Olivia Chow reflects on affordability, dealing with Doug Ford, Toronto’s tax hike

Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow is reflecting on her accomplishments in 2024 and her plans for the new year.

As the year wraps up, Chow points to building affordable housing and providing free lunches for kids as accomplishments for her administration.

In an interview with CityNews’ Alan Carter, Chow discusses balancing the city’s budget and her relationship with Toronto’s Jewish community.

Budget and property taxes

“We’re still looking for savings we’re still balancing the budget,” says Chow. That budget is expected to be presented on Jan. 13.

Chow is not ruling out an increase in property taxes after a 9.5 per cent increase in early 2024, the city’s largest property tax hike in more than 25 years.

Relationship with the Jewish community

Toronto’s mayor also faced backlash for her glaring absence at a memorial and vigil marking the October 7 anniversary.

Her office blamed miscommunication, a lost email, and a busy work schedule.

Earlier this year, at an interfaith summit against antisemitism, Chow faced anger from residents who said she was not doing enough to protect people around places of worship.

Chow says she’s asking the police to “do what they can,” but she also “cannot direct the police chief.”

Bike lanes and Doug Ford

Chow says her relationship with Premier Doug Ford is “fine.”

Ford has released a bike lane plan that includes removing existing paths. Chow says this plan has not strained their relationship, and she’s hopeful the city can collaborate with the province to add car lanes without sacrificing bike lanes.

“We are going to agree to disagree in terms of the approach, but there might be places where we could collaborate and come to a common ground,” says Chow.