
Doug Ford gifts Olivia Chow photograph showing ties between two families
Ontario Premier Doug Ford and Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow appeared to put their differences aside on Monday afternoon, focusing instead on their family history as a source of common ground.
The two political adversaries met for the first time since the city’s byelection in June. Throughout the election campaign, Ford made it clear that he would not like to see Chow in office, saying it would be an “unmitigated disaster” for the city if she did win.
That rivalry appears to have been pushed to the sidelines, with the politicians focusing instead on how best to push forward their agenda.
- Download our app to get local alerts on your device
- Get the latest local updates right to your inbox
Ford and Chow stood side-by-side on Monday to announce more funding for asylum seekers and a new working group tasked with fixing Toronto’s financial strife.
The premier called Chow a “friend” and said their two families “go way, way back.” He then presented her with a framed photograph of his late brother and former Toronto mayor Rob Ford standing alongside Chow at the unveiling of a statue honouring her husband, former NDP leader Jack Layton.
“When my brother Rob was first elected to City Hall, Jack was a seat mate,” Ford said. “He showed Rob the ropes.”
“Jack and Rob showed that you don’t have to agree on everything to work together.”
Ontario Premier Doug Ford gives Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow a photograph from the unveiling of a statue honouring her husband Jake Layton.
The premier joked that his brother would often say he would look at how Layton was voting and would “press the opposite button.”
The photograph in question was taken in 2013 when Rob Ford was the mayor of Toronto and Olivia Chow was a Member of Parliament with the New Democratic Party.
The premier said he remembers his brother not hesitating to approve a request for the monument.
He also spent some time talking positively about Chow calling her a “thoughtful leader who brings people together.”
“That’s how you get things done, by working together,” he said.
Chow appeared touched by Ford’s gift, saying it was a “beautiful present.”
She said she was grateful for the financial assistance the province is giving the city for housing, and that she hopes to continue to build a vibrant city for Ford’s children and future grandchildren.
“We’re not going to agree on everything, but we certainly found the common ground and we will work closely together so that we could create a more affordable, more transit-friendly and more caring and safer city where everyone feels they belong.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories

House Speaker Anthony Rota apologizes after inviting man who fought for Nazis to Parliament
Several Jewish advocacy organizations condemned members of Parliament on Sunday for giving a standing ovation to a man who fought for a Nazi unit during the Second World War.
Prioritize disadvantaged people for primary care and screening access, report says
A group of Canadian doctors, nurses and other health-care providers has issued recommendations on how to make health care more equitable for disadvantaged people.
Toronto woman hospitalized overseas with botulism
A Toronto woman has been hospitalized in France with a severe case of botulism after eating improperly preserved sardines at a Bordeaux wine bar.
Writers Guild and Hollywood studios reach tentative deal to end strike. No deal yet for actors
Union leaders and Hollywood studios reached a tentative agreement Sunday to end a historic screenwriters strike after nearly five months, though no deal is yet in the works for striking actors.
Russian strikes in Ukraine's city of Odessa damage port, grain silo and an abandoned hotel
A Russian drone and missile strike near Odesa damaged infrastructure, a grain silo and an abandoned hotel and injured one person in the Black Sea port city as attacks elsewhere in Ukraine killed five civilians and wounded 13 in the past day, Ukrainian officials said Monday.
Taylor Swift turns out to see Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs play Chicago Bears
Travis Kelce put the ball in Taylor Swift's court, and she wound up bringing it to Arrowhead Stadium after all. Call it what you want. It's out of the woods now.
Four in 10 child patients face unsafe spinal surgery wait times in Canada: report
Four out of ten child patients in Canada are facing unsafe spinal surgery wait times, which could cost the health-care system $44.6 million, according to a new report that was published Monday.
Thousands of Armenians flee Nagorno-Karabakh as Turkish president is set to visit Azerbaijan
Thousands of Armenians streamed out of Nagorno-Karabakh after the Azerbaijani military reclaimed full control of the breakaway region while Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was set to visit Azerbaijan Monday in a show of support to its ally.
Man hospitalized in life-threatening condition after incident at Calgary pub holding eating contest
Calgary paramedics took a man to hospital in life-threatening condition on Saturday after an incident at the Ship and Anchor pub.