Toronto mayoral\u00a0candidate\u00a0Brad Bradford promised to freeze property taxes for his first year if elected mayor during the first candidates\u2019 debate as incumbent Olivia Chow said she has spent her first years as mayor cleaning up a budget mess left by the\u00a0previous\u00a0city council.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The debate, hosted by the Toronto Board of Trade, features the top three\u00a0candidates: Chow,\u00a0Bradford\u00a0and Chris Alexander. It is being streamed live on CityNews 24\/7.\u00a0<\/p>\n
During the first segment of the debate on affordability, Bradford said he would freeze property taxes after being asked about how he would pay for his campaign promises to add 1,000 more police officers and add\u00a0platform\u00a0edge doors to the TTC.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cFamilies need relief. They\u00a0can\u2019t\u00a0afford more of Olivia Chow\u2019s tax increases,\u201d said Bradford. He added during that first\u00a0year,\u00a0he would do a line-by-line review of the City of Toronto\u2019s budget.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
In response, Chow called on Bradford\u2019s position as the vice-chair of the Budget Committee prior to her becoming mayor. \u201cYou left us with a close to\u00a0$2 billion deficit\u00a0in our budget so we can\u2019t run away from your record.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chow has previously said she plans to keep property taxes \u201cat or around\u201d the rate of inflation each year if\u00a0she\u2019s\u00a0reelected in next month\u2019s municipal election.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
Since taking over Toronto\u2019s mayor\u2019s chair, Chow has twice implemented significant property tax hikes including a record 9.5 per cent increase in 2024. The property tax increase for 2026 was 2.2 per cent.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Alexander took aim at Bradford saying, \u201cI don\u2019t think someone who answers your question about how to pay for his expensive promises with another tax cut is going to be the guy that actually will put will put business into focus on it,\u201d when responding to a question about how each of the candidates will bring investment to the city.<\/p>\n
Transit and congestion<\/p>\n
When it came to how they will alleviate congestion and bring transit numbers up, Chow said she would implement more signal priorities for the TTC and better coordination of road closures. She then brought up her proposal to capping fares at 10 rides a week.<\/p>\n
Chow also promised to add more traffic agents that help alleviate gridlock.<\/p>\n
Alexander disagreed, saying that the regressive fare structure will add to the TTC\u2019s $390 million budget shortfall. \u201cWe will never get people to come back if the service is impaired \u2026 if we are not putting revenue in it,\u201d said Alexander.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Bradford said he would never do major road closure when major events are going on. He added he would pursue 24\/7 construction, and invest in technology that can synchronize lights and improve efficiency in intersection clearing.<\/p>\n
In terms of the TTC, Bradford focused on riders being concerned about safety and reliability. \u201cNo one\u2019s saying they\u2019re not taking transit because it costs $3.30. They\u2019re saying they aren\u2019t taken transit because they can\u2019t rely on it, because it\u2019s not safe \u2026 We\u2019ve got to clean it up.\u201d<\/p>\n
Affordability<\/p>\n
Cost of living and affordability was also frequently brought up during the debate and each candidate was asked to name a program they would bring in to help alleviate some of those pressures on Torontonians and all three candidates brought up affordable housing.<\/p>\n
Alexander said he would work with the federal government to build tens of thousands of co-op affordable housing units. He also added he would work to bring more business investment to the city.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe need to see incomes rebound in the city. Canadians have gone almost a decade, over a decade, without per capita GDP growing, and that includes in the city of Toronto. So, generating interest in Toronto, bringing that business investment here, having restoring vitality in our small business creation, all of that is a huge part of this,\u201d said Alexander.<\/p>\n
Bradford called back to his property tax freeze and also said he would \u201ccreate conditions to build housing.\u201d<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the incumbent spoke about her measures taken against landlords that have provided more protections for renters and noted she has exempted developers from incurring development charges if 20 per cent of it is affordable housing.<\/p>\n
How and when to vote<\/p>\n
Voters will be receiving their voting cards in their mailbox in the coming days. Early voting for the Toronto municipal election takes place Tuesday Oct. 6 to Sunday Oct. 11 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Polls on election day, Oct. 26, are open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.<\/p>\n
Chow\u2019s lead shrinks in latest poll<\/p>\n
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