Toronto mayoral race pits Olivia Chow against Brad Bradford amid transit woes
Columnist Chris Selley argues that incumbent mayor Olivia Chow faces a weak challenger in Brad Bradford, while Toronto’s transit system continues to deteriorate.
In his opinion piece, Chris Selley assesses the October 26 Toronto mayoral contest, describing the incumbent Olivia Chow as lacking a clear, transformative agenda and her sole opponent, city councillor Brad Bradford, as equally unremarkable. Polls, he notes, show Bradford trailing Chow by roughly ten points even after former Conservative candidate Chris Alexander exited the race. Selley focuses on the city’s transit crisis, citing issues such as redundant night-bus pairings, deteriorating service standards, and subway “reduced speed zones” that add up to fifteen minutes per trip.
He argues that these problems could be fixed with accountable, hands-on management, without needing provincial approval. During a recent debate, Chow was unable to confirm she regularly rides the TTC, prompting criticism of her disconnect from everyday commuters. Selley concludes that incumbency remains a powerful advantage in Toronto politics, and questions whether Bradford can present a viable alternative.
