What to know
- Brad Bradford has launched his “25/7 Tour,” with plans to visit all 25 Toronto wards during the final week of the mayoral campaign.
- Bradford reiterated his promises to hire 1,000 net new frontline police officers, freeze property taxes for one year and cut water bills by 25 per cent.
- Olivia Chow returned to Scarborough to outline plans for smart traffic lights, a permanent Scarborough Busway and the Scarborough East LRT.
- Chow says 20 per cent of jobs associated with building the Scarborough East LRT would go to local residents, with 15 per cent of apprenticeships targeted toward youth aged 18 to 35.
With just seven days until election day, mayoral candidate Brad Bradford is hitting the campaign trail with plans to visit all 25 wards across Toronto, while incumbent Mayor Olivia Chow is focusing her attention on Scarborough.
Bradford announced the launch of his “25/7 Tour” during an event at Riverdale Park on Monday morning. The campaign initiative will see him make stops in all 25 wards during the final week of the race.
Bradford’s campaign has described the tour as an “ambitious” effort to reach every corner of the city, “from Etobicoke to Scarborough, from the waterfront to Steeles.”
During Monday’s announcement, Bradford reiterated several of his campaign promises, including hiring 1,000 net new frontline police officers by the end of his first term and freezing property taxes for homes and businesses during his first year in office.
His campaign also highlighted his pledges to cut water bills by 25 per cent and eliminate the municipal land transfer tax on homes purchased for $1.1 million or less.
“Safe streets. Less time stuck in traffic. A water bill and a tax bill you can actually plan around. That’s not a dream. That’s a plan. That’s a comeback. And over the next 7 days I’m going to take it to every single ward in this city, because every neighbourhood is part of it,” Bradford said in a news release.
Chow brings campaign back to Scarborough
Meanwhile, Chow returned to Scarborough to outline her plans to improve transit and create local employment opportunities in the area.
Her proposals include prioritizing Scarborough for new smart traffic lights and intelligent intersections designed to respond to real-time traffic conditions.
Chow also shared plans to make the newly opened Scarborough Busway permanent. The busway was introduced to replace the decommissioned Scarborough RT until the Scarborough Subway Extension opens in the 2030s.
The mayor also reiterated her commitment to getting shovels in the ground on the Scarborough East LRT, which she says will create employment opportunities for local residents and young people.
Under her plan, 20 per cent of jobs associated with building the Scarborough East LRT would go to local residents, while 15 per cent of apprenticeships would be targeted toward young people between the ages of 18 and 35.
“Every crane means jobs. Workers buying lunch. Shopping at local grocery stores. Supporting Scarborough businesses,” Chow said in a news release. “Let’s build the Scarborough that people always deserved.”
Toronto’s municipal election is scheduled for Oct. 26.
