Draft Olivia Chow for Toronto Mayor

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Fri, 2009-09-25 13:03

LBAL

With the announcement that David Miller will step down as Toronto Mayor, we need a strong candidate of the left to challenge John Tory and/or George Smitherman in 2010.

Olivia would be great to build on the progress and achievements of Mayor Miller.

Olivia boasts a legacy of achievement after decades of public service in Toronto. She worked to create a more liveable and dynamic city through her leadership and dedication to improve economic opportunity, eradicate child poverty, enhance the environment and the waterfront, and strengthen social services, immigrant services, child care, affordable housing and affordable public transit. She also was an advocate for the kind of arts, culture and rich diversity that sets Toronto apart.

She knows the City, knows City Hall, and how to get results from the federal and provincial governments.

Fri, 2009-09-25 11:06

Stockholm

This should be moved to the Central Canada room since its all to do with Toronto municipal politics.

Fri, 2009-09-25 11:07

remind

What someone wants her career destroyed too?

Fri, 2009-09-25 11:40

Cueball

Good chance she wont win this riding next time out. If not then it might be a good move for her. She is a bit wasted up there in the talking shop.

Fri, 2009-09-25 11:43

Stockholm

Will a moderator please move this to the Central Canada room - this is not a national political story

Fri, 2009-09-25 11:55

Cueball

Chow is a national political figure, indeed an Member of the national parliment. What is your issue Stocky?

Fri, 2009-09-25 11:59

Stockholm

david Miller is also a national political figure - but we discuss provincial and municipal politics in regional threads.

In any case, this is just a nuisance thread started by some Liberal who knows that the only way a Liberal can hope to win Trinity-Spadina would be if Olivia Chow didn't run there. But there is absolutely ZERO chance of that happening - so they can dream on.

Fri, 2009-09-25 12:07

Cueball

He's not a member of the federal legistlature. After the upcoming NDP election debacle, a lot of folks are going to need jobs, and Chow might be one of them. Lets hope that Layton isn't also one of them so that Chow isn't sidelined in the mayoralty stakes.

Your personal perceptions of the poltical identification of the author of the OP are irrelevant, and mere speculation. I in turn speculate that your speculations only serve your partisan agenda, so i deem them to be irrelevant trolling.

Fri, 2009-09-25 12:57

remind

The "upcoming NDP election debacle", LMAO.

Fond imaginings, if things keep on the way they are, and currently it seems they will, it will be a Liberal election debacle.

Fri, 2009-09-25 13:00

#10

Cueball

Oh most certainly, but the NDP will not be the beneficiary of that formula.

Fri, 2009-09-25 13:06

#11

remind

Unless people in Toronto want to have a Con MP, they had better rally around the NDP MP's, they currently have.

Fri, 2009-09-25 13:07

#12

kropotkin1951

Olivia Chow running for Mayor of Toronto has everyone in Burnaby talking. LMAO

Anything that happens in the centre of the universe must be a national story, just ask the MSM.

Fri, 2009-09-25 13:12

#13

Michelle

remind, I highly, HIGHLY doubt a Conservative would ever win in Trinity-Spadina.

Fri, 2009-09-25 13:15

#14

remind

The polling thread indicates the Cons gaining ground in TO ridings, and the Liberals slipping badly.

Fri, 2009-09-25 13:15

#15

Boom Boom

remind wrote:

Unless people in Toronto want to have a Con MP, they had better rally around the NDP MP's, they currently have.

If it looks like a Conservative majority in the event of a Liberal meltdown, wouldn't Toronto voters want MPs on the government side?

Fri, 2009-09-25 13:19

#16

Caissa

The Ridings demographics courtesy of Wikipedia are below. The Con finished 16 000 votes behind Olivia Chow in the last election.

Average family income: $81,415[1] (2001)
Median family income: $50,047 [2]
Unemployment: 6.7%
Language, mother tongue: English 52%, French 2%, Other 46%
Religion: Catholic 32%, Protestant 15%, Buddhist 5%, Jewish 4%, Muslim 3%, No religious affiliation 33%, Other 7% [3]
Visible Minority: Chinese 18%, Black 4% South Asian 3%, Filipino 2%, Southeast Asian 2%, Korean 2%, Others 6%

Fri, 2009-09-25 13:20

#17

remind

IPersonally, I would never vote so that I would have an MP, on the government side, such endeavours are extremely foolish IMV, but I am sure some people think that way.

Fri, 2009-09-25 13:42

#18

OldManActivist OldManActivist's picture

Olivia Chow has a very, very low chance of winning. Talk shows are trying to speculate that Jack Layton would run - he'd have a better chance. Other guesses: Adam Gaimbrone (puke), Adam Vaughan (he wants it he does, my precious).

Denxil Minnan Wong is salivating about running for the 'right' reasons.

Likelihood is a total stranger to the speculation will run. Julian heller?

Fri, 2009-09-25 13:45

#19

Stockholm

I think that to the extent that some people would vote for a candidate of the party that they think is going to win as a way of having an MP "from the governing side" - its a declining phenomenon and if it exists at all in Canada today its mostly limited to very rural ridings where people think that if they don't have an MP on the government side, the roads won't get paved etc...I think that the number of people in sophisticated inner city ridings who seriously vote based on this logic is ZERO.

Fri, 2009-09-25 13:48

#20

nussy

It has to be someone from the outside. People don't want more of the same. Present members of the city council need not apply.

My guess its someone that none of us are talking about.

Fri, 2009-09-25 14:02

#21

Caissa

Lisa Raitt

Fri, 2009-09-25 14:07

#22

Cueball

kropotkin1951 wrote:

Olivia Chow running for Mayor of Toronto has everyone in Burnaby talking. LMAO

Anything that happens in the centre of the universe must be a national story, just ask the MSM.

Where is Burnaby?

Fri, 2009-09-25 14:09

#23

Cueball

Michelle wrote:

remind, I highly, HIGHLY doubt a Conservative would ever win in Trinity-Spadina.

We are not talking about cons winning in TP. The Greens would have as a good a chance, which is close to none at all. That said, I think Trinity Spadina is very much open to strategic voting, and I know even fairly politically aware people who fail to grasp the fact that in a riding like TP one does not have to vote strategically for a Liberal in order to prevent a Tory candidate from winning, but could vote NDP. But they don't seem to get it. Among even less astute voters I imagine the falacy is even more strongly believed.

Basic sentiment drives a lot of people voting tendencies, and they would vote Liberal on the basis of the fact that they think the Liberals have the best chance of forming a government instead of the Tories. Don't expect logic here, or people to be highly motivated by the prospect of a "coalition".

A tight race for Chow in this upwardly mobile community.

Fri, 2009-09-25 14:09

#24

Stockholm

I have a great idea, why doesn't Gerard Kennedy run for mayor of Toronto and that way Peggy Nash can take back Parkdale-High Park! Or maybe Maria Minna is getting bored with being a backbencher forever and should run for mayor.

I guess it all depends on whether you want to discuss who would actually be a strong candidate for mayor and who would have any interest at all in running - as compared to whimsical musing about who should run so that someone else can get the job that they currently have.

Fri, 2009-09-25 14:10

#25

Snert

I can think of someone who could put the "May" in "Mayor"! Someone who's feeling a little down, and could use a "win" right about now!

Fri, 2009-09-25 14:15

#26

Cueball

Stockholm wrote:

I have a great idea, why doesn't Gerard Kennedy run for mayor of Toronto and that way Peggy Nash can take back Parkdale-High Park! Or maybe Maria Minna is getting bored with being a backbencher forever and should run for mayor.

I guess it all depends on whether you want to discuss who would actually be a strong candidate for mayor and who would have any interest at all in running - as compared to whimsical musing about who should run so that someone else can get the job that they currently have.

You think the federal election is coming after the Toronto mayoralty race?

Fri, 2009-09-25 14:24

#27

Skinny Dipper

While Olivia Chow may do well in her own federal riding and could perhaps do well with the downtown crowd, Toronto's downtown is only a small part of the city. There are the inner suburbs of Etobicoke, North York, Scarborough and even parts of the old city of Toronto, York and East York where the voters may not be interested in Ms. Chow.

I do think Adam Vaughan could be a great candidate even though he comes from the downtown and is an NDPer. There are some differences between Ms. Chow and Mr. Vaughan: Ms. Chow is an NDPer who won't be able to shake her NDP tag; Mr. Vaughan could shake his NDP identification but still identify himself loosely as a social-democrat. Adam Vaughan is an urban planner in mind. He could be able to deal with the suburban problems as well as those found in downtown Toronto.

I don't think Adam Vaughan will run in 2010. He could run for mayor in 2014 where he will be able to battle a liberal or conservative mayoral incumbent. Right now, it would be too difficult for him to run supporting Miller's record. Like it or not, the media will see the last seven years as being the Miller years. I think Mr. Vaughan could have a better chance in becoming mayor in 2014 by building up his profile as a councillor between now and 2014. If he runs now against John Tory and George Smitherman and loses, Adam Vaughan will have a difficult time trying to run again in 2014. He also won't have a good fallback position career wise. If Mr. Vaughan waits until 2014, even if he loses, he can run for provincial or federal office as an NDP or Liberal candidate.

Fri, 2009-09-25 14:35

#28

Stockholm

I'm not sure what you're talking about. Adam Vaughan has ZERO NDP affiliation. He was elected to council with support from Liberals (plus a few NDP sore losers and malcontents) and he bragged about how he won by "beating the NDP machine" etc...Its true that he's been a reliable vote for Miller on council - but so have lots of people.

Fri, 2009-09-25 14:38

#29

Polunatic2

Quote:
Unless people in Toronto want to have a Con MP, they had better rally around the NDP MP's, they currently have.

Unfortunately, that's only 2 that I'm aware of - Jack & Olivia. Of course these incumbents need to be supported and re-elected but I don't think that the risk of a Tory re-emergence in Toronto is very high in these two ridings.

Quote:
I think that the number of people in sophisticated inner city ridings who seriously vote based on this logic is ZERO.

Guess it depends what you mean by "sophisticated". Zero is an extreme. I know that in the past, this logic was not uncommon in some urban, GTA, newcomer communities because that was how politics was played back home.

Fri, 2009-09-25 14:52

#30

Cueball

Skinny Dipper wrote:

While Olivia Chow may do well in her own federal riding and could perhaps do well with the downtown crowd, Toronto's downtown is only a small part of the city. There are the inner suburbs of Etobicoke, North York, Scarborough and even parts of the old city of Toronto, York and East York where the voters may not be interested in Ms. Chow.

I do think Adam Vaughan could be a great candidate even though he comes from the downtown and is an NDPer. There are some differences between Ms. Chow and Mr. Vaughan: Ms. Chow is an NDPer who won't be able to shake her NDP tag; Mr. Vaughan could shake his NDP identification but still identify himself loosely as a social-democrat. Adam Vaughan is an urban planner in mind. He could be able to deal with the suburban problems as well as those found in downtown Toronto.

I don't think Adam Vaughan will run in 2010. He could run for mayor in 2014 where he will be able to battle a liberal or conservative mayoral incumbent. Right now, it would be too difficult for him to run supporting Miller's record. Like it or not, the media will see the last seven years as being the Miller years. I think Mr. Vaughan could have a better chance in becoming mayor in 2014 by building up his profile as a councillor between now and 2014. If he runs now against John Tory and George Smitherman and loses, Adam Vaughan will have a difficult time trying to run again in 2014. He also won't have a good fallback position career wise. If Mr. Vaughan waits until 2014, even if he loses, he can run for provincial or federal office as an NDP or Liberal candidate.

Uh huh. But Vaugn has been a no show basically, and even a bit of a wash with some people here. I have seen him at a few functions but what has he done? Olivia, as I know did many things and was and effective councilor. You want to talk optics, I want to see action. Vaughn really flubbed the whole Future's Cafe deal, and in fact the Annex is night life is now dominated by bars and even more dangerous than it was before when the patio had its late night license. I saw no effective advocacy on this issue from Vaugn, and bread and butter issues that make city politics important, not "leftish" "Social Democratic" optics.

What happened to Jane Jacob's "eyes on the street --" that is what makes communities safe. What I do know is since that patio was closed the Annex had its first street homicide right in the alley behind there, and a woman was raped in the adjacent alley as well. I also know that Vaugn did no effective advocacy there for us.

From what I can tell opposition to the patio being open late is one crank on Brunswick avenue and a developer cat who happens to own a house there and from what I hear sits on a committee with Vaugn.

So that is the only issue that I am familliar with Vaugn on, and he definitely did nothing effective for Annex community other than undermine street safety. So what kind of urban planner type does that make him? A developer type, or a community type? Fact is that with the Cafe patio closed after 11, the Annex is bereft of safe places where ordinary people who are not suburban bozo's and college yahoos can hang out.

Fri, 2009-09-25 15:44

#31

Fidel

Stockholm wrote:

I have a great idea, why doesn't Gerard Kennedy run for mayor of Toronto ...

That's a wonderful idea. He must be terribly frustrated with towing the old party line by now.

Fri, 2009-09-25 17:44

#32

kropotkin1951

I think that EMay should run for Mayor after her current parachute fails to open and she comes tumbling back down to earth.. She must be able to claim some connection to the centre of the universe and as Canada's largest city she could really show how the she could make a green difference.

Fri, 2009-09-25 18:03

#33

Tommy_Paine

Vaugn was just on CBC radio saying how the next Mayor has to be from outside, there's no talent on council for the job.

For what that's worth.

If the left was smart, they'd get behind closed doors to run one candidate, and start work early but announce late, enticing two or three right wingers to run against each other.

I have a great idea, why doesn't Gerard Kennedy run for mayor of Toronto...

I think the idea amoungst most of us here is to keep the Tories out. Ooops, sorry. He's not a Tory, just their coat holder.

Fri, 2009-09-25 18:05

#34

Cueball

kropotkin1951 wrote:

I think that EMay should run for Mayor after her current parachute fails to open and she comes tumbling back down to earth.. She must be able to claim some connection to the centre of the universe and as Canada's largest city she could really show how the she could make a green difference.

So where does that put Olivia... Burnaby?

Fri, 2009-09-25 18:06

#35

Cueball

Tommy_Paine wrote:

Vaugn was just on CBC radio saying how the next Mayor has to be from outside, there's no talent on council for the job.

For what that's worth.

Sounds like he is being coatholder for whatever is being plotted by the right. They have some one in mind... maybe Bryant.

Fri, 2009-09-25 18:17

#36

Tommy_Paine

Well, hell ya, Bryant. He's a swell guy.

Navagator told me so.

Fri, 2009-09-25 18:38

#37

Polunatic2

I like Tommy's plan, especially the "if they were smart" part. Joe Mihevc will be on CFRB in two minutes. I'm curious as to what he'll have to say.

Fri, 2009-09-25 18:47

#38

remind

How abouts Judy?

Fri, 2009-09-25 19:04

#39

Polunatic2

Interesting idea. I can think of a lot of pros and cons.

Fri, 2009-09-25 19:10

#40

Sineed

After what happened with David, I don't know how quickly anybody progressive will want to run for mayor. He's a good guy, but he became the reverse of Teflon (whatever that is - Velcro?): everything stuck to him.

The Conservative and Liberal machinery will be behind whoever they feel will help their agenda here in Centre of the Universe. Off the top of my head, here's who I've heard (rather informally) so far - party affiliation follows:

George Smitherman - Liberal

John Tory - Con

Karen Stintz - Con

Denzel Minnan-Wong (puke puke puke) - Con

Adam Giambrone - NDP, right?

So it's mostly a choice between the right, and the far-right.

Fri, 2009-09-25 19:23

#41

Tommy_Paine

Well, it's just a bad time to be an incumbent anything.

Helps to remember how many votes a mayor has on council. I'm not sure of Toronto's council make up, but perhaps more could be done by focussing on unseating a number of vulnerable right wing councillors?

London's had the same mayor now for a number of terms, but yet council has moved from the right to a reasonable facsimilie of the left in the meantime.

Fri, 2009-09-25 19:27

#42

Doug

Incumbent councillors in Toronto just about have to be caught making child pornography in order to get unseated, so I don't think there's much hope for that.

Fri, 2009-09-25 19:28

#43

remind

Polunatic2 wrote:
Interesting idea. I can think of a lot of pros and cons.

I am thinking it would give her exposure for an MP run.

Fri, 2009-09-25 19:43

#44

Stockholm

I think that progressives should sit out the mayoral race altogether and concentrate on council races. Running for mayor would cost about 1 million dollars and who has that kind of money. I think that people on the left should discreetly back John Tory for mayor. Of all the people in that rogues gallery running for mayor, he is the most likely to try to build bridges across the ideological spectrum and give progressive councillors some share of power. Because of the Conservative party is so weak in Toronto Tory would have be quite non-partisan. Smitherman as mayor would just have a lot of temper tantrums and launch endless witch hunts and vendettas against anyone who is not an intensely partisan card carrying Liberal.

Go John Tory!

Fri, 2009-09-25 19:48

#45

Tommy_Paine

Doug wrote:

Incumbent councillors in Toronto just about have to be caught making child pornography in order to get unseated, so I don't think there's much hope for that.

Well, catch'em then

Fri, 2009-09-25 21:08

#46

Polunatic2

Quote:
I am thinking it would give her exposure for an MP run.

Perhaps then a run at a city councillor position where she may have a better chance of winning? Perhaps less risky than a run at the mayor's job which could end up as an embarrassing rout. Jack Layton had served on council for several years before running for mayor and then as MP.

Sat, 2009-09-26 09:25

#47

LBAL

In the Globe & Mail and Macleans.ca, Chow refuses to rule out running:

GLOBE: "NDP MP Olivia Chow, a former city councillor, refused to say whether she was considering a run, replying "Good gosh, this is a David Miller day." Her husband, NDP Leader Jack Layton, flatly ruled himself out of the race, however."

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/contenders-pretenders-scram...

MACLEANS.CA: Maclean's blogger Aaron Wherry posted this email exchange with Chow:

-------------------------------------------------------

—–Original Message—–
From: Aaron Wherry
To: Chow, Olivia
Sent: Fri Sep 25 15:35:36 2009
Subject:

Olivia…

Any chance you’ll run for mayor of Toronto?

Wherry.

—–Original Message—–
From: Chow, Olivia
To: Aaron Wherry
Sent: Fri 9/25/2009 6:07 PM
Subject: Thanks for thinking about me

I will let you know on Twitter if I am interested.

-------------------------------------------------------

Alos, Toronto writer and blogger Kris Scheuer lists Chow as one of the top ten possible candidates:

http://kscheuer.wordpress.com/2009/09/25/who-will-be-next-toronto-mayor/

Sat, 2009-09-26 10:09

#48

Stockholm

If this is an intentional strategy by Olivia Chow, I think its brilliant. In reality there is zero chance of her running for mayor. But it makes sense that it helps her to get publicity
When people talk about her as a potential mayor it just send out a message to swing voters in Trinity-spadina that OC is a big shot with star quality. I hope that citizens groups implore her to run for mayor and that it gets as much publicity as possible. Then she can say that her place is in Ottawa, be flattered by all the attention and raise her profile!

Maybe LBAL is actually part of Chow's re-election team and is doing his part to genersate positive publicity for her

Sat, 2009-09-26 11:58

#49

Cueball

While you on the other hand must be schill for the Liberal organization, making her sound like a garden variety self-serving political manipulator and thus undermining her reputation for integrity. The only thing worse than NDP'rs sounding like naive liberals, is when they try and sound like smooth talking cagey political operators -- it just makes them sound envious of a-morality.

Sat, 2009-09-26 12:05

#50

Stockholm

I'm not sure how to respond to such an incoherent stream of consciousness...

my only point is that I'm delighted that Liberal bloggers are touting Olivia Chow as a potential mayor of Toronto. It helps promote her as a politician of national significance who punches above her weight. The more they create a "buzz" about her as a possible mayor - the more positive publicity it creates for her. I don't hear anyone suggesting that Christine Innes should run for mayor - i guess these Liberal bloggers acknowledge that Olivia Chow has far more to offer than does their own Grade Z place holder of a candidate.

I'm not sure what the Liberals purpose is in talking up Olivia as a potential mayor - but it can only backfire by making her look even more attractive in the eyes of the voters - and all she has to do is say NOTHING!

Sat, 2009-09-26 12:09

#51

Lord Palmerston

I was surprised Olivia didn't increase her margin of victory last year - in '06 and '08 she won by about 3500 votes. Trinity-Spadina is certainly not in the bag for the NDP.

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