Here’s a full list of Olivia Chow and Brad Bradford’s Toronto mayoral campaign promises

From transit expansion to tax cuts for homeowners, Toronto’s leading mayoral candidates have made a wide range of promises throughout the campaign. With just seven days until election day, here’s a comprehensive look at the commitments voters need to know.

Incumbent Mayor Olivia Chow and her main challenger, Brad Bradford, have spent months on the campaign trail speaking with residents and outlining their visions for Toronto.

Their platforms cover everything from transit and housing affordability to public safety, employment and support for families. With election day fast approaching, here is a breakdown of the promises each candidate has made so far.

Transit

Olivia Chow

• Cap TTC fares: Chow has pledged to cap TTC fares at 10 rides per week.
• Advance the Scarborough East LRT: She has promised to get shovels in the ground on the Scarborough East LRT if re-elected.

Brad Bradford

• Advance the Scarborough East LRT: Bradford has promised to get shovels in the ground on the Scarborough East LRT by 2030.
• Remove red bus lanes in Scarborough: He has pledged to remove red bus lanes on Kingston Road, Morningside Avenue, Kennedy Road and Midland Avenue.
• Start subway service earlier on marathon days: Bradford has committed to starting subway service at 6 a.m. on marathon days.
• Maintain and expand bike routes: He has promised to maintain downtown bike lanes while adding new routes on quieter parallel streets.
• Remove a section of Bloor Street West bike lanes: Bradford has pledged to remove the bike lanes on Bloor Street West, from South Kingsway west to Resurrection Road, and restore the traffic lanes.
• Improve streetcar service: He has promised to implement full transit signal priority for streetcars, including automated switches and 500-metre stop spacing, with the goal of cutting travel times by 40 per cent.
• Platform edge doors at every TTC subway station: Says he will increase safety on subway platforms by investing in platform edge doors at every TTC subway station. 

Housing and affordability

Olivia Chow

• Crack down on bad landlords: Chow has promised to create a Bad Landlords Task Force to target the worst buildings and landlords through proactive inspections and court orders requiring repairs.
• Build 10,000 more rental homes: She has pledged to build another 10,000 rental homes through the city’s Rental Housing Supply Program, including affordable units, with construction expected to begin next year.
• Provide school lunches for children: Chow has pledged to provide lunches for children in school to ease financial and time constraints on parents. She says the program could save families $1,800 a year on groceries.
• Lower grocery bills: She has announced a plan to lower grocery costs by banning surveillance pricing, cutting taxes for local grocers and helping open more community grocery stores.
• Expand free family activities: Chow has promised to expand the Museum and Attractions Pass program to make 1,000 additional family passes available each month.
• Add weekend children’s programming at libraries: She has pledged to introduce more children’s programming at Toronto Public Library branches every weekend.
• Help seniors age at home: Chow has promised additional support and recreation programs, more mobile dental and health clinics, and expanded homemaking services to help seniors remain in their homes and stay socially connected.

Brad Bradford

• Eliminate the land transfer tax on some home purchases: Bradford has promised to eliminate Toronto’s municipal land transfer tax on principal residences purchased for $1.1 million or less. He says eligible buyers could save around $18,000.
• Cut water bills by 25 per cent: He has pledged to reduce Toronto water bills by 25 per cent, which he says would save the average household $300 a year.
• Freeze property taxes for one year: Bradford has promised a one-year property tax freeze to allow for an independent, line-by-line review of city spending.
• Protect the School Nutrition Program: He has pledged to protect the program and cut red tape that slows the delivery of food programs to schools and community hubs that need them most.
• Strengthen renter protections: Bradford has promised to enforce renoviction bylaws and introduce a maximum heat standard, with a cool room in every rental home.
• Support affordable housing providers: He has pledged to help non-profit housing providers build more affordable homes.

Public safety

Olivia Chow

• Reopen 54 Division: Chow has promised to rebuild the shuttered 54 Division police station in East York, with the facility expected to reopen in 2030.’
• Continue hiring police officers: Chow has pledged to invest in the city’s multi-year police hiring plan, which calls for hiring 360 officers per year through 2029, the maximum number permitted by the province.

Brad Bradford

• Establish a police substation at Sankofa Square: Bradford has promised to create a permanent police substation at Sankofa Square, staffed by officers already serving on the force.
• Hire 1,000 additional frontline officers: He has pledged to hire 1,000 new net frontline police officers during his first term.
• Establish a police substation at Union Station: Bradford has promised to open a police substation at the transit hub.
• Expand police recruit training in Toronto: He has pledged to open a satellite campus of the Ontario Police College at the Toronto Police College in Etobicoke, allowing additional recruit classes to be held for Toronto officers.
• Rename Sankofa Square: Bradford has promised to change the square’s name to Toronto Square.
• Bring year-round activity to Sankofa Square: He has pledged to fill the square with a year-round calendar of commerce, culture, food, retail and live performances.

Employment

Olivia Chow

• Create jobs for Scarborough youth through transit construction: Chow has promised to ensure local workers are hired to build the Scarborough East LRT, creating employment opportunities for young people in the area.
• Create 15,000 youth jobs: She has pledged to create 15,000 new youth jobs through the Toronto Youth Employment Strategy, in partnership with United Way.
• Invest $28 million in youth programs: Chow has promised to invest $28 million in violence prevention programs, mentorship and employment opportunities for Scarborough youth.

Brad Bradford

• Create 15,000 permanent full-time jobs for youth: Bradford has promised to declare a public goal of creating 15,000 permanent, full-time youth jobs on his first day in office.
• Expand opportunities for equity-deserving youth: He has pledged to require that at least 30 per cent of internships, apprenticeships and Anchor Partner positions go to equity-deserving youth.