Mayors Ford & Emanuel renew Toronto-Chicago partnership

Mayor Rob Ford renewed Toronto’s sister-city agreement with Chicago and spoke about labour negoiations with Mayor Rahm Emanuel during the second day of his trade mission to the Windy City.

“We’re both relatively new mayors,” Ford told reporters Wednesday evening.

“He had his challenges with the teachers. Education doesn’t fall under my jurisdiction but we spoke about the city’s four-year deal with the city’s inside and outside workers,” Ford said.

Earlier, the two mayors spoke at Chicago’s Conrad Hotel.

“This is an important agreement for both cities,” Ford said.

“This renewed commitment will help us both improve our strategic alliances, investment, trade and learning opportunities.”

Emanuel said he had visited Toronto frequently and was “proud” to renew the agreement.

“However, our ties today are only as good as our opportunities are for tomorrow, for our business, our residents and our cultural institutions.”

The sister-city agreement was first signed in 1991. Wednesday’s signing ceremony was followed by a lunch with the U.S. ambassador to Canada, David Jacobson.

Ford arrived in Chicago, along with his delegation of business leaders and city staff, on Tuesday. He’s hoping to expand business opportunities between the two cities and create more jobs in Toronto.

George Cohon, founder of McDonald’s Restaurants of Canada, Robert Deluce, president and CEO of Porter Airlines, and former Ontario premiers Ernie Eves and Mike Harris are part of Ford’s “Team Toronto.”

“I can just speak from my personal experience coming down here 13 years ago (for his family business Deco Labels and Tags) … it’s made our company in Toronto a stronger company. It’s made our Chicago facility a stronger company, and we’ve created more jobs in both cities,” the mayor’s brother, Coun. Doug Ford, said Wednesday. “That’s what this trip is all about — encouraging companies to come up to Toronto and open up Canadian divisions and create jobs.”

Ford and his team were also scheduled to tour the Chicago waterfront Wednesday afternoon and will later visit U.S. Cellular Field, home of the Chicago White Sox.

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