Olivia Chow

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Olivia Chow
鄒至蕙
Chow in 2024
66th Mayor of Toronto
Assumed office
July 12, 2023
DeputyJennifer McKelvie
Ausma Malik
Preceded byJohn Tory
Member of Parliament
for Trinity—Spadina
In office
January 23, 2006 – March 12, 2014
Preceded byTony Ianno
Succeeded byAdam Vaughan
Toronto City Councillor
for Ward 20 Trinity—Spadina
(Ward 24 Downtown; 1992–2000)
In office
January 1, 1992 – November 28, 2005
Preceded byDale Martin
Succeeded byMartin Silva (2006)
Other roles
1985–1991Toronto Board of Education Trustee
Personal details
Born (1957-03-24) March 24, 1957 (age 67)
British Hong Kong
NationalityCanadian
Political partyIndependent[a]
Other political
affiliations
New Democratic
Spouse
(m. 1988; died 2011)
Residence(s)Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Alma materUniversity of Toronto
University of Guelph
Ontario College of Art
Occupation
  • Politician
  • professor
Websitewww.oliviachow.ca
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese鄒至蕙
Simplified Chinese邹至蕙

Olivia Chow (Chinese: 鄒至蕙; Cantonese Yale: Jāu Ji-waih; born March 24, 1957) is a Canadian politician who has been the 66th mayor of Toronto since July 12, 2023. Previously, Chow served as the New Democratic Party (NDP) member of Parliament (MP) for Trinity—Spadina from 2006 to 2014, and was a councillor on the Metro Toronto Council from 1992 to the 1998 amalgamation followed by Toronto City Council until 2005.

Born in British Hong Kong, Chow was first elected in 1985 as a Toronto school board trustee. She ran in the 1991 Toronto election, where she was elected to Metropolitan Toronto Council and remained active in local Toronto politics until her election to the House of Commons in the 2006 federal election. Her husband, Jack Layton, was also an MP, serving as leader of the Official Opposition in 2011 and leader of the NDP from 2003 until his death in 2011. Chow resigned her seat in Parliament in 2014, to run for mayor in the 2014 election, placing third to John Tory and Doug Ford. Following her 2014 campaign, she joined Toronto Metropolitan University as a distinguished visiting professor. In the 2015 federal election, she unsuccessfully ran in Spadina—Fort York.

Chow was elected mayor in 2023 following Tory's resignation, defeating former deputy mayor Ana Bailão and former police chief Mark Saunders. Chow is the first Chinese-Canadian mayor of Toronto, the third female mayor after June Rowlands and Barbara Hall, and the first female mayor post-amalgamation.[2][3]

Early life and career[edit]

Chow was born in British Hong Kong, to Ho Sze, a schoolteacher, and Wilson Wai Sun Chow, a school superintendent.[4] She was raised in a middle-class family in Happy Valley, a residential area in Hong Kong.[5] She emigrated to Canada with her family in 1970 at the age of 13, settling in Toronto, where they first lived on the third floor of a rooming house in the Annex, before moving to a high-rise unit in St. James Town.[6][7] Her father worked odd jobs, such as delivering Chinese food and driving taxis to support the family. Her mother became a seamstress and a maid, and worked in a hotel laundry.[8] Her father suffered from mental illness and was physically abusive towards her half-brother, Andre, and her mother, but "nurturing and loving" towards Olivia.[9][6]

Chow was raised in a Chinese Baptist household.[10] As a young girl she was a slow learner and had to repeat grade 3. However, she soon started to excel academically and she later skipped grade 8.[11] She attended Jarvis Collegiate Institute and studied fine arts at the Ontario College of Art, and philosophy and religion at the University of Toronto. In 1979, she graduated with an Honours Bachelor of Arts in fine art from the University of Guelph.[9]

After graduation, she worked as an artist. She owned a sculpture studio and created art pieces for clients. She still paints occasionally.[11][12] She later taught at George Brown College's Assaulted Women and Children Counselling and Advocacy Program for five years.

Early political career[edit]

School board[edit]

Chow first became active in politics working in the riding office of local NDP MP Dan Heap in the early 1980s.[13]

With Heap's support, Chow ran for school board trustee, and won in November 1985.[14][15] Beginning in 1986, Chow sought for programming to protect students on the basis of sexuality, spurred by incidents of harassment she was shown, and by the murder of Kenneth Zeller, a school librarian. This led to the introduction of what was believed to be Ontario's first sexuality school program, approved in May 1988 with support of TDSB direct Ned McKeown.[16][17][18][19] She served as head of the school board's race relations committee.[20][21]

Municipal politics[edit]

Popular on the school board, she was handily elected to Metropolitan Toronto Council in the 1991 election for the Metro Toronto ward of Downtown (this ward was abolished in the 1997 amalgamation).[22] The area had long been home to a diverse group of communities in the core of Canada's largest urban centre. Chow was re-elected several times to city council by wide margins. As councillor, Chow was an advocate for the homeless, public transit, and many other urban issues that promote sustainable development. She was also a vociferous opponent of the proposed Toronto Island Airport expansion, a controversial plan by the Toronto Port Authority.

Chow speaks at an awards event in 2003.

Following the amalgamation of Metropolitan Toronto, she and her husband Jack Layton were prominent members of the city council. While sometimes critical of pro-development Mayor Mel Lastman and other suburban councillors, they worked with councillors across political lines to achieve practical progressive measures. Layton left his seat on council to become federal leader of the NDP. Both were supporters of David Miller's successful 2003 campaign to become mayor of Toronto.

Chow was forced to resign her position on the Toronto Police Services Board because, at a riot in front of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, she informally attempted to persuade police to change their tactics. Some argued, however, that she was ousted for her outspoken attitude towards alleged police misconduct.

Chow, a cycling advocate, was renowned for her trademark bicycle, decorated with flowers and bright colours, which she rode every day to Toronto City Hall.[23]

Federal politics[edit]

In 1997, Chow ran as an NDP candidate for the House of Commons in Trinity—Spadina. Liberal incumbent Tony Ianno won by 1,802 votes, 4.5% of the total.

In 2004, Chow again received the Trinity—Spadina NDP nomination for the summer federal election. With support from Jack Layton, a new urban focus of the NDP, and higher party popularity nationwide, she was widely expected to win despite some criticism from voters who elected her to a municipal seat just six months prior. She managed another strong second-place showing, but failed to unseat Ianno by only 805 votes, 1.5% of the total.

Tactical voting was blamed partially for Chow's defeat, as Liberal attack ads on Conservative Party leader Stephen Harper attempted to make the election a choice between the Liberals and Conservatives, with the effect of attracting NDP-leaning voters to support the Liberals and stave off a potential Harper government. Chow also did not resign her council seat to run federally, with some suggesting that her constituents felt comfortable voting Liberal while still having Chow around to represent them at a different level of government.

When the Liberal federal government was defeated on a motion of non-confidence, Chow resigned her city council seat of fourteen years on November 28, 2005, to make a third run at seat in the House of Commons. She was succeeded on city council on an interim basis by Martin Silva. As Silva was not allowed to run for re-election, Chow's constituency assistant Helen Kennedy ran but lost to Adam Vaughan.

During the 2006 campaign, Mike Klander, an executive of the federal Liberal party's Ontario wing, made comments in his blog insinuating that Chow was a Chow Chow dog and said of her husband, "I just want to say that I think Jack Layton is an asshole".[24][25] Layton denounced the comments about Chow as racist, and Klander apologized and resigned.

On January 23, 2006, she won the Trinity—Spadina seat for the NDP in the federal election. She defeated Ianno by 3,667 votes, almost 6%. Along with Jack Layton she was part of only the second husband-and-wife team in Canadian parliamentary history to serve jointly. (Gurmant Grewal and Nina Grewal were the first, winning their seats in the 2004 election.)

In 2007, Chow sponsored a motion calling for Japan to apologize for forcing some 200,000 women to serve as wartime sex slaves. The motion was passed unanimously by Canada's parliament in November 2007. Chow said, "For me, this isn't crimes against 200,000 women. It's crimes against humanity and all of the world's citizens have a responsibility to speak out against it."[26]

On June 3, 2008, Chow, "who [originally] brought in the motion",[attribution needed] voted to implement a program which would "allow conscientious objectors ... to a war not sanctioned by the United Nations ... to ... remain in Canada". The motion gained international attention from The New York Times,[27] the BBC[28] and the New Zealand press.[29] The Toronto Star reported: "[It] passed 137 to 110 ... But the motion is non-binding and the victory was bittersweet as the government (Conservative Party of Canada) is likely to ignore it."[30][31][32] After Prime Minister Stephen Harper sought and received permission to seek a new mandate in 2008, Chow would reintroduce the same motion in the 40th Canadian Parliament. The House passed it on March 30, 2009, with a vote of 129–125.[33][34] Chow was instrumental in debates and actions surrounding Canada and Iraq War resisters.

Chow walks to her polling station with her husband Jack Layton, May 2, 2011.

In the 2011 Canadian federal election, which saw the NDP's historic rise to Official Opposition, Chow was re-elected handily in Trinity—Spadina with a margin of more than 20,000 votes over her nearest rival. She was named critic for transport, infrastructure and communities in the Official Opposition Shadow Cabinet. She also became the first spouse of a leader of the Opposition to be an MP as well.

However, her time in Stornoway was to be short, as Jack Layton died of cancer just three months after assuming office. Chow was in the spotlight as Layton's widow during the mourning period and state funeral, winning respect for her care for her husband in his last days and for her dignity and poise in grief,[35] and her personal and political partnerships with Layton were eulogized.[36] Subsequently, she ruled out a bid for the leadership of the NDP[37] and pledged neutrality in the leadership race.

On March 12, 2014, Chow resigned her seat and registered to run in the 2014 mayoral race in Toronto.[7][38]

2015 attempted return[edit]

Chow announced on July 28, 2015, that she was seeking the federal NDP nomination in Spadina—Fort York for the 2015 federal election. The new riding comprises much of the former Trinity—Spadina riding. She faced Liberal MP Adam Vaughan, who was elected MP for Trinity—Spadina in 2014 in a by-election that was held following Chow's resignation to run for mayor.[39][40] Chow lost to Vaughan by a wide margin amid a Liberal sweep of Toronto ridings.[41]

Mayoral campaigns[edit]

2014 mayoral election[edit]

Chow speaks at a campaign event.

Chow entered the 2014 Toronto mayoral campaign in an attempt to unseat incumbent Rob Ford after most polls taken over the previous year suggested she was best placed to win either a head-to-head vote against Ford or a multi-candidate contest. Ford's mayoralty had been at the centre of several controversies during his tenure, most significantly over accusations and ultimately Ford's own admission that he had used crack cocaine as well as allegations that he has associated with criminals. Chow was the only prominent centre-left candidate running against Ford. Her other major rivals in the election, former provincial Opposition leader John Tory, councillor Karen Stintz and former budget chief David Soknacki as well as Ford himself, were all centre-right candidates.[38]

Chow's campaign manager was John Laschinger, who previously managed David Miller's mayoral campaigns as well as federal and provincial Conservative campaigns. Former federal and provincial Liberal strategist Warren Kinsella also worked on her campaign. Other senior staff included former MuchMusic VJ Jennifer Hollett,[42] former NDP national director Nathan Rotman,[43] and Brian Topp,[44] a former NDP leadership candidate. Supporters included former Ontario Liberal cabinet minister George Smitherman (who was the runner-up to Ford in the 2010 mayoral election) and filmmaker Deepa Mehta.[38]

Chow's three priority areas were transit, children and jobs.[45] She came out against subway expansion in favour of more buses, and building LRTs lines on Toronto's roads.[46] She also released policies about expanding after-school recreation programs for children aged 6–11,[47] as well as creating 5,000 jobs and training opportunities for young people through community benefits agreements.[48]

Over the course of the election, Chow went from the polling favourite at the beginning of the campaign to eventually placing third in the election. Polls suggested she failed to capitalize on her early popularity and fell victim to strategic voting.[49]

2023 mayoral by-election[edit]

Olivia Chow at the Bastille Day 2023 celebration in Toronto.

On April 17, 2023, Chow announced her campaign for mayor of Toronto in the 2023 by-election.[50]

The provincial government's controversial plan to redevelop Ontario Place into a spa and waterpark, as well as to move the Ontario Science Centre from its original site was criticized by Chow, who proposed stalling the province's plans by withholding a portion of city-owned land on the site.[51]

Chow's housing policies include building 25,000 rent-controlled homes on city-owned land, with the city acting as a developer. She proposed increasing the vacant property tax to 3 per cent, directing funds to support affordable housing initiatives such as rent supplements, as well as increasing the land transfer tax on luxury homes, using funds to support people who are homeless. Chow also committed to opening 24/7 respite spaces and creating 1000 rent supplements. Her housing platform also includes policies aimed at supporting tenants, including combatting renovictions, doubling Toronto's rent bank, establishing a $100 million fund to purchase rental properties from private landlords and transferring them to not-for-profits, and expanding RentSafeTO, the city's building standards enforcement program.[52][53][54]

2023 by-election results by ward

On transit, Chow proposed converting the Line 3 Scarborough corridor into a busway, once it has been decommissioned, estimated to cost $60 million with funding coming from savings realized by cancelling the Gardiner Expressway rebuild east of Cherry Street. She would reverse cuts made to the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) in the 2023 budget and expand cell phone service on the subway system to all networks.[54][53]

Chow promised to create a team to reduce 9-1-1 wait times and expand the Toronto Community Crisis Service city-wide.[55] She supports the plan endorsed by Toronto Public Health, CAMH and Toronto police chief Myron Demkiw to request a personal drug possession exemption from the federal government.[56]

On June 26, 2023, Chow was elected as mayor of Toronto.[57][58] In an election with 102 candidates, Chow won with 37.2% of the vote defeating Ana Bailão who placed second with 32.5%.[59]

Mayor of Toronto[edit]

Following a transition period of two weeks, Chow was sworn in as the 66th mayor of Toronto on July 12, 2023.[60]

Appointments[edit]

As mayor, Chow can appoint or dismiss the deputy mayor, city department heads, the chairs and vice-chairs of council committees, as well as form the striking committee, which determines the composition of other council committees.[61]

Just over a month into her term on August 10, 2023, Chow made a number of changes to key mayoral appointments. Ausma Malik was named the new deputy mayor of Toronto, taking over from Jennifer McKelvie, who would continue to hold the title in an honorary capacity along with Mike Colle and Amber Morley. Chow also appointed Shelly Carroll to chair the budget committee, Gord Perks as chair of planning and housing, Jaamal Myers as chair of the TTC, and Alejandra Bravo as chair of the economic and community development committee.[62] The Local notes that the councillors in lead roles come from progressive backgrounds, and the many progressives and centrist councillors appointed to committees have resulted in a wider political range than under the previous administration. Overall, the committee structure experienced a "leftward" shift.[63]

City finances[edit]

"New Deal" for Toronto[edit]

During the 2023 by-election, the city's budget shortfall was a major topic of discussion as Toronto's 2023 operating budget faced a shortfall of $1.5 billion.[64] Absent financial assistance from other levels of government, the city would be forced use its reserve fund in order to avoid running a deficit.[65] Due to a decline in revenues during the COVID-19 pandemic, the City of Toronto relied on transfer payments from other levels of government to sustain its operating budget.[66] In her first speech as mayor, Chow called on the provincial and federal governments to commit to a "new deal" for funding the city, criticizing them for withholding a bailout as the city continued to struggle from the financial impact of COVID-19.[67]

Following her first official meeting with Premier Doug Ford on September 18, 2023, Chow and Ford announced that the city and province would form a working group of senior officials to discuss long-term sustainability and stability in Toronto's finances.[68][69] Chow noted that the city was carrying $1.1 billion in services on behalf of the provincial and federal governments, while Ford committed to avoiding new taxes.[70] On October 30, ahead of their second meeting, Chow and Ford wrote a joint letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau calling on the federal government to join the working group.[71] The following day, Chow confirmed that the federal government would participate in the working group.[72]

On November 27, 2023, Chow and Ford held a joint press conference where they announced that the city and province had come to an agreement regarding a "new deal". In the deal, the province would take over responsibility for the F.G. Gardiner Expressway and Don Valley Parkway, as well as a $300 million dollar transfer for transit operations and safety. Contingent on federal funding, Ford also committed $758 million to procure new subway trains for Line 2 Bloor–Danforth and $600 million across three years to address homelessness. The province would also provide up $342 million over 2024, 2025 and 2026, conditional on Toronto exceeding its annual housing targets by 125 per cent each year.[73][74] In total, the deal includes $1.2 billion over three years in operating funding and $7.6 billion in capital relief.[75] As part of the agreement, the City of Toronto also conceded that it does not have the ability to stop the province's controversial plans to redevelop Ontario Place into a private spa and water park, breaking a promise Chow made during her campaign.[76][77]

2024 Budget[edit]

On January 10, 2024, following a series of pre-budget consultations, city staff presented the Budget Committee with their proposed budget. The initial staff budget proposed a 10.5 per cent property tax increase, contingent on the federal government providing $250 million to house refugee claimants. Without federal funding, the increase could rise to 16.5 per cent.[78] The city later decreased the proposed property tax increase to 9.5 per cent.[79] Either tax increase would be the largest since the 1998 amalgamation of Toronto.[80]

Renaming civic assets[edit]

Dundas Street and Square[edit]

Following her 2023 election, Chow indicated her support for the city's plan to rename Dundas Street and related civic assets.[81] In 2020, a petition which received over 14,000 signatures calling for the renaming of the street and related civic assets prompted then-Mayor John Tory to direct city staff to begin a review of the renaming, which was subsequently adopted by city council in 2021 at a cost of $6 million.[82] By 2023, the projected cost had risen to $13 million.[83] Henry Dundas was a Scottish politician who is controversially known for his role in delaying the abolition of the trans-Atlantic slave trade.[84] In December 2023, Chow supported a motion introduced by Councillor Chris Moise, which would adopt the recommendation of an advisory committee to rename Yonge–Dundas Square to Sankofa Square, a Ghanan word describing the concept of reflecting on teachings from the past.[83] Council also voted to rename Dundas Station after the Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU), Dundas West Station and the Jane/Dundas Library.[83][85] The plan would see the cost of renaming the square funded by developers through community benefit charges and the cost of renaming Dundas Station funded by TMU. The renaming of the street was deferred indefinitely due to budget pressures.[83][85]

The name "Sankofa Square" was met unfavourably by the majority of Torontonians; a poll conducted in January 2024 found that 71 percent of respondents disapproved of the new name.[86] Right-leaning Toronto Sun commentator Brian Lilley praised the cost savings of Chow's decision to cancel the renaming of the street, describing it as a "compromising between what she wanted and what was possible".[87]

Centennial Park Stadium[edit]

Chow supported a motion introduced by Councillor Paul Ainslie in December 2023 to rename Centennial Park Stadium in Etobicoke after former mayor Rob Ford, who died in 2016.[88] The motion faced opposition owing from Ford's controversial tenure as mayor, however, Chow defended her support, stating that she understood "the pain of losing a loved one" and "what that meant for the Ford family".[89]

Outside politics[edit]

Following her loss in the municipal election, Chow was appointed to a three-year term, beginning March 1, 2015,[90] as distinguished visiting professor in the Faculty of Arts in Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson University), with a focus on community engagement and democratic participation.[39][91] On July 28, 2015, then-Ryerson University released a statement that it had agreed to grant Chow's request for a leave of absence from the university so that she could run for MP.[92]

Chow's personal memoir, titled My Journey, was published January 21, 2014.[93]

In 2016, Chow founded the Institute for Change Leaders, an organization affiliated with Toronto Metropolitan University which teaches political campaign and organizing skills.[94]

Personal life[edit]

Chow was married to Jack Layton from 1988 until his death in August 2011. On August 20, 2012, she unveiled a statue dedicated to Layton; tributes to him were written in English, Chinese and French. The statue is located in Harbour Square Park at the Jack Layton Ferry Terminal.

In 2005, she revealed that she had undergone surgery for thyroid cancer in 2004. She decided to speak out to raise awareness of the disease.[95] In 2013, she was diagnosed with Ramsay Hunt syndrome type II.[96]

Chow speaks Cantonese, Mandarin and English.[97]

She was portrayed by Sook-Yin Lee in the 2013 CBC Television film Jack. Lee won a Canadian Screen Award for her performance.[98]

Chow is a Star Trek fan.[99][100][101]

Awards[edit]

In May 2012, Chow was named one of the top 25 Canadian immigrants in Canada by the Canadian Immigrant magazine.[102]

Chow was voted "Best City Councillor" on numerous occasions by Toronto's alternative weeklies Now Magazine[103][104] and Eye Weekly.

Electoral record[edit]

Municipal[edit]

2023 Toronto mayoral by-election
Candidate Votes %
Olivia Chow 268,676 37.17
Ana Bailão 234,647 32.46
Mark Saunders 62,017 8.58
Anthony Furey 35,839 4.96
Josh Matlow 35,516 4.91
Mitzie Hunter 21,170 2.93
Chloe Brown 18,763 2.60
95 other candidates 46,249 6.39
Total 722,877 100.00
Source: City of Toronto[105]
2014 Toronto mayoral election
Candidate Votes %
John Tory 394,775 40.28
Doug Ford 330,610 33.73
Olivia Chow 226,879 23.15
64 other candidates 7,913 2.84
Total 980,177 100.00
Source: City of Toronto[106]
2000 Toronto municipal election: Ward 20 – Trinity—Spadina
Candidate Votes
Olivia Chow 9,477
Rosie Schwartz 1,140
Roberto Verdecchia 1,126
1997 Toronto municipal election: Ward 24 – Downtown
Candidate Votes
Olivia Chow 20,453
Kyle Rae 16,149
Al Carbone 5,186
Paul Hogan 2,319
Rosie Schwartz 2,001
Doug Lowry 1,615
Charlene Cottle 864
Roberto Verdecchia 787
Carmin Priolo 398
1994 Toronto municipal election: Metro Toronto Ward 24 – Downtown
Candidate Votes
Olivia Chow 13,327
Jeffrey Valentine 5,940
1991 Toronto municipal election: Metro Toronto Ward 24 – Downtown
Candidate Votes
Olivia Chow 10,024
Storm MacGregor 4,913
Michael Lockey 2,805
Larry Lee 1,836
Zoltan Fekete 1,327

Federal[edit]

2015 Canadian federal election: Spadina—Fort York
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Liberal Adam Vaughan 30,141 54.66 Increase30.27
New Democratic Olivia Chow 15,047 27.28 Decrease22.36
Conservative Sabrina Zuniga 8,673 15.73 Decrease5.13
Green Sharon Danley 1,137 2.06 Decrease2.11
PACT Michael Nicula 91 0.17
Marxist–Leninist Nick Lin 59 0.11
Total valid votes/expense limit 55,148 100.0     $205,892.35
Total rejected ballots 268 0.48
Turnout 55,416 73.93
Eligible voters 74,958
Source: Elections Canada[107][108]
2011 Canadian federal election: Trinity—Spadina
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
New Democratic Olivia Chow 35,493 54.1 +13.2 ?
Liberal Christine Innes 15,218 23.2 −11.9 ?
Conservative Gin Siow 10,938 16.7 +2.9 ?
Green Rachel Barney 3,279 5.0 −4.0 ?
Libertarian Chester Brown 454 0.7 −0.12 ?
Marxist–Leninist Nick Lin 178 0.3 ?
Total valid votes/expense limit 65,560 100.00 ?
Total rejected ballots
Turnout 65,560 68.8
2008 Canadian federal election: Trinity—Spadina
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
New Democratic Olivia Chow 24,442 40.88 −5.15 $87,231
Liberal Christine Innes 20,967 35.06 −5.08 $68,343
Conservative Christine McGirr 8,220 13.75 +4.74 $53,815
Green Stephen LaFrenie 5,383 9.00 +5.16 $12,333
Libertarian Chester Brown 490 0.82 $0
Independent Carlos Santos Almeida 164 0.27 $541
Independent Val Illie 130 0.22 $580
Total valid votes/expense limit 59,796 100.00 $94,303
Total rejected ballots
Turnout
2006 Canadian federal election: Trinity—Spadina
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
New Democratic Olivia Chow 28,748 46.03 +3.99 $78,702
Liberal Tony Ianno 25,067 40.14 −3.41 $66,373
Conservative Sam Goldstein 5,625 9.01 +0.36 $22,879
Green Thom Chapman 2,398 3.84 −0.40 $165
Progressive Canadian Asif Hossain 392 0.63 −0.37 $257
Marxist–Leninist Nick Lin 138 0.22 +0.03
Canadian Action John Riddell 82 0.13 −0.04 $25
Total valid votes 62,450 100.00
Total rejected ballots 278 0.44 −0.17
Turnout 62,728 70.9 +7.2
2004 Canadian federal election: Trinity—Spadina
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Liberal Tony Ianno 23,202 43.55 −3.86 $68,821
New Democratic Olivia Chow 22,397 42.04 +3.87 $77,070
Conservative David Watters 4,605 8.64 −2.15 $34,598
Green Mark Viitala 2,259 4.24 +2.91 $1,330
Progressive Canadian Asif Hossain 531 1.00 $24
Marxist–Leninist Nick Lin 102 0.19 −0.06 $164
Canadian Action Tristan Alexander Downe-Dewdney 91 0.17 N/A
Independent Daniel Knezetic 89 0.17 $3,103
Total valid votes 53,276 100.00
Total rejected ballots 329 0.61
Turnout 53,605 63.7
Note: Conservative vote is compared to the total of the Canadian Alliance vote and Progressive Conservative vote in 2000 election.
1997 Canadian federal election: Trinity—Spadina
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Tony Ianno 18,215 45.30 −5.84
New Democratic Olivia Chow 16,413 40.81 +13.83
Progressive Conservative Danielle Wai Mascall 2,793 6.95 −1.15
Reform Nolan Young 1,649 4.10 −3.73
Green Sat Singh Khalsa 392 0.97 −0.64
Natural Law Ashley Deans 194 0.48 −0.53
Independent John Roderick Wilson 159 0.40
Marxist–Leninist J.-P. Bedard 140 0.35 +0.16
Canadian Action Thomas P. Beckerle 130 0.32
Independent Roberto Verdecchia 129 0.32
Total valid votes 40,214 100.00

See also[edit]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ In Ontario, municipal politicians are elected on a non-partisan basis.

References[edit]

  1. ^ Elvidge, John (June 27, 2023). "Statement from Toronto City Clerk". City of Toronto. Retrieved June 27, 2023. …the Mayor-elect will take office on Wednesday, July 12…
  2. ^ "Olivia Chow wins election as Toronto's first Chinese-Canadian mayor | Canada | The Guardian". amp.theguardian.com. Retrieved July 7, 2023.
  3. ^ Jabri-Pickett, Sam (June 27, 2023). "Toronto elects Olivia Chow as first Chinese-Canadian mayor". Reuters. Retrieved July 7, 2023.
  4. ^ Cohen, Tobi (January 17, 2014). "Olivia Chow recounts abusive upbringing in new memoir". Canada.com. Retrieved March 12, 2014.
  5. ^ Diebel, Linda (October 24, 2014). "Olivia Chow shows grit in life and a tough election". Toronto Star. Retrieved October 28, 2014.
  6. ^ a b Chow, Olivia (January 17, 2014). "My Journey: an excerpt from Olivia Chow's new memoir". Toronto Star. Retrieved June 28, 2023.
  7. ^ a b Morrow, Adrian; Hui, Ann (March 11, 2014). "Olivia Chow resigns seat, set to launch Toronto mayoral bid". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved March 12, 2014.
  8. ^ Diebel, Linda (January 17, 2014). "My Journey by Olivia Chow: review". Toronto Star. Retrieved March 12, 2014.
  9. ^ a b Chu, Showwei (March 12, 2014). "Must know things about Olivia Chow". City TV News.
  10. ^ Geddes, John (June 16, 2011). "The life and times of Jack Layton". Maclean's. Retrieved March 12, 2014.
  11. ^ a b Koorsh, Karolyn (March 12, 2014). "5 things you may not know about Olivia Chow". CTV News.
  12. ^ John, Allemang (May 27, 2011). "Layton stakes his biggest bet as Jack of Hearts". Toronto: The Globe and Mail. Retrieved March 12, 2014.
  13. ^ "Dan Heap, former Toronto NDP MP, dead at 88". CBC News. April 26, 2014.
  14. ^ Henton, Darcy (November 2, 1985). "Woman against party politics takes on NDP team". Toronto Star. Toronto ON: Torstar.
  15. ^ Polanyi, Margaret (November 12, 1985). "Party politics key in school board race". The Globe and Mail. Toronto ON. pp. A20.
  16. ^ Sweet, Lois (March 10, 1986). "School boards must move on rights of homosexuals". Toronto Star. Toronto ON: Torstar. p. D1.
  17. ^ Ferri, John (April 24, 1986). "Rights classes will protect homosexuals, trustees say". Toronto Star. Toronto ON: Torstar.
  18. ^ Contenta, Sandro (May 27, 1988). "Trustees adopt sex course to fight homophobia". Toronto Star. Toronto ON: Torstar. p. A7.
  19. ^ "Olivia Chow is the great organizer of the left. Can she be a unifying mayor?". Toronto Star. Toronto ON: Torstar. June 14, 2023.
  20. ^ French, Orland (May 30, 1989). "School board backs demand for Chinese head-tax redress". The Globe and Mail. p. A14.
  21. ^ Taylor, Paul (June 8, 1989). "Racial gaps documented in report on schools". The Globe and Mail. p. A1.
  22. ^ Coutts, Jane (November 13, 1991). "Council gets 3 new members". The Globe and Mail. p. A6.
  23. ^ Sarick, Lila (February 19, 1999). "Pedestrian crossing street killed as cyclist runs light". The Globe and Mail. p. A10.
  24. ^ NDP's Olivia Chow wins bid for seat on third try. CTV News. January 24, 2006. "CTV.ca | NDP's Olivia Chow wins bid for seat on third try". Archived from the original on June 8, 2012. Retrieved February 9, 2016.
  25. ^ Liberal exec quits over his blog remarks about NDPers. CBC News. December 27, 2005. [1]
  26. ^ "Canada chides Japan on sex slaves". BBC News. November 29, 2007. Archived from the original on December 1, 2007. Retrieved November 29, 2007.
  27. ^ Austen, Ian (July 16, 2008). "Canada Expels an American Deserter From the Iraq War". The New York Times. Retrieved May 20, 2010.
  28. ^ "Head-to-head: Refuge for deserters?". BBC News. June 11, 2008. Retrieved May 20, 2010.
  29. ^ "US deserter appeals deportation". Television New Zealand. Reuters. August 15, 2008. Retrieved November 1, 2011.
  30. ^ Smith, Joanna (June 3, 2008). "MPs vote to give asylum to U.S. military deserters". The Toronto Star. Archived from the original on November 27, 2021. Retrieved July 19, 2008.
  31. ^ "Report – Iraq War Resisters / Rapport –Opposants a la guerre en Irak". House of Commons / Chambre des Communes, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Archived from the original on February 13, 2009. Retrieved June 9, 2008.
  32. ^ "Official Report * Table of Contents * Number 104 (Official Version)". House of Commons / Chambre des Communes, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Archived from the original on September 26, 2008. Retrieved June 9, 2008.
  33. ^ "40th PARLIAMENT, 2nd SESSION, EDITED HANSARD • NUMBER 036, CONTENTS, Monday, March 30, 2009". Archived from the original on November 26, 2009. Retrieved July 13, 2009.
  34. ^ Cooper, Alex (April 21, 2009). "Federal court to hear American war resister's appeal". Toronto Star. Retrieved April 23, 2009.
  35. ^ Diebel, Linda. "Olivia Chow: An oil painting in stoic grief". The Toronto Star, August 27, 2011. Accessed September 5, 2011.
  36. ^ Kingston, Anne. "Jack Layton and Olivia Chow: A force field of two". Maclean's, September 5, 2011. Accessed September 5, 2011.
  37. ^ "Olivia Chow rules out NDP leadership bid". CBC News. September 4, 2011.
  38. ^ a b c "Toronto election: Olivia Chow registers to run for mayor". Toronto Star. March 12, 2014. Retrieved March 12, 2014.
  39. ^ a b "Olivia Chow to launch NDP bid in Spadina-Fort York Tuesday". CBC News. July 27, 2015. Retrieved July 27, 2015.
  40. ^ "Olivia Chow launches federal run for NDP in Spadina-Fort York". Toronto Star. July 28, 2015. Retrieved July 28, 2015.
  41. ^ "'It hurts': NDP shut out of downtown Toronto in Liberal crush". CBC News. October 20, 2015. Retrieved May 13, 2018. Another decisive Liberal win came in Spadina—Fort York, where Layton's widow, Olivia Chow, lost to former Toronto city councillor Adam Vaughan.
  42. ^ Olivia Chow deletes the most Facebook comments Toronto Star. March 28, 2014
  43. ^ "NDP's national director jumps to Olivia Chow mayoral campaign". CBC News. Retrieved June 22, 2017.
  44. ^ "Olivia Chow resigns as New Democrat MP to run for mayor of Toronto". Macleans.ca. March 12, 2014. Retrieved June 22, 2017.
  45. ^ oliviachow.ca
  46. ^ Olivia Chow wants to boost TTC bus service by 10% CBC.ca March 20, 2014
  47. ^ Olivia Chow promises greater access to after-school programs for kids Toronto Star. April 6, 2014
  48. ^ "Olivia Chow vows to create 5,000 jobs for youths with new program". National Post. May 13, 2014. Retrieved June 19, 2021.
  49. ^ "Toronto election: John Tory elected mayor". CBC News. October 28, 2014. Retrieved October 28, 2014.
  50. ^ "Olivia Chow enters Toronto mayor's race". thestar.com. April 17, 2023. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
  51. ^ "Olivia Chow will be Toronto's next mayor. Here's what she promised". CTV Toronto. June 26, 2023. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
  52. ^ Kassam, Zakiya (June 27, 2023). "Here's How Mayor Elect Olivia Chow Plans To 'Fix' Housing". STOREYS. Retrieved June 28, 2023.
  53. ^ a b "Housing, property taxes, strong mayor powers: Olivia Chow weighs in as Toronto's mayor-elect". CBC News. June 27, 2023.
  54. ^ a b Ranger, Michael; Bond, Meredith (June 27, 2023). "Here's a look at mayor-elect Olivia Chow's campaign promises". toronto.citynews.ca. Retrieved June 28, 2023.
  55. ^ "Friday on the mayoral campaign trail: Chow pledges to improve 911 wait times". CBC News. May 19, 2023.
  56. ^ Hasham, Alyshah (April 25, 2023). "How Toronto's mayoral hopefuls would tackle the city's drug crisis". Toronto Star. Retrieved April 26, 2023.
  57. ^ Jabri-Pickett, Sam (June 27, 2023). "Toronto set to elect Olivia Chow as its first Chinese-Canadian mayor-CBC News projects". Reuters. Retrieved June 27, 2023.
  58. ^ Isai, Vjosa (June 26, 2023). "Olivia Chow Elected New Mayor of Toronto, Out of 102 Candidates". The New York Times. Toronto. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
  59. ^ Rider, David (June 26, 2023). "Toronto mayoral election: Olivia Chow elected mayor in historic vote". Toronto Star. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
  60. ^ "HIGHLIGHTS: Toronto's new mayor Olivia Chow takes office". CTV Toronto. July 12, 2023. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
  61. ^ Jones, Ryan Patrick (October 5, 2022). "How will Toronto and Ottawa's new 'strong mayor' powers work?". CBC News.
  62. ^ "Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow unveils executive team - Toronto | Globalnews.ca". Global News. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
  63. ^ Park, Neville (August 14, 2023). "A Leftward Tilt for the City's Committees". The Local. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
  64. ^ "Chow acknowledges Toronto's budget shortfall a 'serious' problem as she meets officials at city hall a day after historic win". CP24. June 27, 2023. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
  65. ^ Moore, Oliver (January 10, 2023). "Toronto's projected budget shortfall is $1.4-billion". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
  66. ^ "On shortfalls and taxes: Toronto is in a tough financial situation no matter who wins the election". CP24. June 24, 2023. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
  67. ^ "Olivia Chow promises 'new deal' for city in first speech as mayor of Toronto". National Post. July 12, 2023.
  68. ^ "Olivia Chow, Doug Ford agree to new-deal working group at meeting". toronto.citynews.ca. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
  69. ^ Wilson, Kerrisa (September 19, 2023). "Ford and Chow agree on joint working group to address Toronto's 'deep financial challenges'". NOW Toronto. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
  70. ^ Crawley, Mike (September 19, 2023). "Suddenly, Doug Ford admits Toronto's finances aren't sustainable". CBC News.
  71. ^ "Chow, Ford call for federal financial support in open letter ahead of second meeting". CP24. October 30, 2023. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
  72. ^ "Chow says federal government will join talks on new deal to fix Toronto's finances". CP24. October 31, 2023. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
  73. ^ "Toronto and Ontario agree to new deal, including DVP, Gardiner and Ontario Place | Globalnews.ca". Global News. November 27, 2023. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
  74. ^ "Ontario has promised Toronto over $1B in new funding. Here's how it would be used". CBC News. November 28, 2023.
  75. ^ "Province to take control of two Toronto highways in 'new deal' for city". www.tvo.org. November 27, 2023. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
  76. ^ Carter, Adam (November 27, 2023). "Toronto uploads Gardiner, DVP to province, steps aside on Ontario Place redevelopment". CBC News.
  77. ^ "Ontario and Toronto Reach a New Deal". Government of Ontario. November 27, 2023. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
  78. ^ Habibinia, Mahdis (January 10, 2024). "Key takeaways from the proposed 2024 Toronto budget plan". Toronto Star. Retrieved January 31, 2024.
  79. ^ "Mayor Olivia Chow's approval rating drops following release of Toronto's budget: poll". Toronto. February 12, 2024. Retrieved February 13, 2024.
  80. ^ Rider, David; Spurr, Ben (January 9, 2024). "Toronto's 2024 budget may include historic double-digit tax hike". Toronto Star. Retrieved January 31, 2024.
  81. ^ Lilley, Brian (December 13, 2023). "LILLEY: Chow says city is broke but still wants to rename Dundas St". Toronto Sun.
  82. ^ "Toronto city council approves renaming Dundas Street due to namesake's connection to slavery - Toronto | Globalnews.ca". Global News. Retrieved January 10, 2024.
  83. ^ a b c d Habibinia, Mahdis (December 14, 2023). "Sankofa Square? What's behind the proposed new name for Yonge-Dundas Square". Toronto Star. Retrieved January 10, 2024.
  84. ^ "Where is Toronto in the renaming process of Dundas Street?". toronto.citynews.ca. Retrieved January 10, 2024.
  85. ^ a b "Toronto City Council approves renaming Yonge-Dundas Square, asks TTC to rename two subway stations". CP24. December 14, 2023. Retrieved January 10, 2024.
  86. ^ Marcelo, Breanna (January 9, 2024). "Over 70% of Torontonians don't want Yonge-Dundas Square to be renamed Sankofa Square: poll". NOW Toronto. Retrieved January 10, 2024.
  87. ^ Lilley, Brian (December 15, 2023). "LILLEY: Chow compromised on Dundas, just as he would have done". Toronto Sun.
  88. ^ "Toronto council votes to name stadium after former mayor Rob Ford". CP24. December 15, 2023. Retrieved January 10, 2024.
  89. ^ "Chow defends support for renaming stadium after Rob Ford, saying she understands 'pain of losing a loved one'". CP24. December 13, 2023. Retrieved January 10, 2024.
  90. ^ "Olivia Chow to become Ryerson University professor". Toronto Star. July 27, 2015. Retrieved July 27, 2015.
  91. ^ "Olivia Chow may announce federal run on Tuesday, report says". Toronto Star. July 27, 2015. Retrieved July 27, 2015.
  92. ^ "General_Public - News & Events - Ryerson University". Archived from the original on August 1, 2015. Retrieved July 31, 2015.
  93. ^ "About The Book". My Journey by Olivia Chow. HarperCollins Canada. Retrieved January 29, 2014.
  94. ^ Skinner, Justin (October 19, 2016). "Olivia Chow launches institute to create change leaders". Brampton Guardian. Retrieved April 15, 2023.
  95. ^ "NDP leader's wife speaks of battle with thyroid cancer". CBC News. April 13, 2005. Retrieved March 12, 2014.
  96. ^ Connor, Kevin (January 4, 2013). "Olivia Chow diagnosed with Ramsay Hunt syndrome". Toronto Sun. Retrieved March 12, 2014.
  97. ^ http://files.harpercollins.com/Mktg/HarperCanada/PDF/OliviaChow_PressRelease.pdf[bare URL PDF]
  98. ^ "2014 Canadian Screen Awards Full Winners List". Canadian Screen Awards. Archived from the original on October 30, 2015. Retrieved March 29, 2014.
  99. ^ "Part 2: Olivia Chow says she loves Star Trek". October 15, 2014.
  100. ^ "11 Things You (Probably) Didn't Know About Jack Layton". August 22, 2014.
  101. ^ "Star Trek event mixes sci-fi with classical music". Toronto Star. March 19, 2015.
  102. ^ Sanjay Agnihotri (May 29, 2012). "Canadian Immigrant Magazine and RBC Honour Canada's Top 25". Canadian Immigrant. Retrieved September 22, 2012.
  103. ^ "Best of Toronto 2001: Reader's Poll Award". NOW Magazine. October 25, 2001.
  104. ^ "Best of Toronto". NOW Magazine. October 28, 2004.
  105. ^ "City of Toronto - City of Toronto Elections Result". electionresults.toronto.ca. Retrieved June 27, 2023.
  106. ^ "Declaration of Results" (PDF). Toronto City Clerk's Office.
  107. ^ Elections Canada – Confirmed candidates for Spadina—Fort York, 30 September 2015
  108. ^ Elections Canada – Preliminary Election Expenses Limits for Candidates Archived 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine

Further reading[edit]

External links[edit]