[DSCToronto]

He's got one client, for now, which is Pattison (the advertising folks) .

While I don't think he's a useful figure for lobbying the Chow regime who assisted in his departure.........

I can see where he might be useful in lobbying certain staff ....at least until the new guy cleans house...

It never ceases to amaze me when people who have failed (often in spectacular ways) think they can return and all will be forgotten. Look at John Tory, Kamala Harris, George Santos and now Rick Leary.

 

[Admiral Beez]

In year one, Chow gave us a 9.5% property tax increase. In year two, 6.9% increase. The CBC suggests the upcoming Feb 2026 budget will see lower increases, so, perhaps 5-6%? If that’s the case, we’ll see Mayor Chow increase property taxes by over 20% during her “first” term. It can be argued that previous mayors starved the city, but we still need to ask, are we noticeably better off for Chow’s increases? If she wins a second term, I think we can assume an additional 20% increase over a full four year term.

 

[evandyk]

I think the city is noticeably better than it was in 2023. Crime, homelessness and TTC reliability are all less visibly in our face.

 

[Northern Light]

In year one, Chow gave us a 9.5% property tax increase. In year two, 6.9% increase. The CBC suggests the upcoming Feb 2026 budget will see lower increases, so, perhaps 5-6%?

I'm expecting less, but we shall see.

If that’s the case, we’ll see Mayor Chow increase property taxes by over 20% during her “first” term.

I think we really need to be fair here, to any mayor, the way the property tax system works there are no automatic increases for inflation.

So inflation runs 3% per year, for argument's sake, its around 9.5% after 3 years.

So the structural increase is really more like 10.5%

It can be argued that previous mayors starved the city, but we still need to ask, are we noticeably better off for Chow’s increases?

As noted by @evandyk above.........

Services have improved, and more is to be expected.

This past summer, Libraries that traditionally closed on Sundays in July and August stayed open.

And

Outdoor pools added 2 hours per day to their base open hours.

This fall, we saw Library add Sunday service to every branch in the City and expand those hours from 1:30pm-5pm to 12:00pm-5pm.

Next year there will be a further modest increase in service ensuring every library in the City is open 7 days per week.

The TTC just added a fair bit of service on Line 2 in October

A lot of changes/increases are coming mid November, including significant increases in service for Line 1, and for two streetcar routes that will be committed to running every 6m service 7am-7pm, 7 days per week.

I am hopeful we will see Fare Capping at 40 rides for TTC in the upcoming budget as well.

If she wins a second term, I think we can assume an additional 20% increase over a full four year term.

If inflation runs 3% per year, then 13% is basically holding steady.

I think a structural increase of 7% more is unlikely in term 2, more like 4%.

The LTT is currently in the toilet, I expect that will come back a bit, and there will likely be another revenue source in there somewhere.

 

[dowlingm]

Coming through St Clair Station from Line 1 NB to the bus platform, there were 6-8 people in purple t-shirts and an Olivia Chow purple sign by the Pleasant Boulevard turnstiles positioned to intercept the flow of riders, handing out leaflets and asking people if they wanted to meet her - I guess she was coming through shortly after. I needed to get home but didn’t linger, and had seen a similar setup at King a few weeks previously.

I found both situations disquieting and seeming to be personal campaigning on TTC property rather than conducting a city event (whether or not an election campaign was pending). If some of those who would like to replace her had wanted to hold a similar event, it would surely have been refused.