What to know
- Brad Bradford is pledging a one-year property tax freeze and an independent review of city spending.
- Chris Alexander is also promising a zero per cent increase in 2027 and property tax hikes below inflation in 2028.
- Olivia Chow says she would keep property tax increases in line with inflation if re-elected.
- All three candidates are tying their proposals to affordability and how Toronto manages its finances and services.
With Toronto’s municipal election approaching, the city’s three leading mayoral candidates are offering different plans for how they would approach property taxes while managing the city’s finances.
Brad Bradford is promising a one-year freeze on Toronto’s property tax rate if elected mayor.
Bradford says an independent group of experts and former city leaders would conduct an item-by-item review of city spending, looking for waste, duplication and outdated programs while protecting frontline services.
His campaign says the freeze could be funded through recurring gaps between the city’s budgeted and actual property-tax-supported spending. The campaign points to about $100 million in unspent funds in 2025 and about $130 million in 2024.
Bradford has also said that after the spending review, future property tax increases under his plan would remain below the rate of inflation.
Chris Alexander is also promising to hold property taxes at zero in 2027, his first budget if elected.
In a statement provided to Now Toronto, Alexander said that, with inflation, a zero increase would amount to a cut in real terms. He has also committed to keeping residential property tax increases below inflation in 2028.
Alexander said his approach would focus on examining city spending before asking residents to pay more.
“There are many places where the budget is simply not gripped,” Alexander said, pointing to unpaid TTC fares and recently identified spending reductions as examples.
“I will be a mayor who demands that every year, in public, with the results published,” he said.
Olivia Chow, meanwhile, says she would keep property tax increases in line with inflation if re-elected.
In a statement provided to Now Toronto, Chow’s campaign said Toronto faced a nearly $2 billion budget hole in 2023 as the city recovered from the pandemic and COVID-era intergovernmental funding ended.
The campaign said Chow has spent her first term working to repair the city’s budget and financial outlook, adding that Toronto is now in a more sustainable financial position.
The campaign pointed to the city’s 2026 budget increase of 2.2 per cent, saying it was below inflation at the time.
“If re-elected, Olivia Chow’s plan is to hold the line at inflation,” the campaign said.
Toronto’s municipal election will take place on Oct. 26.
