City councillor Brad Bradford says Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow’s decision to revoke his position as vice-chair to the City’s Planning and Housing Committee is politics at its worst.
On Monday, Chow formally announced the rescindments and replacements to city council, where she revealed Bradford has been removed as vice-chair as well as the housing-related boards of CreateTO and the Toronto Parking Authority. In his place will be Councillor Frances Nunziata.
In addition, Chow has also appointed Councillor Paula Fletcher as vice-chair of the Audit Committee, Deputy Mayor Ausma Malik as the vice-chair of the Civic Appointments Committee, and finally, Councillor Mike Colle as the vice-chair of the Corporations Nominating Panel.
Chow selected Bradford for the position in June 2023 after defeating him in the mayoral by-election as conciliation. Bradford is a politician and urban planner who represents Ward 19 for Beaches-East York. He’s been serving for city council since 2018. During the 2023 mayoral by-election, he came out in eighth place with 9,254 votes.
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Chow says the halfway point in any administration is a great chance to review and focus on priorities. This includes putting more emphasis on building more homes, feeding more kids and getting Toronto moving.
“Councillor Bradford is an important voice in housing at the City and will continue his work on the Planning and Housing Committee. The housing committee is focused on urgently building affordable housing, ensuring the success of the public builder model, protecting renters, and unlocking an increased supply of market and nonprofit housing,” she told Now Toronto on Tuesday.
“Councillor Nunziata has shown a strong commitment to renters and will add a valuable perspective to the committee as vice chair,” she continued.
In response, Bradford claims the mayor has chosen politics over progress on the housing file.
“While I respect Mayor Chow’s right to make this political decision, it is still disappointing. Despite different views on many issues, I thought the Mayor and I were aligned on the need to get more homes built in Toronto and deliver supply-related solutions. Clearly, her priorities lie elsewhere,” he wrote in a statement on Monday.
“I want Toronto to succeed. That is why I cannot agree with the direction the administration is going on the housing file,” he continued.
In an update on Tuesday, Bradford says he still has not heard a word from the mayor after being abruptly axed from his role.
“This feels like politics at its worst, but I’ve been pushing for bold, real solutions for Toronto, and I won’t stop now. Vice-chair or not, I’m not quitting on Toronto,” he posted on X.
