Olivia Chow joins Toronto mayoral race

Former city councillor and MP Olivia Chow is taking another run at becoming Toronto’s mayor.

Chow officially entered Toronto’s mayoral race Monday, filing nomination papers at city hall.

She confirmed several weeks ago that she was considering a bid.

Speaking with reporters at a news conference in Chinatown, Chow said the decision to run again was a “difficult one,” but she felt she had to given some of the problems she sees in the city.

“I've made a choice. I choose to run as mayor of Toronto. I love this city. Choose me and together we will build a city that is more caring, safer, more affordable, where everyone belongs,” Chow said.

Speaking about long 911 wait times and unaffordable groceries, Chow said Toronto has become a place where many people struggle to afford day-to-day life.

“We urgently need to build a city that cares. We have to make a city that is more affordable. It is still a great city, this wonderful Toronto, but it needs to be a great city for everyone,” she said.

Chow was a city councillor in Toronto from 1991 to 2005 before winning a seat as an NDP member of parliament for Trinity-Spadina. She held that seat from 2006 until 2014.

She ran for mayor in 2014, placing third behind John Tory and Doug Ford.

Asked why she thinks she’ll have better luck this time around, Chow said she learned a great deal from her first run and plans to focus more on being herself than on being polished.

“I learned a lot of lessons. The key one was that it's okay if my English is not perfect. It's okay,” Chow said. “I don't need to read a speech. I can trust the decades of experience I have. I will do fine.”

Chow, who is the widow of late NDP leader Jack Layton, adds a recognizable left-wing name to Toronto’s crowded mayoral race.

A number of centrist candidates are in the race, including councillors Josh Matlow and Brad Bradford, former councillor Ana Bailão and former education minister Mitzie Hunter. Right-leaning candidates include former councillor Rob Davis and former police chief Mark Saunders.

While there are a number of left-wing candidates in the race, such as urbanist Gil Penalosa and civic activist Sarah Climenhaga, no others so far have the name recognition that could galvanize left-wing support the way Chow might.

Ontario NDP Leader Marit Stiles welcomed Chow’s entry into the race Monday while speaking with reporters at Queen’s park, saying she’s “excited” about the vision and experience that she could bring to the role, though she said she is waiting to see who she might endorse officially.

Speaking with reporters about how she would pay to make improvements in the cash-strapped city, Chow said she will have more details to be released later, but that “the federal government can do so much more” to help Toronto.

She also took aim at Premier Doug Ford’s plans to build a massive spa at Ontario Place.

“I take my grandkids there. I ride my bike, go for a run, have a swim there. I watch the sunset there. It's a beautiful place, a magnificent place. I don't want it going from a public space to a private spa, where you have to pay a lot of money to get there,” she said. “And it's a bit weird to move the Science Centre down there. It doesn't make sense either.”

Asked about the premier’s previous comment that it would be a “disaster” for Toronto to have a left-leaning mayor, Chow said she hopes he will stick to his word not to interfere in the race.

“I am sure Mr. Ford. respects democracy. I am sure since he said he's gonna stay away — and your honour is your word — and be the premier, not a campaign manager for a certain campaign candidate.”

While she didn't name anyone, Ford has previously welcomed the candidacy of former police chief Mark Saunders, whom he also previously appointed as a “special adviser” on Ontario Place.

Saunders released a statement Monday, slamming Chow as a “status quo politician” who “failed to stop disorder and crime on our streets” and cited times when she voted against increases to the police budget.

Asked about potentially using the strong mayor powers, Chow said she knows how to work with other people and “will not override the power of Council” if elected.