy because it’s quite sacred,” she said.

Billion deficit

Mr Chow, who won 37% of the vote according to unofficial results, is expected to officially take office on July 12.

An immediate challenge for the 66-year-old veteran politician will be tackling a pandemic-related budget shortfall of nearly $1 billion, in part due to reduced public transit revenue and the rising housing costs.

The former NDP MP and city councilor – who is also Toronto’s first diverse woman elected mayor – will also have to tackle issues of unaffordable housing and public safety.

City Hall observers believe that M^me Chow will have to make tough decisions quickly.

“If you look back at John Tory’s time as mayor, he bent over backwards to avoid any residential property tax increases,” said Zack Taylor, a professor of political science at Western University.

“Today, we are at the point where, instead of a series of incremental increases, it is probably going to have to be a fairly substantial increase. »

New housing

M^me Chow campaigned on a platform for the City to build new social housing and invest millions in a program to acquire and preserve affordable housing as part of a larger vision of tenant protections.

She also pledged to reverse cuts to public transit services and expand mental health crisis response teams across the city to reduce 911 wait times and divert calls to the police.

His campaign also pledged to expand rent supplements to 1,000 households and increase the number of 24/7 homeless respite shelters to be funded by an expanded tax on homes purchased. for 3 million and more.

Toronto’s mayoral by-election was called after Mr Tory resigned in February, just months into his third term, following his admission of an affair with a member of his staff.