A Deep Dive Into Olivia Chow |

Olivia started her political career working for NDP MP Dan Heap in his local office, and with Heaps help Olivia won a seat as a school trustee. In 1986 after the murder of Kenneth Zeller for being a part of the LGBTQ community. Olivia was instrumental in getting Ontario's first sexuality wellness school program, held in context, this is a significant achievement. In 1984 it was estimated that seventy men and nine women had died of Aids in Canada, and In 1985, there were an estimated 381 Aids cases in Canada. As it turned out the numbers were much higher, after a majority of suspected deaths were investigated. Then with the help of the director of education Ned McKeown, she served as head of the school board's race relations committee.

Riding on her popularity at the school board, she ran for Toronto Council in the 1991 election, and won at a two to one margin. Chow was an advocate for the homeless, public transit, and other various progressive issues. Our city is home to a diverse group of communities and her message seems to of resonated with her constituents. As she was was re-elected several times to city council by wide margins.

On January 1, 1998, the federation of Metropolitan Toronto and its six lower-tier constituent municipalities was dissolved by an act of the government of Ontario, and formed into a single-tier City Of Toronto. Interesting enough amalgamation was widely opposed in Toronto and the surrounding municipalities. It was so unpopular that, in a municipal referendum held in 1997 over three quarters of voters rejected amalgamation.

After amalgamation Olivia and her husband Jack Layton were both considered rising stars on city council. While on council both Olivia and her husband worked with pro-development Mayor Mel Lastman, demonstrating their ability to work with members across the isle. Her husband Jack Layton went on to become the federal leader of the NDP.

Olivia a cycling advocate, and is known for riding a bicycle, decorated with flowers and bright colours. She was also named the city’s first youth advocate, a designation probably intended to keep her busy. She fought against welfare cutbacks caused by downloading. She also help fund a meal program for children by securing the funds. In addition, she helped get funding to help tenants fight landlords over rent increases. I find it interesting that I still remember these things, but the one thing I remember most of all from that time period is the “squeegee kids” issue. If your not familiar with the concept, people would stop at a light at an intersection and a teen or “squeegee kids” would run out and clean your windshield. They would then rely on the drivers good will for a tip, you can imagine how this worked out sometimes. Olivia created a jobs program to deal with the “squeegee kids” issue. To be honest, at the time I’m sure Lastman and other conservatives would have been happier to just lock them up.

Olivia Chow resigns from police board

Olivia’s rising popularity had won her a place on the city’s Police Services Board. At the time the police chief was Chief David Boothby considered by most as not being very effective. Also appearing in the news at that time was police union boss Craig Bromell, something I’m not sure would be tolerated in today's climate. Craig Bromell who claimed his critics were “scumbags,” “loudmouths,” and even “enemies” was not politically correct even for that time. Then Boothby suddenly stepped down triggering a search for his replacement, several candidates were said to be in the running for the job. There was a report in the news that York regional chief Julian Fantino would be named as his replacement, even though this was denied at the time. It was announced three weeks later that Fantino would be his successor. Olivia was one of two members of the police board who voted against Fantino’s appointment.

Three months later an anti-poverty demonstration at the provincial legislature turned into a riot, 29 police and dozens of protesters were hurt. Half way through the protest/riot Olivia peddled up on her decked out with flowers bicycle and tried to intervene. Some said she was trig to be helpful others said she violated her position on the police board by interfering in their operations. Bromell the union boss publicly demanded she resign. After that a report on the incident was prepared and Olivia stepped down minutes before the contents were to be revealed.

Federal politics

In 1997, Olivia ran as an NDP candidate for the House of Commons in Trinity/Spadina. Liberal incumbent Tony Ianno won by 1,802 votes, receiving 45% of the total votes. In 2004, Olivia again received the Trinity/Spadina NDP nomination for the summer federal election. With support from her husband Jack Layton, but failed to unseat Ianno by only 805 votes, 1.5% of the total. Then on January 23, 2006, she won the Trinity/Spadina seat for the NDP in the federal election. Olivia defeated Ianno by 3,667 votes, almost 6%.

Along with Jack she was part of only the second husband-and-wife team in Canadian parliamentary history to serve jointly. In 2007, Olivia sponsored a motion calling for Japan to apologize for forcing some 200,000 women to serve as wartime sex slaves. The motion was passed unanimously by Canada's parliament in November 2007.

On March 12, 2014, Olivia resigned her seat and registered to run in the 2014 mayoral race in Toronto.

2014 Toronto mayoral campaign

Olivia entered the 2014 Toronto mayoral campaign in an attempt to unseat incumbent Rob Ford. Ford's mayoralty had been in the middle of several controversies during his tenure, most significantly over accusations that he had used crack cocaine. After a video surfaced of ford smoking what appeared to be crack, Ford ultimately had to confess. Her other rivals in the election were John Tory, councilor Karen Stintz and former budget chief David Soknacki.

Over the course of the election, Olivia went from the polling favourite at the beginning of the campaign to eventually placing third in the election.

2023 mayoral by-election

On April 17, 2023, Chow announced she would run for mayor of Toronto in the upcoming by-election. On June 26, 2023, Chow was elected as mayor of Toronto. In an election with 102 candidates, Chow won with 37% of the vote. Ana Bailão placed second with 33%.

Olivia Chow Accomplishments As Mayor

Toronto reached an Ontario funding deal, freed $1.9 billion for capital work and received an AA+ credit rating

A renovictions bylaw began, Toronto Builds was approved and a $1.5 billion housing funding agreement lowered development charges.

All 100 libraries gained Sunday service, seven-day service followed, and school food funding also grew.

Known active encampments fell from their late 2024 peak, while the City moved thousands of shelter residents into housing.

Olivia's biggest criticism is her first full budget produced a combined residential property tax increase of 9.5% in 2024. The 2025 combined increase was 6.9%, and in 2026 it fell to 2.2%.