Torontonians have spoken, and change has come to our city. After over a decade of right-wing rule in Toronto, working people across the city have chosen a new direction and elected Olivia Chow as our next mayor.
We start by congratulating Mayor-Elect Olivia Chow on her victory. Olivia brings much-needed hope and has a long history of standing up for working people – during her time as school board trustee and then on Toronto city council, as well as during her time as an NDP Member of Parliament. Her years of experience in government, and as an organizer of communities in our city, will be a great addition to — and much needed change of direction for — city hall.
Toronto can also be proud that we have elected the first racialized mayor in this city and the first female mayor since amalgamation.
We also congratulate the people in every neighbourhood across the city who drove the change in this election. It is clear that workers agree that progressive change is desperately needed for our city. This consensus was reflected throughout the election, with many of the leading candidates picking up at least a portion of the progressive platform working people have been pushing for years. In the end, eighty percent of the vote went to candidates who sought Labour Council’s backing in this election, which reflects the appetite for progressive change.
Earlier this spring, when the Labour Council polled Torontonians about this city, a majority said they wanted a progressive mayor who could stand up to Ford, invest in better public services, invest some of the police budget in better mental health and services approach to building public safety, and gather the resources necessary to do this, including taking a pro-tax approach.
Here is what we heard:
- 77% agree that developers have too much influence on political decision-making at City Hall.
- 76% agree that the City of Toronto should be taking the lead in building more affordable
housing, such as co-op, “rent-geared-to-income,” and social housing. - 75% agree major public infrastructure projects in Toronto should include community benefits
agreements that include commitments to provide good local jobs and services to equity-
deserving communities. - 67% agree that the City of Toronto needs to take more action on climate change.
- 61% want to see the TTC service cuts reversed, even if it costs more money.
This means Torontonians want a full range of quality public services and programs, affordable and accessible housing, an agenda that includes racial and other equity strategies, climate justice, and good jobs.
At the root of this is the need for the revenue to support these services. It is clear that Toronto has a revenue problem, not a spending problem as those who favour corporations like to suggest when they propose austerity agendas.
We also need an effective and appropriate economic development strategy to generate the kind of city, jobs, and economy that works for everyone. As we develop our core collective goals, we will consider the need to avoid alternative financing, privatization, further contracting out, or losing employment lands. We will look towards regulation of app-driven services and work, caution around use of automation, improved Fair Wage Policies, implemented Quality Job Assessment, and the fostering of green industry.
We need to value work, workers, delivery of quality public services, and the communities that workers live in.
With Olivia Chow elected as our new mayor, it’s clear that the work we have been doing together to help shape a progressive agenda has paid off – that is something we can be very proud of.
This momentous election is only the first step in our struggle for change in this city, however. Time and again, we have seen the Ford government trample on democracy and impose senseless cuts to public services. To ensure we can realize the progressive vision of the city we have voted for, working people need to be ready to fight alongside our new mayor and progressive councillors for a fair deal for our city. That will mean standing up to Ford and his cronies in Queen’s Park, calling on the federal government to do its part, and pushing every city councillor to support investments in this city.
Time and again, working people in Toronto have shown what a mighty force they can be when they stand together. We achieved a major victory for working people in the city in the mayoral election. We will continue to fight alongside unions, workers and our allies for a city that works for everyone.
The Labour Council resolves to:
- Bring unions together to identify our goals and what our communities want and how we will campaign to realize those municipal goals
- Collaborate with community allies to identify municipal goals and campaigns
- Develop effective strategies for supporting and challenging Toronto City Council under the leadership of Mayor Olivia Chow
