Toronto’s mayor vows to prioritize budget over potential re-election bid

Toronto’s mayor has refused to say whether she’s running for re-election in 2026 and is now unveiling budget decisions, which could doom a potential campaign, saying they would be weighted higher if they put the city in a position to succeed. Olivia Chow has shot down re-election questions for months, shifting the conversation each time to the upcoming budget season. Even with Coun. Brad Bradford’s rival campaign already underway, and other political groups posting daily calls for change on social media, Chow often points out that there are still several months to go before any decisions are made. It was no different during a year-end interview with Global News at the City Hall’s fitness centre, where Chow exercises every morning before tending to her mayoral duties. She wouldn’t directly say if she’s gearing up for a race. But the mayor did say she will favour budget decisions that could sink her politically, if they put Toronto on the right track. “Absolutely, I will prioritize the budget anytime, because the rest is political consideration. I’m just one person,” said Chow. “Show that the City Hall cares about you; that is what is the most important piece.” The mayor also thinks the majority of city councillors share her opinion when it comes to the direction of the city. Still, Chow is keeping any decisions that may come after the Feb. 10 special council budget meeting close to the vest. The mayor is deflecting questions about whether she thinks being coy now will give voters enough time to make a decision, or whether beginning a campaign in late winter is cutting it close to find campaign staff. “I’m thinking about how do I help those homeowners or renters, that after the holidays in the new year, how are they going to be able to pay the bills?” she said. Get daily National news Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy . Bradford, who represents an eastern Toronto ward, already launched his mayoral campaign a full year (and arguably earlier) ahead of the fall election. Bradford, who finished a distant eighth in the mayoral byelection, has been a vocal critic of Chow’s, saying the city has grown unaffordable and that residents have never felt more unsafe. Chow counters that, saying Toronto police’s major crime indicators have been trending downward, including homicides, which are less than half of 2024’s totals. Police staffing levels have been the focus of the past two budgets Chow has put forward, but she isn’t crediting the declining rates to just hiring more officers. “A big piece, too, is giving young people hope,” she said, pointing to efforts to create more opportunities for youth by partnering with neighbourhood agencies. “It really has an impact; gun violence with young people has also dropped dramatically,” Chow said. Still, even as some crime rates are dropping, Chow acknowledged more attention needs to be devoted to combating antisemitism, Islamophobia and anti-Black racism. Even with the police service’s program focusing on policing protests and increasing its presence...

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