JAKARTA — Olivia Chow pledged to support her tenants, champion social causes and curb too much power in her office, when she became the first Chinese-Canadian to be elected mayor of Toronto, Canada on Monday.
“I will dedicate myself to working tirelessly to build a more caring, affordable and safe city where everyone can live,” Chow told his supporters in his victory speech. Reuters June 27.
Chow won 37.2% of the vote, according to preliminary results, ahead of her closest rival Ana Bailao, a former deputy mayor.
“Thank you Toronto!“, he tweeted.
Chow, 66, will be the first woman to serve as mayor, since Barbara Hall in 1997. She previously ran for mayor in 2014 but came only third.
Since the start of the campaign, Chow has trailed his rivals in opinion polls. The Conservatives backed their former deputy, Bailao, while Ontario Premier Doug Ford backed former Toronto police chief Mark Saunders.
Ford praised Chow, saying he was willing to work with anyone willing to “work with our government to improve our city and our province.”
A leading voice in progressive politics, Chow’s campaign builds on her record as a former MP in Ottawa and as a member of Toronto City Council, and builds on the historic relationships forged by her late husband, former leader of the New Democratic Party (NDP) and leader of the federal opposition, Jack Layton.
Chow will lead Canada’s financial capital at a time of soaring housing prices and increased violent attacks on public transport that have led to calls for more action by the police.
Chow has pledged to build 25,000 government-controlled housing units over eight years to meet rising rents.
Born in Hong Kong, Chow emigrated to Canada when he was 13 years old. He graduated from the University of Guelph with a degree in fine arts.
Chow will replace John Tory who resigned after winning his third election last October.
Tory quit her job in February after admitting to having an affair with a member of her staff when she herself was married.
Tags: international politics canada
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