As she approaches the conclusion of her first full year as Toronto’s mayor, Olivia Chow remains focused on addressing key city challenges, notably housing, renter affordability, and reliable municipal services. In discussing plans for the upcoming year, Chow acknowledged that Toronto’s longstanding issues would require time to resolve. During a year-end interview with Global News, she highlighted the city’s infrastructure woes and public safety concerns, which need attention in forthcoming budgets.
Chow avoided divulging specifics regarding possible property tax changes, noting any increase will stem from consultations about the services residents demand. Her focus lies on protecting renters’ financial interests, which constitute about half of the Toronto population. She also expressed the need to support homeowners who, despite their property assets, may struggle with cash flow.
Chow inherited a daunting $1.8 billion budget shortfall, a financial strain still affecting the city. Infrastructure, including transportation tracks and signals, require significant investment, she remarked. Over the past year, budget chief Councillor Shelley Carroll coordinated closely with Toronto police. Addressing potential budget tensions, Chow emphasized the necessity for police to justify their budget increases with solid hiring plans, to which both she and Carroll are amenable if substantiated.
Chow also seeks efficiencies and potential spending cuts within the city’s budget. She pursues collaboration with higher government levels to boost housing funding, advocating for a new strategy to revitalize stalled housing projects. The plan involves waiving development fees in exchange for commitments from developers to build rental units, which could stimulate significant housing growth if higher government participation is secured.
Contentious interactions with the provincial government are anticipated, as legislation has paved the way for removing several kilometers of bike lanes to manage congestion. Chow acknowledged the province’s legal authority to make unilateral decisions but remains hopeful of negotiating compromises, potentially by expanding road lanes while maintaining bike paths.
Investment in transit remains crucial to alleviating the city’s traffic issues, and Chow warns of limited progress until reliable public transportation is established. Although undecided about running for re-election, Chow’s immediate focus remains on advancing the city’s priorities through her remaining time in office.
