Toronto mayoral candidate Doug Ford took on his top opponents, John Tory and Olivia Chow, in his first debate since launching his campaign.

Ford officially joined the race just hours before the Sept. 12 deadline, switching places with his brother Rob Ford, the current mayor of Toronto.

Rob Ford, who is undergoing treatment for a rare type of cancer, is now running for the Ward 2 council seat, which he held for years before becoming the mayor of Toronto in 2010.

Ford, Tory and Chow were interrupted throughout the night, often having to pause while the crowd cheered and booed, drowning out the candidates.

Despite a variety of questions ranging from child poverty to tourism, transit emerged as the top issue of the debate, with most responses turning back to the candidates' transit plans.

Replay our live coverage of the debate through highlights, photos and tweets:

9:23 p.m. Closing statements:

  • "Our city is at a crossroad, and you have a major decision to make," Chow says. She says if she's elected, voters will see progress immediately, and that she'll always be honest with residents.
  • Ford says he's in the race because he loves the city and people that live here. He says City Hall needs someone who will respect taxpayers' money, and refers to his history with Rob Ford. "Together, we stopped the tax-and-spend ways at City Hall."
  • Tory says the community is on the cusp of greatness, and that his transit plan will bring jobs and investment to Toronto. "It's going to take competent leadership. It's going to take accountability. It's going to take results."

9:19 p.m. Ford says he understands the youth and has worked with them. Tory responds: "I'm sure those $20 bills you were handing out smoothed the way."

9:14 p.m. Chow says that selling the city is important, but we also need to make sure the city has a good reputation.

"Instead of being proud of my city, I saw our mayor on the front page and it was not a good reputation," Chow says. She's drowned out by cheers and boos from the crowd.

She says she wishes the mayor good health, pausing as the crowd shouts over her, then says the city is fragmented right now.

Olivia Chow speaks at Toronto debate

9:10 p.m. Toronto tourism ideas:

  • Chow recommends creating an agency to bring together departments of the city and the GTA to work to "speak with one voice."
  • Ford says the city's already been ranked as the city with the lowest tax rate in the world (according to KPMG). "That's how you attract companies." He also says he'd travel around the world to sell the city and bring festivals to Toronto.
  • Tory says events like Pride and the Pan Am Games will bring people here, and encourage them to come back. He also wants to use the Pan Am Games to market the city to businesses.

9:03 p.m. Candidates are asked how they'd protect pedestrians from cyclists who refuse to obey traffic laws.

Tory recommends more safe, separated bike lanes. Chow says Eglinton Connects would help the issue and says cyclists should not be allowed to use the sidewalks unless they're little kids. Ford says there are already bike lanes being built. "Every idea, you talk about it, we've done it."

9:00 a.m. Ford brings up the "gravy train." He says the staff in charge of affordable housing were hosting $50,000 birthday parties and New Year's Eve parties before he and Rob Ford stepped in. He gets a big cheer from the crowd. Tory says the repair backlog keeps growing since the Fords' intervention, and Chow says they need to offer building owners and developers incentive to make housing affordable.  

8:54 p.m. Ford quizzes Tory: "How many standing committees are there?" Tory says five. Ford says he's wrong, offers him the option to "phone a friend," and tells him to call the mayor. Chow says experience at City Hall matters, and Tory doesn't have it.

8:50 p.m. When asked about the police budget, all three candidates say they support police, but would lower their budget by searching for inefficiencies.

8:46 p.m. Ford accuses Tory of having everything handed to him on a silver platter, causing Tory to laugh. Ford yells over the cheers of the crowd and Tory's attempt at rebuttal, but doesn't mention the Ford family's successful business. Chow tries to shout over Ford and Tory's arguments, trying to steer the conversation back to education. "This is not a good role model," she says.

8:42 p.m. After arguing over transit for two minutes, Tory interrupts Ford and Chow to remind them that the question they're supposed to be answering was about city council, not subways.

8:34 p.m. Candidates are asked how they'd build consensus at city council and at the provincial level.  

"Maybe I'll start by saying what I won't do," Tory says. "I will not call my colleagues on the city council 'monkeys' as Mr. Ford did."

John Tory speaks at Toronto mayoral debate

8:30 p.m. The debate moderator warns the crowd to be quiet, or they will drown out the candidates.

8:20 p.m. Candidates are asked if they'd attend the Pride Parade if elected, a reference to the fact that current Mayor Rob Ford has never gone to the parade. Chow says yes, Tory says yes. Ford says "I've answered this question already." He says he's donated money, he has been to the parade and that he believes in equal rights, but doesn't say yes or no.

Tory asks him specifically if he'll march in the parade. Ford says he supports the event, but won't answer the question. He says he'd have no problem going to the parade, but still won't say yes or no to marching in the parade, even when Chow asks and Tory asks a second time.

Chow asks Ford whether he'll march in Pride Parade

8:18 p.m. Chow accuses Tory of fear mongering. "You will say anything to get elected."

Ford interrupts before Tory can respond, bringing up low property taxes in Toronto.

8:13 p.m. Ford calls Tory a "slick talking politician," but says he's never been to community housing in the neighbourhoods with high youth crime rates. "You're from a whole different world, John."

Chow asks why Ford is suggesting to cut parks and recreation budgets, and Tory says he's spent hours volunteering in the low-income areas. Ford says he's never seen Tory there.

Doug Ford speaks at Toronto debate

8:08 p.m. Candidates are asked how they'd curb youth crime.

  • Ford talks about TCHC program he set up, and encourages residents and corporations to mentor kids and help them find jobs.

  • Tory says some of the visible minority groupsstruggling withyouth crime are living in neighbourhoods that have been isolated for far too long, and he would bring jobs to the areas.

  • Chow says we need to look at the root cause of crime in communities that have been left behind by policies like those proposed by Ford and Tory.

8:01 p.m. Candidates asked about the Eglinton Connects plan. Chow says she supports it, and the crowd claps and cheers. Ford talks about building subways on Eglinton. He says the LRT would mean "the poor folks out in Scarborough will be freezing their butts off" waiting for the train. Tory says he'll build 22 subway stations across the city.

7:58 p.m. Ford says subways will create new jobs. Tory brings up his transit plan to help carry people further. Chow interrupts, changing the subject to child poverty and affordable housing. Ford and Tory hear her arguments, then go back to debating transit plans.

7:51 p.m. A woman in the audience is escorted by police out of the room after arguing with another woman. Chow tries to continue her statement but says, "I don't think I can do this. I don't think anyone can hear me."

Toronto police ask a woman to leave the debate

She resumes speaking after the woman is removed from the debate.

7:50 p.m. The debate moderator pauses to remind the audience that there are police officers on scene, and anyone getting rowdy can be removed.

7:45 p.m. Candidates are asked how they'd create jobs. Ford says he and his brother have already shown how they'd create jobs, and emphasizes the importance of mentorship programs for youth. Tory says the key is attracting jobs to the Toronto area. Chow says she'd get local businesses to sign community benefits agreements.

7:42 p.m. Chow and Ford criticize Tory's past in provincial politics.

"Name one thing you've done to save taxpayers' money," Ford says, as cheers erupt from crowd, drowning out Tory's response.

7:38 p.m. Candidates are asked what three items differentiate them from their opponents.

  • Chow: Would invest starting immediately; plan designed by experts; comprehensive plan
  • Ford: Focus on subways; experience in cutting spending; will stand up for people, not special interest groups
  • Tory: City-wide transit relief; priority on job attraction; relationships with federal, provincial governments