Former councillor Bailão running for mayor, says province should be responsible for Gardiner, DVP

Former Toronto city councillor Ana Bailão is running for mayor and says if she’s elected she will try to make the province responsible for the Gardiner Expressway and Don Valley Parkway (DVP), freeing up money to address Toronto’s housing and public transit issues.

The one-time deputy mayor spoke to CityNews on Friday, where she outlined some of her bold and ambitious plans.

“We need to reinvest in services, we need to make sure we make life more convenient, not harder for people. We need to make sure that we make it more affordable. And for that you need a plan … and I’ve been talking about a fair plan for Toronto that needs to start with the province taking responsibility over the Gardiner and the DVP.”

Bailão says uploading the highways to the province would give the city the means to reverse cuts to the TTC, which have greatly impacted revenue.

“We’re not going to get people back on the TTC if they don’t feel safe, If the bus doesn’t come on time … And so in order to fix services and fix the budget, we need to have a permanent solution. And that’s what what I’m bringing to the table.”

Her plans for the TTC include having mobile service at stations and subways.

“I’m very passionate about my values and what I believe and I’m very passionate about the city,” she said. “And I’m very passionate about delivering better services and more affordability for Toronto. And so I’m ready to fight for that and to fight for the residents of Toronto.”

The former councillor for Ward 9 (Davenport) announced last spring she would not be seeking re-election in October’s municipal vote. She was first elected to council in 2010 and served three terms on council.

The byelection to replace John Tory is officially set for June 26. Tory announced he would be stepping down from the role earlier this month after admitting to having an affair with a former member of his staff.

Gil Penalosa, the progressive urbanist who came a distant second to Tory in October’s municipal election, said he would run again the day after Tory announced he would be stepping down.

Former longtime Toronto city councillor Giorgio Mammoliti confirmed this week that he will run for mayor in the upcoming byelection.