Brad Bradford and Olivia Chow trade parting shots on eve of Toronto mayoral election

Toronto's mayoral candidates, Brad Bradford and Olivia Chow, engaged in a verbal sparring match as the election neared its end. Both candidates warned voters about what their opposition might bring to the City Hall. Recent polls suggest the race between the two is neck and neck. Chow visited Scarborough early Saturday, while Bradford rallied supporters in Etobicoke, both areas possibly pivotal in the contest.

Bradford began his press conference by enumerating a list of problems he attributed to Chow's governance. "This city is stuck," he said, "We're stuck in traffic. We're stuck waiting for the bus that doesn't show up. We're stuck feeling less safe. We're stuck on waitlists. We're stuck paying more and getting less." Bradford further alleged that Chow's 20% tax increase, which he fears would be raised another 20% if she were re-elected, was causing the city's woes.

Chow countered Bradford's stance on Toronto Water by saying, "This election is a simple choice; do we keep moving forward together to make life more affordable? Or do we go backwards?" She painted a grim picture of what the city might look like under Bradford's leadership, including TTC cuts, higher fares, closed libraries, and water privatization.

Chow also criticized Bradford's plan to restructure Toronto Water into a publicly owned utility, similar to Toronto Hydro. Bradford stated his plan would reduce water bills by 25%, but Chow argued it would pave the way for privatization. Bradford further argued a municipal bylaw would prevent any private investment in the utility.

The utility debate is among several contentious issues the candidates have clashed over in their final push for votes. Voters in Toronto will head to the polls on October 26 to elect a new mayor and city council, with polling stations open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.