Doug Ford calls Olivia Chow a ‘nice person’ and vows to find ‘common ground’

Ford’s views on Chow have gone from her being “an unmitigated disaster” last Wednesday to “someone I have had a good relationship with” on Tuesday.

Thestar.com
June 28, 2023
Robert Benzie

What a difference a week -- and an election -- can make.

Premier Doug Ford’s views on Toronto Mayor-elect Olivia Chow have gone from her being “an unmitigated disaster” last Wednesday to “someone I have had a good relationship with” on Tuesday.

“We’ll work together and we’re going to find common ground when we sit down because she’s actually quite a nice person,” the premier told reporters in Ayr, near Cambridge, the morning after Chow won the mayoral byelection.

“I’ve always demonstrated I’m willing to work with anyone who is ready to work with our government to build a stronger Ontario,” he said, striking a conciliatory tone and stressing that “during an election you throw some mud back and forth.”

Chow, for her part, was similarly magnanimous.

“I can absolutely work with Premier Doug Ford,” the incoming mayor told reporters at Nathan Phillips Square.

“We love this city,” she said, adding “there will be common ground.”

Ford pointed out that he has crossed partisan lines with municipal leaders, noting he has a “phenomenal relationship” with one-time political rivals Hamilton Mayor Andrea Horwath and Vaughan Mayor Steven Del Duca.

Horwath is the former provincial NDP leader and Del Duca previously led the Liberals.

The premier has granted them “strong mayor” powers that take effect Saturday.

While Chow insisted she wouldn’t use the authority, which was given to her predecessor, John Tory, last September, Ford said that’s fine.

“It’s optional, right? If you don’t want to, you don’t have to use it; if you want to, you can use it.”

That means Chow has no plans to pass bylaws with just one-third support of council or to control the city budget or to hire and fire city department heads -- even though, by law, she can.

Ford was noncommittal when asked if the province would help the City of Toronto with its $1-billion budget shortfall.

“We’re doing our fair share. But one word of advice ... you’ve got to get your fiscal house in order. You can’t come to the feds and the province all the time,” he said.

“We’ll be there to support you any which way we can, but ... there’s a lot of waste down there.”

The premier also indicated the province has no plans to revise its redevelopment of Ontario Place, where Chow opposes a new privately run spa and the relocation of the Ontario Science Centre.

“Ontario Place is going to be a public space and the vast majority of Ontario Place is going to be open to the public all along the shore for the biking and hiking ... but this is moving down the tracks pretty quickly right now,” he said.

“We look forward to sitting down with the host city. This is a provincial site.”

It was a marked shift in tone from his dire warnings a week earlier.

On Wednesday, Ford had predicted doom and gloom.

“God forbid Olivia Chow gets elected, your taxes are going up at an unprecedented rate,” the premier had said in Burlington.

“Businesses are going to be fleeing Toronto as far as I’m concerned. My biggest fear is the gravy train 2.0 coming down the track,” he said.

“People are terrified, businesses are terrified -- therefore the workers should be terrified because ... she makes (former NDP mayor) David Miller look like a fiscal conservative.”

Ford had a Mark Saunders sign on his Etobicoke front lawn and taped a robocall endorsement for the former Toronto police chief, who ended up a distant third.

Saunders won 8.6 per cent of the vote to Chow’s 37.2 per cent and 32.5 per cent for runner-up Ana Bailao.

On election night, Ford -- along with Municipal Affairs Minister Steve Clark and Labour Minister Monte McNaughton -- phoned Chow to personally congratulate her, calls she suggested Tuesday were encouraging.

As well, the premier issued a statement praising the incoming mayor.

“Throughout Olivia’s life, she has proven her desire and dedication to serving the city that many of us call home,” he said in his statement.

“While we’re not always going to agree on everything, what we can agree on is our shared commitment to making Toronto a place where businesses, families, and workers can thrive,” said Ford.

For her part, Chow artfully quoted the Progressive Conservatives’ 2022 re-election slogan, assuring the premier she would work to “get it done” for Toronto.

“I know we both believe ... in the people of this city, we love this city,” she said Monday night.

“Well, Mr. Premier, we’re ready -- let’s work together to get it done,” said Chow.