“Toronto – Canada’s version of a Democrat run city”

Initiatives introduced by the city of Toronto and the Toronto Transit Commission have done little to stop major crime on public transit and increase rider confidence, according to data shared by the city on June 12.

Major crime incidents—defined by Toronto police as assault, sexual assault, robbery, shootings, and other violent crimes—were up more than 24 percent on all Toronto transit systems since January 2023. There were also 220 incidents of major crime in May, an increase from 177 in January.

Toronto election reality check: How the top mayoral candidates would fix the TTC — and what the experts say

Each of the leading candidates has committed to revitalize the TTC amid struggling ridership and concerns over safety. We asked three experts about their plans.

Only in a city like Toronto that hands out free crystal meth pipes would this make any sense.

You can have four candidates behind you in the latest poll in the Toronto mayoral race but still not be allowed into the televised debates despite being ahead of most of those on the stage.

Toronto’s next mayor will inherit an expected budget shortfall of nearly $50-billion over the next decade – and no clear way to fix it.

The city is already expected to be short $1-billion in its operating budget this year, as it continues to contend with pandemic-related losses, largely owing to a drop in transit revenues. To balance its books, Toronto has been putting off maintenance and infrastructure spending, dipping into reserve funds and relying on higher levels of government to bail it out.

Cripes, we are toast.

Major crime in Toronto is up by 20% so far this year, which is concerning because major crime in 2022 was up 18% compared to 2021. In 2023, auto thefts are up 39%, theft over $5,000 is up 29%, assaults are up 17%, and sexual crimes are up 16%.

Support for Toronto mayoral candidate Olivia Chow has slipped slightly but none of her rivals made significant gains in the past week, according to a new Forum Research poll for the Toronto Star.

The survey of 1,047 Torontonians conducted Friday found the former NDP MP with the support of 35 per cent of decided voters, down three percentage points from a week earlier — but still far ahead of challengers.

Gonna soon be time to consider gettin outta here.

Olivia Chow is a lovely and charming woman.

There — I’ve said it.

With just over two weeks to go before election day, the top candidates to become Toronto’s next mayor see one obstacle in their way: Olivia Chow.

The race front-runner appears to have a significant lead, if the polls are to be believed (more on that here). She has a pile of lawn signs up around the city and her voice is on the radio and TV.

With their runway quickly running out, experts say the campaign could turn negative in its remaining days as candidates try to chip away at Chow’s support.

One of the most urgent tasks awaiting Toronto’s next mayor will be to turn council’s recent declaration of a homelessness emergency into action.

City council made the declaration in May in the face of the converging crises of housing unaffordability, mental health and addictions, which together have had lethal consequences for the city’s most vulnerable. Three people experiencing homelessness died each week last year, on average, according to city data, for a total of 187 deaths in 2022. More than 220 died while homeless in 2021.

The number of homeless encampments in Toronto is once again on the rise, after falling last year to a quarter of their footprint during the pandemic.

With twice as many camps this May as there were a year prior, it represents another symptom of the city’s deepening homelessness crisis.

Chow’s lead slips, Bailao’s support jumps up: Mainstreet poll

Ana Bailao has gained ground in the race for mayor of Toronto as support for frontrunner Olivia Chow has slipped this week, according to a new poll released on Friday morning.

If the election was held today, 29 per cent of decided voters would cast their ballots for Chow while 20 per cent would choose Bailao.

Sadly for Toronto that’s about as good as the news gets. We can hope someone, anyone gains enough momentum to stop Chow. Remember her “overwhelming” polling lead vanished last time she ran. The more people learned about her the more they backed away. Nothing has changed with Chow. Jack Layton she ain’t.

Saunders calls on other candidates to support him to ‘stop Chow’

Mayoral candidate Mark Saunders on Thursday urged others who are running to get in line behind him in order to “stop Olivia Chow,” but the appeal is drawing little enthusiasm.

With less than three weeks left in the election, Saunders issued a press release Thursday, calling for “unity” and claiming that “a vote for any other candidate is a vote for Chow.”

To me Saunders simply lacks curb appeal but Ford’s non-endorsement-endorsement may have killed any hope of a win.

I can’t see any of the “right” candidates dropping out, mainly because only Furey can be called “right”. The rest are like Saunders “Lesser Chows.”

With just days to go before advance voting begins, Toronto voters got their latest chance to look at the some of the top candidates in CBC Toronto’s mayoral byelection debate.

Five of the leading candidates to be mayor squared off Tuesday, sparring over their plans to build new homes, improve public safety and address the city’s deep financial challenges. Of the six top-polling candidates, five participated, including Ana Bailão, Olivia Chow, Mitzie Hunter, Josh Matlow and Mark Saunders. Brad Bradford had to cancel his attendance as he and his wife were at a hospital for the birth of their second child.

The latest public opinion poll in Toronto’s mayoral race has Anthony Furey gaining ground, with the longtime conservative newspaper columnist even edging out several high-profile rivals.

A Forum Research poll released Monday shows Olivia Chow expanding her lead among decided voters, with 38 per cent saying she’s their top choice compared to 13 per cent for her closest rival, ex-police chief Mark Saunders. One point behind Saunders is city councillor Josh Matlow at 12 per cent.

Problem? No one to rally round in an Anybody But Chow movement.

With Torontonians about to start casting ballots for a new mayor in advance voting, former NDP MP Olivia Chow is still growing her commanding lead, according to a new Forum Research poll for the Toronto Star.

The Friday survey of 1,032 Torontonians gave Chow the support of 38 per cent of decided voters, up four percentage points from the previous week.

While Toronto bleeds, politicians hoping to be the city’s next mayor do selfies.

The weekend started with a violent stabbing on the TTC and ended with gunshots in Sunnybrook Park.