| Next Tuesday morning Toronto will awake to a new mayor. And, if all the polling is accurate, that mayor will be Olivia Chow. The notion that any of the contending candidates can build a united front seems far fetched. Olivia appears to have geographic strength across the City building out from a strong downtown base and has secured the support on the left side of the political spectrum. In an election where turnout is likely to be low, Olivia’s supporters will vote. In political circles her support is said to be very efficient. While everyone is looking at who will fill the mayoralty chair we should be equally focused on who will be named to chair the various committees and boards of Council over the coming three years. It’s likely that there will be a shift to those in line with Ms. Chow’s policy objectives. Then, how might the Province respond to a Toronto mayor whose politics differ significantly with the Premier. Finally, an upcoming by-election in Gary Crawford’s Scarborough-Guildwood ward could have a significant impact on Council votes by tipping the majority to those aligned with Ms. Chow. As for next Monday’s vote, I have long said that, of the over 100 candidates on the ballot, only two will certainly be on Council on June 27 – Councillor Brad Bradford and Councillor Josh Matlow. While it looks like Olivia Chow will win the mayoralty, her victory will not be an overwhelming mandate – a low turnout, and a divided electorate make that a certainty. The question for voters not aligned with Ms. Chow is who can best ensure accountability on Council. If you would like more information, please contact: Paul Brown: paulb@campbellstrategies.com Visit our website at: www.campbellstrategies.com |
