First order of business? Affordable housing, mayor-elect Olivia Chow tells Metro Morning
CBC
Hours after being elected mayor of Canada's most populous city, Olivia Chow said her first order of business after taking office in nearly two weeks will be to focus on affordable housing.
"I'm so grateful for the opportunity to serve," Chow told CBC Radio's Metro Morning Tuesday. "I proposed to get sworn in in two weeks because I want to get started."
The mayor-elect will head to Toronto city hall a day after defeating 101 rivals to win the city's top job. She plans to take office on July 12, the city clerk confirmed in a statement Tuesday morning. John D. Elvidge said the official election results are set to be certified by Wednesday at the latest.
Chow's request to officially begin her tenure as mayor is "subject to the certification of the official results," he added.
One immediate challenge for the former NDP parliamentarian and past city councillor will be tackling a nearly $1-billion pandemic-related budget shortfall, partly driven by reduced transit revenue and increased shelter costs.
Chow will also have to tackle issues of housing unaffordability and public safety concerns.
The 66-year-old veteran politician and first person of colour to be elected as Toronto's mayor, who has pledged to bring change to the city, will be at city hall for meetings Tuesday.
"We need a city government that reflects the people they serve," Chow said.
She previously told CBC News that her mayoralty would be "people-centred" and focused on restoring core services.
Chow eked out a win in the mayoral byelection against other candidates vying to replace scandal-departed John Tory, with former deputy mayor Ana Bailão coming in a close second. She secured at least 37.2 per cent of the total vote share.
Josh Matlow, who was considered one of the top mayoral candidates throughout the campaign, came in fourth with 4.91 per cent of votes.
"I'm ready for a mayor who wants to take our challenges seriously," Matlow, who will remain city councillor, told CBC Radio's Metro Morning Tuesday.
"I look forward to helping her in any way I can."
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