Olivia Chow encourages citizens to dream of a more compassionate and affordable Toronto. He made this call to the citizens after taking office as the mayor of Toronto.
Former NDP MP and former councilor Olivia Chow, 66, is going to lead Canada’s most populous city as the first African-American. In his first speech as mayor, he said, let’s build a Toronto that will be more affordable. Safe and secure. Where everyone will be. We can do it if we work together and let’s start today.
This year, the city is facing a budget deficit of about 1 billion dollars. This shortfall is mainly due to rising housing costs as well as declining revenues from transit.
“We need something new for the city,” Chow said. Toronto needs strong provincial and federal partners who recognize our city’s contribution to the province’s economy and social life.
The mayoralty of Toronto is the latest addition to Chow’s long political career. He was first elected as a school board trustee in 1985. He was on the Toronto City Council until 2005. She then moved to Ottawa as an NDP MP with her late husband, former NDP federal leader Jack Layton. He immigrated to Toronto from Hong Kong when he was only 13 years old. Started living with parents in a high rise apartment in St. James Town. It is a popular spot in the downtown core for many working class newcomers.
He said, Toronto’s story is my own story. Imagine how we can meet our challenges. We have infinite possibilities and the power of working together.
Olivia Chow was elected mayor of Toronto after defeating 101 candidates in last month’s election. The by-election was held after former mayor John Tory resigned after admitting to an affair with a staff member.
