I am proud to be a lifelong Liberal. In my view, the role of government is to grow the economy while supporting people in their everyday lives. It is precisely this belief that drew me to politics over thirty years ago and the opportunity to make a real difference.
When Toronto went to a surprise mayoral by-election in 2023, I supported my friend Mitzie Hunter, an experienced former Liberal cabinet minister, who offered a compassionate but realistic and fully-funded path to fix affordable housing, transit, basic services like potholes and snow clearing and put Toronto’s budget on a sustainable path.
In this election, my priorities remain the same. But this time it’s a two-candidate race and I am proud to be supporting Olivia Chow as her Campaign Co-Chair.
Government leaders should offer an ambitious vision that brings people together, improves peoples’ lives and drives us towards a better future.
Prime Minister Jean Chrétien fixed Canada’s fiscal crisis, introduced the Canada Health Transfer, preserved Québec in a united Canada and kept us out of the Iraq War.
Prime Minister Paul Martin put Canada’s budget into surplus, legalized same-sex marriage, built a national health accord to reduce hospital wait times, and built up the Canada Pension Plan.
Premier Kathleen Wynne worked to build a more inclusive Ontario by raising the minimum wage, providing free university tuition for low-income students and bringing in OHIP+ as a step towards pharmacare.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau lifted thousands out of poverty with the Canada Child Benefit, created a national childcare program, laid the foundation for pharmacare and dental care and took historic action on climate change and Indigenous reconciliation.
Prime Minister Mark Carney is Building Canada Strong with nation-building projects, a national homebuilding program, diversifying Canada’s trade and security partnerships and growing the economy by unlocking historic investments.
I was proud to serve in each of these Liberal governments. As a former Chief of Staff, I learned that the best leaders offer an ambitious vision, partner with communities, the private sector and other levels of government to build a coalition and get big things done.
Which brings me back to Toronto’s election. Olivia Chow has offered an enormously ambitious vision: a universal school food program, getting affordable housing built after decades of stagnation, a revitalized Toronto waterfront, fixing and expanding a crumbling transit system to serve millions for decades to come. She’s shown she can secure billions from other orders of government to fund Toronto’s priorities.
When affordability is the key question this election, her platform has practical savings for families on transit, groceries, housing and more. She believes government has a role to play in making life easier for everyone.
I know what an effective mayor Olivia Chow has been because I had to negotiate with her as Chief of Staff to Canada’s Minister of Finance. Her pragmatism, work ethic and knowledge of the issues was apparent. I admit she drove a hard bargain and Toronto benefitted.
Toronto is at its core a progressive but pragmatic city. Liberals won 23 of 24 ridings in the last election. People have shown they believe in the value of a progressive government that takes care of people in practical ways. This is what Chow is proposing.
It’s a very different vision than that of her opponent: he aims to cut the city's revenues that would require cutting services. That is exactly the wrong idea when we need to be building Toronto up.
On Monday, Torontonians will go to the polls to elect a mayor. Helping Mark Carney get elected taught me once again that every vote matters in a close race. In this election, I am encouraging fellow Liberals to help elect Olivia Chow.