Former city councilor and former Toronto MP Olivia Chow on Monday submitted her nomination papers at city hall on Monday and said she was running for mayor.
On Monday, Chow held an event for the press at Dragon City Mall in downtown Toronto.
“I’ve made a choice. I choose to run as mayor of Toronto. I love this city,” she said.
“Choose me and together we will build a city that is more caring, safer, more affordable, where everyone belongs.”
Chow placed third, behind John Tory and Doug Ford in the 2014 mayoral race.
She started her political career in the 1980s as a school board trustee, spent 13 years as a city councilor from 1991 to 2005 before winning a seat as the New Democratic Party Member of Parliament for Trinity-Spadina in downtown Toronto.
Chow, 66, is the widow of Jack Layton, a longtime local Toronto politician who became leader of the federal NDP and who died of cancer in 2011.
She launched her campaign by focusing on issues surrounding the housing crisis in Toronto.
“Today there are over 100,000 families, single people, waiting for affordable housing,” she said. “We urgently need to build a city that cares. It is still a great city, but it has to be a great city for everyone.”
She also spoke of the need to ensure that 911 services are provided in over 200 languages and placed emphasis on expanding child nutrition programs.
Chow informed reporters last month that she was considering participating in the June byelection which was triggered by the resignation of John Tory in January.
She stated that the decision was a “difficult one” and that she has “learned a lot of lessons” from her past fortune.
She was also asked about Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s comments that it would be a “disaster” for Toronto to have a left-leaning mayor. Chow replied by saying the premier should not involve himself or interfere in the Toronto vote.
Chow has become one of the most recognizable names in the vast crowd that includes Coun. Josh Matlow (Ward 12, Toronto-St. Paul’s), Coun. Brad Bradford (Ward 19, Beaches-East York), ex-police chief Mark Saunders, former deputy mayor Ana Bailao.
Nominations will close on May 12 and the vote for mayor of Toronto will be held on Monday June 26.
As of Monday, 48 candidates have registered for the byelection, the largest such vote in Canadian history.