The race to lead Toronto had its first head-to-head moment this week, as the leading mayoral candidates debated transit and public safety at the Daily Bread Food Bank headquarters in Etobicoke, before an audience of more than 300 people, CBC News reported.
Incumbent Mayor Olivia Chow faced Coun. Brad Bradford and former MP Chris Alexander, with housing, youth unemployment, affordability and homeless encampments also on the agenda, and reactions in the room running from cheers and boos to outright heckling.
Transit produced the sharpest exchanges. Bradford and Alexander demanded increased TTC security and argued the system has become unsafe and dysfunctional under Chow. Chow pointed to bolstered service and frozen fares, which she said save families about $1,000 a year, and criticized Bradford for fare increases during his time on the TTC board.
The debate lands nine days before Toronto votes on October 26, in a campaign where the state of the TTC — and whether riders feel safe on it — has become a central test for the incumbent.
Further debates and the candidates' detailed transit plans are expected to dominate the final stretch of the Toronto campaign.
