Councillor's comments on Chow's age at 1st council meeting as Toronto mayor spark backlash

Comments made by a Toronto city councillor regarding newly-elected mayor Olivia Chow’s age during her first council meeting since assuming the role have sparked a backlash among some viewers.

Comments made by a Toronto city councillor about newly-elected mayor Olivia Chow’s age during her first council meeting since assuming the role have sparked backlash.

The comments were made by Eglinton - Lawrence Councillor Mike Colle at Wednesday’s council meeting as he spoke on a group of asylum seekers sleeping on the streets outside of a Toronto shelter over recent weeks.

Colle praised Chow for finding solutions with the provincial and federal government on the issue in her first days as mayor. Last week, Chow called on all levels of government to address the growing number of refugees sheltering on the streets of Toronto – a request met with a $97 million federal investment earmarked for the city.

“She’s approaching [the issue] in a collaborative way,” Colle said during the council meeting. “She’s being nice with Dougie and nice with the guys in Ottawa.”

READ MORE: Chow calls for 250 more shelter beds for refugees as key item in 1st council meeting as Toronto mayor

Colle continued to praise Chow’s character, calling her “charming.” While expressing his support for the new mayor, the councillor repeatedly called her a “young lady.”

 “She’s a very charming young lady — I used to know her as a young lady once upon a time,” Colle said. “She’s still a young lady – a young mayor.”