The six leading candidates for Toronto’s next mayor went head-to-head in another debate Wednesday, with less than a month for their campaign trail.
Olivia Chow, who is currently the front-runner in the mayoral race based on the polls, was under heavy criticism from other candidates during the debate over the proposed property tax increases in her platform.
The debate was co-organized by the United Way Greater Toronto, The Toronto Star and Toronto Metropolitan University.
Fellow candidates Mark Saunders, Mitzie Hunter, Josh Matlow, Brad Bradford and Ana Bailão also participated in the debate in front of a crowded audience inside a lecture hall at Ted Rogers School of Management.
While candidates addressed city-wide issues, including housing, affordability, public safety, strong mayor powers and among others, Chow faced criticism from other candidates on the details of her proposed property tax hikes.
Toronto mayoral candidate Olivia Chow, participate in the debate co-hosted by United Way Greater Toronto, The Toronto Star and Toronto Metropolitan University on May 31, 2023. Photo credit: John Wong
“How much property taxes should Torontonians be ready to pay under your watch?” Bailão said. “I think it’s fair for Torontonians to know. What is your top? What is the ceiling?”
The former NDP MP and city councillor said it’s unrealistic to set a number before having more understanding about the city’s financial status next year.
“What we need to do is not to pick a number,” Chow said. “We don’t know how much the federal and provincial government is going to provide for us. We don’t know what the inflation is going to be next year in March, so to just pick a number, I don’t think that is a fair way to do it.”
Saunders, Hunter and Bradford also questioned Chow on the limit of her proposed tax increase.
Saunders said Chow hadn’t given the public a clear number of what people would be paying for, referring to her plan to raise the property tax. “What will you raise the taxes by?” he said.
Chow defended her “modest” tax hikes plan and said she had also proposed other kinds of funding besides raising taxes.
“Those people that can afford to buy a new home that is five, 10, 20 million dollars, with a private squash court, they can afford to pay a little bit more,” Chow said.
Hunter also said Chow’s response “is not good enough,” and that Chow is not being clear with Torontonians about what the cost will be.
The six candidates also answered whether they would use the strong mayor powers, which allows the mayor to overturn city council decisions.
Moderator Edward Keenan, a columnist for the Toronto Star, asked candidates to answer in one word. Most of them responded “no” is using the new power, except Bradford and Saunders, who answered “yes.”
The strong mayor powers, introduced by Ontario Premier Doug Ford in Toronto and Ottawa, enable mayors to override majority votes in the city council and pass bylaws related to provincial priorities without majority support.
The mayoral by-election will be on June 26, 2023.