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Red, blue and in-between packed in for Brad — and new polling shows he has “the most promising path” to take on Olivia Chow. Meet the mayor who got New Leaf’d. Mr. Ford goes to Boston. But to begin, a private call to clear the air — and kill a campaign-that-isn’t.
SCOOP — Karina Gould called Bonnie Crombie to say she’s not coming for her job.
The call, according to several sources with direct knowledge of it, took place earlier this month.
Red, blue and in-between packed in for Brad — and new polling shows he has “the most promising path” to take on Olivia Chow. Meet the mayor who got New Leaf’d. Mr. Ford goes to Boston. But to begin, a private call to clear the air — and kill a campaign-that-isn’t.
SCOOP — Karina Gould called Bonnie Crombie to say she’s not coming for her job.
The call, according to several sources with direct knowledge of it, took place earlier this month.
Red, blue and in-between packed in for Brad — and new polling shows he has “the most promising path” to take on Olivia Chow. Meet the mayor who got New Leaf’d. Mr. Ford goes to Boston. But to begin, a private call to clear the air — and kill a campaign-that-isn’t.
SCOOP — Karina Gould called Bonnie Crombie to say she’s not coming for her job.
The call, according to several sources with direct knowledge of it, took place earlier this month. Gould — who placed a distant third to Mark Carney in March’s federal leadership contest — told Crombie she had no interest in her job and had nothing to do with an apparent “run, please” campaign.
On June 7, a Google Form labeled “Karina Gould for Leader of the Ontario Liberal Party” started to circulate, especially among those in the party’s youth wing. It’s unclear who was behind it, though some suspect that ex-Nate Erskine-Smith supporters were behind it. The form has since been quietly pulled.
When asked, the ex-cabinet minister said she’s not unappreciative — but denied any involvement. “I am not associated with this and I did not know about it until you sent it to me,” she said in a text message. “I was just re-elected in Burlington to the House of Commons and I am 100 per cent focused on representing my community.”
Gould has been one of those name-checked as a potential replacement to Crombie if September doesn’t go her way. Though she’s now chairing FINA, some see her third-place federal run as a dry run for the provincial leadership. Being dumped from cabinet, like Erskine-Smith, could give her one more reason to walk.
First thing’s first: More information about the review vote — and how much it’ll cost to attend — were shared last night.
— The early rate: Regular: $375. Pay monthly: $225, plus $20-a-month donation. Youth: $100. Senior: $240. Low income, for those earning under $30,000: $240. Observer: $1,000.
— The full fare: Regular: $500. Monthly payment: $300, plus $20-a-month donation. Youth: $133. Senior: $320. Low income, for those earning under $30,000: $320. Observer: $1,200.
— On making the delegate cut: If you’re signing up for the AGM, you’ll automatically be added to the delegate pool. Registrations made before 11:59 p.m. on July 25 will carry equal weight. If more names are in than positions available, a delegate election may follow. After that deadline, any remaining spots will be handed out in chronological order of registration.
Brad’s opening pitch — A year out, the race to become Toronto’s next mayor is on.
About 50 organizers and fundraisers joined Brad Bradford for an informal get-together at the Royal York on Wednesday.
“I think anyone running for mayor should be spending their time listening to constituents and figuring out practical solutions to move the city forward,” the councillor, who was glad-handing at Ford Fest, told this reporter on Friday. “There’s a lot of time between now and the next election. I’m spending that time having conversations with Torontonians.”
Who’s who: It was a cross-partisan crowd. Dennis Matthews, an ex-advisor to Stephen Harper, and Gen Tomney, who co-led Bonnie Crombie’s provincial campaign, spoke. So did Hamish Marshall, who worked on Mark Saunders’ last run. Ex-senator Jerry Grafstein, ex-Trudeau advisor Dani Saad and Ben Mulroney also showed up.
“This was him saying loud and clear, ’I’m Olivia’s chief challenger,’” said a source in the room.
Meanwhile, internal polling by Abacus shared at the lunch found Bradford as best-positioned to take on Chow.
According to the memo:
— Vulnerable? Maybe. Weak? Not quite: “A majority (46%) say the city is on the wrong track, compared to 42% who believe it’s heading in the right direction.”
“When asked directly whether they would re-elect Olivia Chow, only 17% said definitely yes, while 53% would prefer someone new. That’s a clear warning sign.”
“Her support base is concentrated among the youngest and oldest voters, NDP supporters, and residents of Toronto, and she continues to be seen as a credible and likable leader. In a crowded race, that makes her a formidable opponent.”
“... Chow’s net favourable is lower than all others with Bailao and Bradford with the highest net favourables. So, while Chow is not coasting toward re-election, she’s not on the brink either. She’s beatable but only by the right challenger.”
— Tory talk: “Even among those who like him, only 36% would choose [Tory] in a hypothetical matchup against Chow, Bradford, Bailão, and others. A striking 64% of those with a positive impression of Tory say they would vote for someone else or are undecided. That disconnect points to a deeper truth: voters may remember Tory fondly, but they’re not necessarily eager to return to him.”
“While 28% say they’d be thrilled to see him run again, another 49% either believe it’s time for someone new (36%) or outright oppose his return (13%). That’s not disqualifying, but it’s far from a coronation.”
“Tory’s strength lies in who he was. He remains associated with stability, pragmatism, and leadership. But the city he governed up to 2023 is very much the city of 2026 and he may have a hard time running on change when he could be associated with many of the problems people perceive exist.”
— Indulge the scenario: “In a hypothetical six-way race, Chow leads with 27%, followed closely by Tory at 25%. Bradford is third. Bailão, Mendocino, and Anthony Furey all in the single digits, with a substantial 29% undecided. But this is expected when two of the candidates are universally known.”
— So: “Bradford likely has the best combination of upside and existing brand clarity to challenge Chow, particularly if he becomes the consensus choice for change. Bailão is not far behind but needs a stronger rationale beyond experience and a good showing in 2023. The fact that she almost won in 2023 and yet still lacks name recognition means that she didn’t leave a lasting impact on voters. Their vote for her was likely caused by Tory’s endorsement than a genuine appeal.”
There’s more than one poll. A survey by Pallas found Chow leading Tory with 30 per cent to 19 per cent. At 11 per cent, Bradford placed third, though behind the 21 per cent who said they were still undecided.
Can Doug Ford tip the scale? “I suppose it all depends if Ford figures that Chow’s re-election would pose a significant challenge for him implementing his municipal agenda, and whether his endorsement would tip the scales against Chow,” said Joseph Anglano. “There is not — as of right now — a candidate strong enough to beat Chow. So in that light, the Premier may decide to not spend his political capital in the mayoral election.”
It was all warm between Ford and Chow at Ford Fest, though the ex-mayor still caught a jab.
— The House is out for the summer.
— Heritage, Infrastructure and Cultural Policy is taking Bill 9 on tour for public input. It would establish a standardized municipal code of conduct and allow for the removal and four-year disqualification of councillors found guilty of serious misconduct.
The itinerary:
Want to have your say? Make a submission.
— Canada Day at the Park: The 10 to 5 p.m. event will feature live performances, midway rides, family-friendly games, roaming entertainers, self-guided tours of the building and more. Yes, there’ll be food. More.
The Board of Internal Economy had green-lit a one-time spend of $263,500 for this year’s party.
— Last week, we told you about two Liberals who insist they never signed on — but ended up on the New Leaf’s list anyway.
Add Carolyn Parrish to the list. Though her name didn’t appear on the website, Mississauga’s mayor was New Leaf’d — she received an email from organizers to verify if she had actually signed up. “We had a feeling that the submission was inauthentic, which is why we reached out,” they wrote to her.
Talk about dedication: We’re told that Parrish’s name was entered over six times.
“We contacted her before ever making it public,” an organizer said. “Troublemakers are going to try to find ways to disrupt legitimate movements that they’re uncomfortable with. We’re working to build a stronger Ontario Liberal Party, and we’ll do what we can to ensure the validity of our signatures.”
Meanwhile, Monday’s launch email didn’t sit well with some Liberals. It went to people who hadn’t signed up — or even shared an email — raising questions about whether the data came from someone in the party or, say, a past leadership campaign.
From the email: “February’s election hurt, and in the months since, we’ve been hard at work thinking about how best we can ensure the Liberals are trusted by Ontarians at the next election. The goal of our movement is simple — to channel the frustrations and hopes of Liberals who rightly expect more from our party, and then to work incredibly hard to make the Ontario Liberal Party as strong as it can be.”
Recall: The group is calling for a ground-up overhaul of the party — and new leadership to lead it. They blame Bonnie Crombie for her “inability to undertake the necessary steps to rebuild our party," and say that if she’s unable to lock in two-thirds support in September, she should quit.
— Premier Doug Ford says he’s sorry for a tongue-in-cheek moment that didn’t sit well with Indigenous leaders.
What Ford said: On Wednesday, a day before a sit-down with dozens of Anishinabek Nation chiefs, Ford said they “can’t just keep coming hat in hand all the time to the government.” “You’ve got to be able to take care of yourselves. And when you literally have gold mines, nickel mines, every type of critical mineral that the world wants, and you’re saying, ’No, no, I don’t want to touch that, by the way, give me money’ — not going to happen.”
Yesterday, he took it back. “I speak from the heart and sometimes my words don’t come out properly, which I think you’ve all seen over a number of years. I sincerely apologize if that has offended anyone. I’ve never been too proud to sit back and apologize for something that I’ve said or if I have offended someone,” he said.
— Meanwhile, he took to Boston on Monday “to try to forge alliances against Donald Trump’s tariffs.”
— Bill 5 v. Bill C-5: One Liberal MP isn’t too happy with Bill C-5, which would let the Carney government fast-track projects deemed to be in the “national interest.”
Nate Erskine-Smith drew a parallel to the Ford government’s Bill 5. “Similar to Ford’s Bill 5, [Bill C-5] gives the government unchecked power to exclude or alter any law that would otherwise apply to such a project.”
Some say that candour is exactly what got him booted from the cabinet.
— CUPE Ontario is sponsoring a rally on Sunday to “demand an end to war between Iran and Israel.” Labour Minister David Piccini called it “shameful.” “Members deserve better for their dues than sponsoring this,” he wrote on X.
Hahn, in response: “What the Minister of Labour doesn’t know — or perhaps doesn’t care to repeat — is that we have a policy, passed by our members, against the war on Iran,” he said. “We also have policy that clearly lays out our opposition to the totalitarian regime in Iran. The Minister wouldn’t know that we have worked collaboratively in a project with trade unions because union organizing was declared illegal in Iran.”
Hahn accused Piccini of seeking to dodge heat over the drawn-out WSIB strike. The two have a history.
— Tracking the measles: Public Health Ontario is reporting 96 new cases — bringing the total to 2,179 since the fall.
— Laryssa Waler says one mystery group’s push for the Ford government to rein in spending and pivot to the right is “less about good governance and more about ideological gatekeeping.”
— Ontario once led on ethics. These days, it’s struggling to follow, the integrity commissioner found.
— The Ford and Carney government have quietly landed a multi-million dollar housing deal.
— Bill 17 is expected to hit Toronto’s bottom line, per a new city report.
— John Michael McGrath digs into the proposed shake‑up to the blue-bin program.
— The race to become Toronto’s next mayor is on, writes Brian Lilley.
— Mayor of Mayhem? Perhaps. But that’s not who Rob Ford wanted to be, says ex-councillor John Filion.
— Ford isn’t too happy about it.
— Remember his mid-campaign jaunt to Washington? Here’s the price tag.
— How cash-strapped Toronto will fund the six allocated FIFA World Cup is still anyone’s guess.
— Iris Gorfinkel says ER wait times are “going to get worse.”
Thank you for reading POLICORNER. Are you planning to challenge Chow? Parrish in Mississauga? Brown in Brampton? Horwath in Hamilton? My inbox is open — and I’ll keep you anonymous. We’re back in your inbox next week.
Red, blue and in-between packed in for Brad — and new polling shows he has “the most promising path” to take on Olivia Chow. Meet the mayor who got New Leaf’d. Mr. Ford goes to Boston. But to begin, a private call to clear the air — and kill a campaign-that-isn’t.
SCOOP — Karina Gould called Bonnie Crombie to say she’s not coming for her job.
The call, according to several sources with direct knowledge of it, took place earlier this month. Gould — who placed a distant third to Mark Carney in March’s federal leadership contest — told Crombie she had no interest in her job and had nothing to do with an apparent “run, please” campaign.
On June 7, a Google Form labeled “Karina Gould for Leader of the Ontario Liberal Party” started to circulate, especially among those in the party’s youth wing. It’s unclear who was behind it, though some suspect that ex-Nate Erskine-Smith supporters were behind it. The form has since been quietly pulled.
When asked, the ex-cabinet minister said she’s not unappreciative — but denied any involvement. “I am not associated with this and I did not know about it until you sent it to me,” she said in a text message. “I was just re-elected in Burlington to the House of Commons and I am 100 per cent focused on representing my community.”
Gould has been one of those name-checked as a potential replacement to Crombie if September doesn’t go her way. Though she’s now chairing FINA, some see her third-place federal run as a dry run for the provincial leadership. Being dumped from cabinet, like Erskine-Smith, could give her one more reason to walk.
First thing’s first: More information about the review vote — and how much it’ll cost to attend — were shared last night.
— The early rate: Regular: $375. Pay monthly: $225, plus $20-a-month donation. Youth: $100. Senior: $240. Low income, for those earning under $30,000: $240. Observer: $1,000.
— The full fare: Regular: $500. Monthly payment: $300, plus $20-a-month donation. Youth: $133. Senior: $320. Low income, for those earning under $30,000: $320. Observer: $1,200.
— On making the delegate cut: If you’re signing up for the AGM, you’ll automatically be added to the delegate pool. Registrations made before 11:59 p.m. on July 25 will carry equal weight. If more names are in than positions available, a delegate election may follow. After that deadline, any remaining spots will be handed out in chronological order of registration.
Brad’s opening pitch — A year out, the race to become Toronto’s next mayor is on.
About 50 organizers and fundraisers joined Brad Bradford for an informal get-together at the Royal York on Wednesday.
“I think anyone running for mayor should be spending their time listening to constituents and figuring out practical solutions to move the city forward,” the councillor, who was glad-handing at Ford Fest, told this reporter on Friday. “There’s a lot of time between now and the next election. I’m spending that time having conversations with Torontonians.”
Who’s who: It was a cross-partisan crowd. Dennis Matthews, an ex-advisor to Stephen Harper, and Gen Tomney, who co-led Bonnie Crombie’s provincial campaign, spoke. So did Hamish Marshall, who worked on Mark Saunders’ last run. Ex-senator Jerry Grafstein, ex-Trudeau advisor Dani Saad and Ben Mulroney also showed up.
“This was him saying loud and clear, ’I’m Olivia’s chief challenger,’” said a source in the room.
Meanwhile, internal polling by Abacus shared at the lunch found Bradford as best-positioned to take on Chow.
According to the memo:
— Vulnerable? Maybe. Weak? Not quite: “A majority (46%) say the city is on the wrong track, compared to 42% who believe it’s heading in the right direction.”
“When asked directly whether they would re-elect Olivia Chow, only 17% said definitely yes, while 53% would prefer someone new. That’s a clear warning sign.”
“Her support base is concentrated among the youngest and oldest voters, NDP supporters, and residents of Toronto, and she continues to be seen as a credible and likable leader. In a crowded race, that makes her a formidable opponent.”
“... Chow’s net favourable is lower than all others with Bailao and Bradford with the highest net favourables. So, while Chow is not coasting toward re-election, she’s not on the brink either. She’s beatable but only by the right challenger.”
— Tory talk: “Even among those who like him, only 36% would choose [Tory] in a hypothetical matchup against Chow, Bradford, Bailão, and others. A striking 64% of those with a positive impression of Tory say they would vote for someone else or are undecided. That disconnect points to a deeper truth: voters may remember Tory fondly, but they’re not necessarily eager to return to him.”
“While 28% say they’d be thrilled to see him run again, another 49% either believe it’s time for someone new (36%) or outright oppose his return (13%). That’s not disqualifying, but it’s far from a coronation.”
“Tory’s strength lies in who he was. He remains associated with stability, pragmatism, and leadership. But the city he governed up to 2023 is very much the city of 2026 and he may have a hard time running on change when he could be associated with many of the problems people perceive exist.”
— Indulge the scenario: “In a hypothetical six-way race, Chow leads with 27%, followed closely by Tory at 25%. Bradford is third. Bailão, Mendocino, and Anthony Furey all in the single digits, with a substantial 29% undecided. But this is expected when two of the candidates are universally known.”
— So: “Bradford likely has the best combination of upside and existing brand clarity to challenge Chow, particularly if he becomes the consensus choice for change. Bailão is not far behind but needs a stronger rationale beyond experience and a good showing in 2023. The fact that she almost won in 2023 and yet still lacks name recognition means that she didn’t leave a lasting impact on voters. Their vote for her was likely caused by Tory’s endorsement than a genuine appeal.”
There’s more than one poll. A survey by Pallas found Chow leading Tory with 30 per cent to 19 per cent. At 11 per cent, Bradford placed third, though behind the 21 per cent who said they were still undecided.
Can Doug Ford tip the scale? “I suppose it all depends if Ford figures that Chow’s re-election would pose a significant challenge for him implementing his municipal agenda, and whether his endorsement would tip the scales against Chow,” said Joseph Anglano. “There is not — as of right now — a candidate strong enough to beat Chow. So in that light, the Premier may decide to not spend his political capital in the mayoral election.”
It was all warm between Ford and Chow at Ford Fest, though the ex-mayor still caught a jab.
— The House is out for the summer.
— Heritage, Infrastructure and Cultural Policy is taking Bill 9 on tour for public input. It would establish a standardized municipal code of conduct and allow for the removal and four-year disqualification of councillors found guilty of serious misconduct.
The itinerary:
Want to have your say? Make a submission.
— Canada Day at the Park: The 10 to 5 p.m. event will feature live performances, midway rides, family-friendly games, roaming entertainers, self-guided tours of the building and more. Yes, there’ll be food. More.
The Board of Internal Economy had green-lit a one-time spend of $263,500 for this year’s party.
— Last week, we told you about two Liberals who insist they never signed on — but ended up on the New Leaf’s list anyway.
Add Carolyn Parrish to the list. Though her name didn’t appear on the website, Mississauga’s mayor was New Leaf’d — she received an email from organizers to verify if she had actually signed up. “We had a feeling that the submission was inauthentic, which is why we reached out,” they wrote to her.
Talk about dedication: We’re told that Parrish’s name was entered over six times.
“We contacted her before ever making it public,” an organizer said. “Troublemakers are going to try to find ways to disrupt legitimate movements that they’re uncomfortable with. We’re working to build a stronger Ontario Liberal Party, and we’ll do what we can to ensure the validity of our signatures.”
Meanwhile, Monday’s launch email didn’t sit well with some Liberals. It went to people who hadn’t signed up — or even shared an email — raising questions about whether the data came from someone in the party or, say, a past leadership campaign.
From the email: “February’s election hurt, and in the months since, we’ve been hard at work thinking about how best we can ensure the Liberals are trusted by Ontarians at the next election. The goal of our movement is simple — to channel the frustrations and hopes of Liberals who rightly expect more from our party, and then to work incredibly hard to make the Ontario Liberal Party as strong as it can be.”
Recall: The group is calling for a ground-up overhaul of the party — and new leadership to lead it. They blame Bonnie Crombie for her “inability to undertake the necessary steps to rebuild our party," and say that if she’s unable to lock in two-thirds support in September, she should quit.
— Premier Doug Ford says he’s sorry for a tongue-in-cheek moment that didn’t sit well with Indigenous leaders.
What Ford said: On Wednesday, a day before a sit-down with dozens of Anishinabek Nation chiefs, Ford said they “can’t just keep coming hat in hand all the time to the government.” “You’ve got to be able to take care of yourselves. And when you literally have gold mines, nickel mines, every type of critical mineral that the world wants, and you’re saying, ’No, no, I don’t want to touch that, by the way, give me money’ — not going to happen.”
Yesterday, he took it back. “I speak from the heart and sometimes my words don’t come out properly, which I think you’ve all seen over a number of years. I sincerely apologize if that has offended anyone. I’ve never been too proud to sit back and apologize for something that I’ve said or if I have offended someone,” he said.
— Meanwhile, he took to Boston on Monday “to try to forge alliances against Donald Trump’s tariffs.”
— Bill 5 v. Bill C-5: One Liberal MP isn’t too happy with Bill C-5, which would let the Carney government fast-track projects deemed to be in the “national interest.”
Nate Erskine-Smith drew a parallel to the Ford government’s Bill 5. “Similar to Ford’s Bill 5, [Bill C-5] gives the government unchecked power to exclude or alter any law that would otherwise apply to such a project.”
Some say that candour is exactly what got him booted from the cabinet.
— CUPE Ontario is sponsoring a rally on Sunday to “demand an end to war between Iran and Israel.” Labour Minister David Piccini called it “shameful.” “Members deserve better for their dues than sponsoring this,” he wrote on X.
Hahn, in response: “What the Minister of Labour doesn’t know — or perhaps doesn’t care to repeat — is that we have a policy, passed by our members, against the war on Iran,” he said. “We also have policy that clearly lays out our opposition to the totalitarian regime in Iran. The Minister wouldn’t know that we have worked collaboratively in a project with trade unions because union organizing was declared illegal in Iran.”
Hahn accused Piccini of seeking to dodge heat over the drawn-out WSIB strike. The two have a history.
— Tracking the measles: Public Health Ontario is reporting 96 new cases — bringing the total to 2,179 since the fall.
— Laryssa Waler says one mystery group’s push for the Ford government to rein in spending and pivot to the right is “less about good governance and more about ideological gatekeeping.”
— Ontario once led on ethics. These days, it’s struggling to follow, the integrity commissioner found.
— The Ford and Carney government have quietly landed a multi-million dollar housing deal.
— Bill 17 is expected to hit Toronto’s bottom line, per a new city report.
— John Michael McGrath digs into the proposed shake‑up to the blue-bin program.
— The race to become Toronto’s next mayor is on, writes Brian Lilley.
— Mayor of Mayhem? Perhaps. But that’s not who Rob Ford wanted to be, says ex-councillor John Filion.
— Ford isn’t too happy about it.
— Remember his mid-campaign jaunt to Washington? Here’s the price tag.
— How cash-strapped Toronto will fund the six allocated FIFA World Cup is still anyone’s guess.
— Iris Gorfinkel says ER wait times are “going to get worse.”
Thank you for reading POLICORNER. Are you planning to challenge Chow? Parrish in Mississauga? Brown in Brampton? Horwath in Hamilton? My inbox is open — and I’ll keep you anonymous. We’re back in your inbox next week.
Red, blue and in-between packed in for Brad — and new polling shows he has “the most promising path” to take on Olivia Chow. Meet the mayor who got New Leaf’d. Mr. Ford goes to Boston. But to begin, a private call to clear the air — and kill a campaign-that-isn’t.
SCOOP — Karina Gould called Bonnie Crombie to say she’s not coming for her job.
The call, according to several sources with direct knowledge of it, took place earlier this month. Gould — who placed a distant third to Mark Carney in March’s federal leadership contest — told Crombie she had no interest in her job and had nothing to do with an apparent “run, please” campaign.
On June 7, a Google Form labeled “Karina Gould for Leader of the Ontario Liberal Party” started to circulate, especially among those in the party’s youth wing. It’s unclear who was behind it, though some suspect that ex-Nate Erskine-Smith supporters were behind it. The form has since been quietly pulled.
When asked, the ex-cabinet minister said she’s not unappreciative — but denied any involvement. “I am not associated with this and I did not know about it until you sent it to me,” she said in a text message. “I was just re-elected in Burlington to the House of Commons and I am 100 per cent focused on representing my community.”
Gould has been one of those name-checked as a potential replacement to Crombie if September doesn’t go her way. Though she’s now chairing FINA, some see her third-place federal run as a dry run for the provincial leadership. Being dumped from cabinet, like Erskine-Smith, could give her one more reason to walk.
First thing’s first: More information about the review vote — and how much it’ll cost to attend — were shared last night.
— The early rate: Regular: $375. Pay monthly: $225, plus $20-a-month donation. Youth: $100. Senior: $240. Low income, for those earning under $30,000: $240. Observer: $1,000.
— The full fare: Regular: $500. Monthly payment: $300, plus $20-a-month donation. Youth: $133. Senior: $320. Low income, for those earning under $30,000: $320. Observer: $1,200.
— On making the delegate cut: If you’re signing up for the AGM, you’ll automatically be added to the delegate pool. Registrations made before 11:59 p.m. on July 25 will carry equal weight. If more names are in than positions available, a delegate election may follow. After that deadline, any remaining spots will be handed out in chronological order of registration.
Brad’s opening pitch — A year out, the race to become Toronto’s next mayor is on.
About 50 organizers and fundraisers joined Brad Bradford for an informal get-together at the Royal York on Wednesday.
“I think anyone running for mayor should be spending their time listening to constituents and figuring out practical solutions to move the city forward,” the councillor, who was glad-handing at Ford Fest, told this reporter on Friday. “There’s a lot of time between now and the next election. I’m spending that time having conversations with Torontonians.”
Who’s who: It was a cross-partisan crowd. Dennis Matthews, an ex-advisor to Stephen Harper, and Gen Tomney, who co-led Bonnie Crombie’s provincial campaign, spoke. So did Hamish Marshall, who worked on Mark Saunders’ last run. Ex-senator Jerry Grafstein, ex-Trudeau advisor Dani Saad and Ben Mulroney also showed up.
“This was him saying loud and clear, ’I’m Olivia’s chief challenger,’” said a source in the room.
Meanwhile, internal polling by Abacus shared at the lunch found Bradford as best-positioned to take on Chow.
According to the memo:
— Vulnerable? Maybe. Weak? Not quite: “A majority (46%) say the city is on the wrong track, compared to 42% who believe it’s heading in the right direction.”
“When asked directly whether they would re-elect Olivia Chow, only 17% said definitely yes, while 53% would prefer someone new. That’s a clear warning sign.”
“Her support base is concentrated among the youngest and oldest voters, NDP supporters, and residents of Toronto, and she continues to be seen as a credible and likable leader. In a crowded race, that makes her a formidable opponent.”
“... Chow’s net favourable is lower than all others with Bailao and Bradford with the highest net favourables. So, while Chow is not coasting toward re-election, she’s not on the brink either. She’s beatable but only by the right challenger.”
— Tory talk: “Even among those who like him, only 36% would choose [Tory] in a hypothetical matchup against Chow, Bradford, Bailão, and others. A striking 64% of those with a positive impression of Tory say they would vote for someone else or are undecided. That disconnect points to a deeper truth: voters may remember Tory fondly, but they’re not necessarily eager to return to him.”
“While 28% say they’d be thrilled to see him run again, another 49% either believe it’s time for someone new (36%) or outright oppose his return (13%). That’s not disqualifying, but it’s far from a coronation.”
“Tory’s strength lies in who he was. He remains associated with stability, pragmatism, and leadership. But the city he governed up to 2023 is very much the city of 2026 and he may have a hard time running on change when he could be associated with many of the problems people perceive exist.”
— Indulge the scenario: “In a hypothetical six-way race, Chow leads with 27%, followed closely by Tory at 25%. Bradford is third. Bailão, Mendocino, and Anthony Furey all in the single digits, with a substantial 29% undecided. But this is expected when two of the candidates are universally known.”
— So: “Bradford likely has the best combination of upside and existing brand clarity to challenge Chow, particularly if he becomes the consensus choice for change. Bailão is not far behind but needs a stronger rationale beyond experience and a good showing in 2023. The fact that she almost won in 2023 and yet still lacks name recognition means that she didn’t leave a lasting impact on voters. Their vote for her was likely caused by Tory’s endorsement than a genuine appeal.”
There’s more than one poll. A survey by Pallas found Chow leading Tory with 30 per cent to 19 per cent. At 11 per cent, Bradford placed third, though behind the 21 per cent who said they were still undecided.
Can Doug Ford tip the scale? “I suppose it all depends if Ford figures that Chow’s re-election would pose a significant challenge for him implementing his municipal agenda, and whether his endorsement would tip the scales against Chow,” said Joseph Anglano. “There is not — as of right now — a candidate strong enough to beat Chow. So in that light, the Premier may decide to not spend his political capital in the mayoral election.”
It was all warm between Ford and Chow at Ford Fest, though the ex-mayor still caught a jab.
— The House is out for the summer.
— Heritage, Infrastructure and Cultural Policy is taking Bill 9 on tour for public input. It would establish a standardized municipal code of conduct and allow for the removal and four-year disqualification of councillors found guilty of serious misconduct.
The itinerary:
Want to have your say? Make a submission.
— Canada Day at the Park: The 10 to 5 p.m. event will feature live performances, midway rides, family-friendly games, roaming entertainers, self-guided tours of the building and more. Yes, there’ll be food. More.
The Board of Internal Economy had green-lit a one-time spend of $263,500 for this year’s party.
— Last week, we told you about two Liberals who insist they never signed on — but ended up on the New Leaf’s list anyway.
Add Carolyn Parrish to the list. Though her name didn’t appear on the website, Mississauga’s mayor was New Leaf’d — she received an email from organizers to verify if she had actually signed up. “We had a feeling that the submission was inauthentic, which is why we reached out,” they wrote to her.
Talk about dedication: We’re told that Parrish’s name was entered over six times.
“We contacted her before ever making it public,” an organizer said. “Troublemakers are going to try to find ways to disrupt legitimate movements that they’re uncomfortable with. We’re working to build a stronger Ontario Liberal Party, and we’ll do what we can to ensure the validity of our signatures.”
Meanwhile, Monday’s launch email didn’t sit well with some Liberals. It went to people who hadn’t signed up — or even shared an email — raising questions about whether the data came from someone in the party or, say, a past leadership campaign.
From the email: “February’s election hurt, and in the months since, we’ve been hard at work thinking about how best we can ensure the Liberals are trusted by Ontarians at the next election. The goal of our movement is simple — to channel the frustrations and hopes of Liberals who rightly expect more from our party, and then to work incredibly hard to make the Ontario Liberal Party as strong as it can be.”
Recall: The group is calling for a ground-up overhaul of the party — and new leadership to lead it. They blame Bonnie Crombie for her “inability to undertake the necessary steps to rebuild our party," and say that if she’s unable to lock in two-thirds support in September, she should quit.
— Premier Doug Ford says he’s sorry for a tongue-in-cheek moment that didn’t sit well with Indigenous leaders.
What Ford said: On Wednesday, a day before a sit-down with dozens of Anishinabek Nation chiefs, Ford said they “can’t just keep coming hat in hand all the time to the government.” “You’ve got to be able to take care of yourselves. And when you literally have gold mines, nickel mines, every type of critical mineral that the world wants, and you’re saying, ’No, no, I don’t want to touch that, by the way, give me money’ — not going to happen.”
Yesterday, he took it back. “I speak from the heart and sometimes my words don’t come out properly, which I think you’ve all seen over a number of years. I sincerely apologize if that has offended anyone. I’ve never been too proud to sit back and apologize for something that I’ve said or if I have offended someone,” he said.
— Meanwhile, he took to Boston on Monday “to try to forge alliances against Donald Trump’s tariffs.”
— Bill 5 v. Bill C-5: One Liberal MP isn’t too happy with Bill C-5, which would let the Carney government fast-track projects deemed to be in the “national interest.”
Nate Erskine-Smith drew a parallel to the Ford government’s Bill 5. “Similar to Ford’s Bill 5, [Bill C-5] gives the government unchecked power to exclude or alter any law that would otherwise apply to such a project.”
Some say that candour is exactly what got him booted from the cabinet.
— CUPE Ontario is sponsoring a rally on Sunday to “demand an end to war between Iran and Israel.” Labour Minister David Piccini called it “shameful.” “Members deserve better for their dues than sponsoring this,” he wrote on X.
Hahn, in response: “What the Minister of Labour doesn’t know — or perhaps doesn’t care to repeat — is that we have a policy, passed by our members, against the war on Iran,” he said. “We also have policy that clearly lays out our opposition to the totalitarian regime in Iran. The Minister wouldn’t know that we have worked collaboratively in a project with trade unions because union organizing was declared illegal in Iran.”
Hahn accused Piccini of seeking to dodge heat over the drawn-out WSIB strike. The two have a history.
— Tracking the measles: Public Health Ontario is reporting 96 new cases — bringing the total to 2,179 since the fall.
— Laryssa Waler says one mystery group’s push for the Ford government to rein in spending and pivot to the right is “less about good governance and more about ideological gatekeeping.”
— Ontario once led on ethics. These days, it’s struggling to follow, the integrity commissioner found.
— The Ford and Carney government have quietly landed a multi-million dollar housing deal.
— Bill 17 is expected to hit Toronto’s bottom line, per a new city report.
— John Michael McGrath digs into the proposed shake‑up to the blue-bin program.
— The race to become Toronto’s next mayor is on, writes Brian Lilley.
— Mayor of Mayhem? Perhaps. But that’s not who Rob Ford wanted to be, says ex-councillor John Filion.
— Ford isn’t too happy about it.
— Remember his mid-campaign jaunt to Washington? Here’s the price tag.
— How cash-strapped Toronto will fund the six allocated FIFA World Cup is still anyone’s guess.
— Iris Gorfinkel says ER wait times are “going to get worse.”
Thank you for reading POLICORNER. Are you planning to challenge Chow? Parrish in Mississauga? Brown in Brampton? Horwath in Hamilton? My inbox is open — and I’ll keep you anonymous. We’re back in your inbox next week.
Red, blue and in-between packed in for Brad — and new polling shows he has “the most promising path” to take on Olivia Chow. Meet the mayor who got New Leaf’d. Mr. Ford goes to Boston. But to begin, a private call to clear the air — and kill a campaign-that-isn’t.
SCOOP — Karina Gould called Bonnie Crombie to say she’s not coming for her job.
The call, according to several sources with direct knowledge of it, took place earlier this month. Gould — who placed a distant third to Mark Carney in March’s federal leadership contest — told Crombie she had no interest in her job and had nothing to do with an apparent “run, please” campaign.
On June 7, a Google Form labeled “Karina Gould for Leader of the Ontario Liberal Party” started to circulate, especially among those in the party’s youth wing. It’s unclear who was behind it, though some suspect that ex-Nate Erskine-Smith supporters were behind it. The form has since been quietly pulled.
When asked, the ex-cabinet minister said she’s not unappreciative — but denied any involvement. “I am not associated with this and I did not know about it until you sent it to me,” she said in a text message. “I was just re-elected in Burlington to the House of Commons and I am 100 per cent focused on representing my community.”
Gould has been one of those name-checked as a potential replacement to Crombie if September doesn’t go her way. Though she’s now chairing FINA, some see her third-place federal run as a dry run for the provincial leadership. Being dumped from cabinet, like Erskine-Smith, could give her one more reason to walk.
First thing’s first: More information about the review vote — and how much it’ll cost to attend — were shared last night.
— The early rate: Regular: $375. Pay monthly: $225, plus $20-a-month donation. Youth: $100. Senior: $240. Low income, for those earning under $30,000: $240. Observer: $1,000.
— The full fare: Regular: $500. Monthly payment: $300, plus $20-a-month donation. Youth: $133. Senior: $320. Low income, for those earning under $30,000: $320. Observer: $1,200.
— On making the delegate cut: If you’re signing up for the AGM, you’ll automatically be added to the delegate pool. Registrations made before 11:59 p.m. on July 25 will carry equal weight. If more names are in than positions available, a delegate election may follow. After that deadline, any remaining spots will be handed out in chronological order of registration.
Brad’s opening pitch — A year out, the race to become Toronto’s next mayor is on.
About 50 organizers and fundraisers joined Brad Bradford for an informal get-together at the Royal York on Wednesday.
“I think anyone running for mayor should be spending their time listening to constituents and figuring out practical solutions to move the city forward,” the councillor, who was glad-handing at Ford Fest, told this reporter on Friday. “There’s a lot of time between now and the next election. I’m spending that time having conversations with Torontonians.”
Who’s who: It was a cross-partisan crowd. Dennis Matthews, an ex-advisor to Stephen Harper, and Gen Tomney, who co-led Bonnie Crombie’s provincial campaign, spoke. So did Hamish Marshall, who worked on Mark Saunders’ last run. Ex-senator Jerry Grafstein, ex-Trudeau advisor Dani Saad and Ben Mulroney also showed up.
“This was him saying loud and clear, ’I’m Olivia’s chief challenger,’” said a source in the room.
Meanwhile, internal polling by Abacus shared at the lunch found Bradford as best-positioned to take on Chow.
According to the memo:
— Vulnerable? Maybe. Weak? Not quite: “A majority (46%) say the city is on the wrong track, compared to 42% who believe it’s heading in the right direction.”
“When asked directly whether they would re-elect Olivia Chow, only 17% said definitely yes, while 53% would prefer someone new. That’s a clear warning sign.”
“Her support base is concentrated among the youngest and oldest voters, NDP supporters, and residents of Toronto, and she continues to be seen as a credible and likable leader. In a crowded race, that makes her a formidable opponent.”
“... Chow’s net favourable is lower than all others with Bailao and Bradford with the highest net favourables. So, while Chow is not coasting toward re-election, she’s not on the brink either. She’s beatable but only by the right challenger.”
— Tory talk: “Even among those who like him, only 36% would choose [Tory] in a hypothetical matchup against Chow, Bradford, Bailão, and others. A striking 64% of those with a positive impression of Tory say they would vote for someone else or are undecided. That disconnect points to a deeper truth: voters may remember Tory fondly, but they’re not necessarily eager to return to him.”
“While 28% say they’d be thrilled to see him run again, another 49% either believe it’s time for someone new (36%) or outright oppose his return (13%). That’s not disqualifying, but it’s far from a coronation.”
“Tory’s strength lies in who he was. He remains associated with stability, pragmatism, and leadership. But the city he governed up to 2023 is very much the city of 2026 and he may have a hard time running on change when he could be associated with many of the problems people perceive exist.”
— Indulge the scenario: “In a hypothetical six-way race, Chow leads with 27%, followed closely by Tory at 25%. Bradford is third. Bailão, Mendocino, and Anthony Furey all in the single digits, with a substantial 29% undecided. But this is expected when two of the candidates are universally known.”
— So: “Bradford likely has the best combination of upside and existing brand clarity to challenge Chow, particularly if he becomes the consensus choice for change. Bailão is not far behind but needs a stronger rationale beyond experience and a good showing in 2023. The fact that she almost won in 2023 and yet still lacks name recognition means that she didn’t leave a lasting impact on voters. Their vote for her was likely caused by Tory’s endorsement than a genuine appeal.”
There’s more than one poll. A survey by Pallas found Chow leading Tory with 30 per cent to 19 per cent. At 11 per cent, Bradford placed third, though behind the 21 per cent who said they were still undecided.
Can Doug Ford tip the scale? “I suppose it all depends if Ford figures that Chow’s re-election would pose a significant challenge for him implementing his municipal agenda, and whether his endorsement would tip the scales against Chow,” said Joseph Anglano. “There is not — as of right now — a candidate strong enough to beat Chow. So in that light, the Premier may decide to not spend his political capital in the mayoral election.”
It was all warm between Ford and Chow at Ford Fest, though the ex-mayor still caught a jab.
— The House is out for the summer.
— Heritage, Infrastructure and Cultural Policy is taking Bill 9 on tour for public input. It would establish a standardized municipal code of conduct and allow for the removal and four-year disqualification of councillors found guilty of serious misconduct.
The itinerary:
Want to have your say? Make a submission.
— Canada Day at the Park: The 10 to 5 p.m. event will feature live performances, midway rides, family-friendly games, roaming entertainers, self-guided tours of the building and more. Yes, there’ll be food. More.
The Board of Internal Economy had green-lit a one-time spend of $263,500 for this year’s party.
— Last week, we told you about two Liberals who insist they never signed on — but ended up on the New Leaf’s list anyway.
Add Carolyn Parrish to the list. Though her name didn’t appear on the website, Mississauga’s mayor was New Leaf’d — she received an email from organizers to verify if she had actually signed up. “We had a feeling that the submission was inauthentic, which is why we reached out,” they wrote to her.
Talk about dedication: We’re told that Parrish’s name was entered over six times.
“We contacted her before ever making it public,” an organizer said. “Troublemakers are going to try to find ways to disrupt legitimate movements that they’re uncomfortable with. We’re working to build a stronger Ontario Liberal Party, and we’ll do what we can to ensure the validity of our signatures.”
Meanwhile, Monday’s launch email didn’t sit well with some Liberals. It went to people who hadn’t signed up — or even shared an email — raising questions about whether the data came from someone in the party or, say, a past leadership campaign.
From the email: “February’s election hurt, and in the months since, we’ve been hard at work thinking about how best we can ensure the Liberals are trusted by Ontarians at the next election. The goal of our movement is simple — to channel the frustrations and hopes of Liberals who rightly expect more from our party, and then to work incredibly hard to make the Ontario Liberal Party as strong as it can be.”
Recall: The group is calling for a ground-up overhaul of the party — and new leadership to lead it. They blame Bonnie Crombie for her “inability to undertake the necessary steps to rebuild our party," and say that if she’s unable to lock in two-thirds support in September, she should quit.
— Premier Doug Ford says he’s sorry for a tongue-in-cheek moment that didn’t sit well with Indigenous leaders.
What Ford said: On Wednesday, a day before a sit-down with dozens of Anishinabek Nation chiefs, Ford said they “can’t just keep coming hat in hand all the time to the government.” “You’ve got to be able to take care of yourselves. And when you literally have gold mines, nickel mines, every type of critical mineral that the world wants, and you’re saying, ’No, no, I don’t want to touch that, by the way, give me money’ — not going to happen.”
Yesterday, he took it back. “I speak from the heart and sometimes my words don’t come out properly, which I think you’ve all seen over a number of years. I sincerely apologize if that has offended anyone. I’ve never been too proud to sit back and apologize for something that I’ve said or if I have offended someone,” he said.
— Meanwhile, he took to Boston on Monday “to try to forge alliances against Donald Trump’s tariffs.”
— Bill 5 v. Bill C-5: One Liberal MP isn’t too happy with Bill C-5, which would let the Carney government fast-track projects deemed to be in the “national interest.”
Nate Erskine-Smith drew a parallel to the Ford government’s Bill 5. “Similar to Ford’s Bill 5, [Bill C-5] gives the government unchecked power to exclude or alter any law that would otherwise apply to such a project.”
Some say that candour is exactly what got him booted from the cabinet.
— CUPE Ontario is sponsoring a rally on Sunday to “demand an end to war between Iran and Israel.” Labour Minister David Piccini called it “shameful.” “Members deserve better for their dues than sponsoring this,” he wrote on X.
Hahn, in response: “What the Minister of Labour doesn’t know — or perhaps doesn’t care to repeat — is that we have a policy, passed by our members, against the war on Iran,” he said. “We also have policy that clearly lays out our opposition to the totalitarian regime in Iran. The Minister wouldn’t know that we have worked collaboratively in a project with trade unions because union organizing was declared illegal in Iran.”
Hahn accused Piccini of seeking to dodge heat over the drawn-out WSIB strike. The two have a history.
— Tracking the measles: Public Health Ontario is reporting 96 new cases — bringing the total to 2,179 since the fall.
— Laryssa Waler says one mystery group’s push for the Ford government to rein in spending and pivot to the right is “less about good governance and more about ideological gatekeeping.”
— Ontario once led on ethics. These days, it’s struggling to follow, the integrity commissioner found.
— The Ford and Carney government have quietly landed a multi-million dollar housing deal.
— Bill 17 is expected to hit Toronto’s bottom line, per a new city report.
— John Michael McGrath digs into the proposed shake‑up to the blue-bin program.
— The race to become Toronto’s next mayor is on, writes Brian Lilley.
— Mayor of Mayhem? Perhaps. But that’s not who Rob Ford wanted to be, says ex-councillor John Filion.
— Ford isn’t too happy about it.
— Remember his mid-campaign jaunt to Washington? Here’s the price tag.
— How cash-strapped Toronto will fund the six allocated FIFA World Cup is still anyone’s guess.
— Iris Gorfinkel says ER wait times are “going to get worse.”
Thank you for reading POLICORNER. Are you planning to challenge Chow? Parrish in Mississauga? Brown in Brampton? Horwath in Hamilton? My inbox is open — and I’ll keep you anonymous. We’re back in your inbox next week.
Red, blue and in-between packed in for Brad — and new polling shows he has “the most promising path” to take on Olivia Chow. Meet the mayor who got New Leaf’d. Mr. Ford goes to Boston. But to begin, a private call to clear the air — and kill a campaign-that-isn’t.
SCOOP — Karina Gould called Bonnie Crombie to say she’s not coming for her job.
The call, according to several sources with direct knowledge of it, took place earlier this month. Gould — who placed a distant third to Mark Carney in March’s federal leadership contest — told Crombie she had no interest in her job and had nothing to do with an apparent “run, please” campaign.
On June 7, a Google Form labeled “Karina Gould for Leader of the Ontario Liberal Party” started to circulate, especially among those in the party’s youth wing. It’s unclear who was behind it, though some suspect that ex-Nate Erskine-Smith supporters were behind it. The form has since been quietly pulled.
When asked, the ex-cabinet minister said she’s not unappreciative — but denied any involvement. “I am not associated with this and I did not know about it until you sent it to me,” she said in a text message. “I was just re-elected in Burlington to the House of Commons and I am 100 per cent focused on representing my community.”
Gould has been one of those name-checked as a potential replacement to Crombie if September doesn’t go her way. Though she’s now chairing FINA, some see her third-place federal run as a dry run for the provincial leadership. Being dumped from cabinet, like Erskine-Smith, could give her one more reason to walk.
First thing’s first: More information about the review vote — and how much it’ll cost to attend — were shared last night.
— The early rate: Regular: $375. Pay monthly: $225, plus $20-a-month donation. Youth: $100. Senior: $240. Low income, for those earning under $30,000: $240. Observer: $1,000.
— The full fare: Regular: $500. Monthly payment: $300, plus $20-a-month donation. Youth: $133. Senior: $320. Low income, for those earning under $30,000: $320. Observer: $1,200.
— On making the delegate cut: If you’re signing up for the AGM, you’ll automatically be added to the delegate pool. Registrations made before 11:59 p.m. on July 25 will carry equal weight. If more names are in than positions available, a delegate election may follow. After that deadline, any remaining spots will be handed out in chronological order of registration.
Brad’s opening pitch — A year out, the race to become Toronto’s next mayor is on.
About 50 organizers and fundraisers joined Brad Bradford for an informal get-together at the Royal York on Wednesday.
“I think anyone running for mayor should be spending their time listening to constituents and figuring out practical solutions to move the city forward,” the councillor, who was glad-handing at Ford Fest, told this reporter on Friday. “There’s a lot of time between now and the next election. I’m spending that time having conversations with Torontonians.”
Who’s who: It was a cross-partisan crowd. Dennis Matthews, an ex-advisor to Stephen Harper, and Gen Tomney, who co-led Bonnie Crombie’s provincial campaign, spoke. So did Hamish Marshall, who worked on Mark Saunders’ last run. Ex-senator Jerry Grafstein, ex-Trudeau advisor Dani Saad and Ben Mulroney also showed up.
“This was him saying loud and clear, ’I’m Olivia’s chief challenger,’” said a source in the room.
Meanwhile, internal polling by Abacus shared at the lunch found Bradford as best-positioned to take on Chow.
According to the memo:
— Vulnerable? Maybe. Weak? Not quite: “A majority (46%) say the city is on the wrong track, compared to 42% who believe it’s heading in the right direction.”
“When asked directly whether they would re-elect Olivia Chow, only 17% said definitely yes, while 53% would prefer someone new. That’s a clear warning sign.”
“Her support base is concentrated among the youngest and oldest voters, NDP supporters, and residents of Toronto, and she continues to be seen as a credible and likable leader. In a crowded race, that makes her a formidable opponent.”
“... Chow’s net favourable is lower than all others with Bailao and Bradford with the highest net favourables. So, while Chow is not coasting toward re-election, she’s not on the brink either. She’s beatable but only by the right challenger.”
— Tory talk: “Even among those who like him, only 36% would choose [Tory] in a hypothetical matchup against Chow, Bradford, Bailão, and others. A striking 64% of those with a positive impression of Tory say they would vote for someone else or are undecided. That disconnect points to a deeper truth: voters may remember Tory fondly, but they’re not necessarily eager to return to him.”
“While 28% say they’d be thrilled to see him run again, another 49% either believe it’s time for someone new (36%) or outright oppose his return (13%). That’s not disqualifying, but it’s far from a coronation.”
“Tory’s strength lies in who he was. He remains associated with stability, pragmatism, and leadership. But the city he governed up to 2023 is very much the city of 2026 and he may have a hard time running on change when he could be associated with many of the problems people perceive exist.”
— Indulge the scenario: “In a hypothetical six-way race, Chow leads with 27%, followed closely by Tory at 25%. Bradford is third. Bailão, Mendocino, and Anthony Furey all in the single digits, with a substantial 29% undecided. But this is expected when two of the candidates are universally known.”
— So: “Bradford likely has the best combination of upside and existing brand clarity to challenge Chow, particularly if he becomes the consensus choice for change. Bailão is not far behind but needs a stronger rationale beyond experience and a good showing in 2023. The fact that she almost won in 2023 and yet still lacks name recognition means that she didn’t leave a lasting impact on voters. Their vote for her was likely caused by Tory’s endorsement than a genuine appeal.”
There’s more than one poll. A survey by Pallas found Chow leading Tory with 30 per cent to 19 per cent. At 11 per cent, Bradford placed third, though behind the 21 per cent who said they were still undecided.
Can Doug Ford tip the scale? “I suppose it all depends if Ford figures that Chow’s re-election would pose a significant challenge for him implementing his municipal agenda, and whether his endorsement would tip the scales against Chow,” said Joseph Anglano. “There is not — as of right now — a candidate strong enough to beat Chow. So in that light, the Premier may decide to not spend his political capital in the mayoral election.”
It was all warm between Ford and Chow at Ford Fest, though the ex-mayor still caught a jab.
— The House is out for the summer.
— Heritage, Infrastructure and Cultural Policy is taking Bill 9 on tour for public input. It would establish a standardized municipal code of conduct and allow for the removal and four-year disqualification of councillors found guilty of serious misconduct.
The itinerary:
Want to have your say? Make a submission.
— Canada Day at the Park: The 10 to 5 p.m. event will feature live performances, midway rides, family-friendly games, roaming entertainers, self-guided tours of the building and more. Yes, there’ll be food. More.
The Board of Internal Economy had green-lit a one-time spend of $263,500 for this year’s party.
— Last week, we told you about two Liberals who insist they never signed on — but ended up on the New Leaf’s list anyway.
Add Carolyn Parrish to the list. Though her name didn’t appear on the website, Mississauga’s mayor was New Leaf’d — she received an email from organizers to verify if she had actually signed up. “We had a feeling that the submission was inauthentic, which is why we reached out,” they wrote to her.
Talk about dedication: We’re told that Parrish’s name was entered over six times.
“We contacted her before ever making it public,” an organizer said. “Troublemakers are going to try to find ways to disrupt legitimate movements that they’re uncomfortable with. We’re working to build a stronger Ontario Liberal Party, and we’ll do what we can to ensure the validity of our signatures.”
Meanwhile, Monday’s launch email didn’t sit well with some Liberals. It went to people who hadn’t signed up — or even shared an email — raising questions about whether the data came from someone in the party or, say, a past leadership campaign.
From the email: “February’s election hurt, and in the months since, we’ve been hard at work thinking about how best we can ensure the Liberals are trusted by Ontarians at the next election. The goal of our movement is simple — to channel the frustrations and hopes of Liberals who rightly expect more from our party, and then to work incredibly hard to make the Ontario Liberal Party as strong as it can be.”
Recall: The group is calling for a ground-up overhaul of the party — and new leadership to lead it. They blame Bonnie Crombie for her “inability to undertake the necessary steps to rebuild our party," and say that if she’s unable to lock in two-thirds support in September, she should quit.
— Premier Doug Ford says he’s sorry for a tongue-in-cheek moment that didn’t sit well with Indigenous leaders.
What Ford said: On Wednesday, a day before a sit-down with dozens of Anishinabek Nation chiefs, Ford said they “can’t just keep coming hat in hand all the time to the government.” “You’ve got to be able to take care of yourselves. And when you literally have gold mines, nickel mines, every type of critical mineral that the world wants, and you’re saying, ’No, no, I don’t want to touch that, by the way, give me money’ — not going to happen.”
Yesterday, he took it back. “I speak from the heart and sometimes my words don’t come out properly, which I think you’ve all seen over a number of years. I sincerely apologize if that has offended anyone. I’ve never been too proud to sit back and apologize for something that I’ve said or if I have offended someone,” he said.
— Meanwhile, he took to Boston on Monday “to try to forge alliances against Donald Trump’s tariffs.”
— Bill 5 v. Bill C-5: One Liberal MP isn’t too happy with Bill C-5, which would let the Carney government fast-track projects deemed to be in the “national interest.”
Nate Erskine-Smith drew a parallel to the Ford government’s Bill 5. “Similar to Ford’s Bill 5, [Bill C-5] gives the government unchecked power to exclude or alter any law that would otherwise apply to such a project.”
Some say that candour is exactly what got him booted from the cabinet.
— CUPE Ontario is sponsoring a rally on Sunday to “demand an end to war between Iran and Israel.” Labour Minister David Piccini called it “shameful.” “Members deserve better for their dues than sponsoring this,” he wrote on X.
Hahn, in response: “What the Minister of Labour doesn’t know — or perhaps doesn’t care to repeat — is that we have a policy, passed by our members, against the war on Iran,” he said. “We also have policy that clearly lays out our opposition to the totalitarian regime in Iran. The Minister wouldn’t know that we have worked collaboratively in a project with trade unions because union organizing was declared illegal in Iran.”
Hahn accused Piccini of seeking to dodge heat over the drawn-out WSIB strike. The two have a history.
— Tracking the measles: Public Health Ontario is reporting 96 new cases — bringing the total to 2,179 since the fall.
— Laryssa Waler says one mystery group’s push for the Ford government to rein in spending and pivot to the right is “less about good governance and more about ideological gatekeeping.”
— Ontario once led on ethics. These days, it’s struggling to follow, the integrity commissioner found.
— The Ford and Carney government have quietly landed a multi-million dollar housing deal.
— Bill 17 is expected to hit Toronto’s bottom line, per a new city report.
— John Michael McGrath digs into the proposed shake‑up to the blue-bin program.
— The race to become Toronto’s next mayor is on, writes Brian Lilley.
— Mayor of Mayhem? Perhaps. But that’s not who Rob Ford wanted to be, says ex-councillor John Filion.
— Ford isn’t too happy about it.
— Remember his mid-campaign jaunt to Washington? Here’s the price tag.
— How cash-strapped Toronto will fund the six allocated FIFA World Cup is still anyone’s guess.
— Iris Gorfinkel says ER wait times are “going to get worse.”
Thank you for reading POLICORNER. Are you planning to challenge Chow? Parrish in Mississauga? Brown in Brampton? Horwath in Hamilton? My inbox is open — and I’ll keep you anonymous. We’re back in your inbox next week.
Red, blue and in-between packed in for Brad — and new polling shows he has “the most promising path” to take on Olivia Chow. Meet the mayor who got New Leaf’d. Mr. Ford goes to Boston. But to begin, a private call to clear the air — and kill a campaign-that-isn’t.
SCOOP — Karina Gould called Bonnie Crombie to say she’s not coming for her job.
The call, according to several sources with direct knowledge of it, took place earlier this month. Gould — who placed a distant third to Mark Carney in March’s federal leadership contest — told Crombie she had no interest in her job and had nothing to do with an apparent “run, please” campaign.
On June 7, a Google Form labeled “Karina Gould for Leader of the Ontario Liberal Party” started to circulate, especially among those in the party’s youth wing. It’s unclear who was behind it, though some suspect that ex-Nate Erskine-Smith supporters were behind it. The form has since been quietly pulled.
When asked, the ex-cabinet minister said she’s not unappreciative — but denied any involvement. “I am not associated with this and I did not know about it until you sent it to me,” she said in a text message. “I was just re-elected in Burlington to the House of Commons and I am 100 per cent focused on representing my community.”
Gould has been one of those name-checked as a potential replacement to Crombie if September doesn’t go her way. Though she’s now chairing FINA, some see her third-place federal run as a dry run for the provincial leadership. Being dumped from cabinet, like Erskine-Smith, could give her one more reason to walk.
First thing’s first: More information about the review vote — and how much it’ll cost to attend — were shared last night.
— The early rate: Regular: $375. Pay monthly: $225, plus $20-a-month donation. Youth: $100. Senior: $240. Low income, for those earning under $30,000: $240. Observer: $1,000.
— The full fare: Regular: $500. Monthly payment: $300, plus $20-a-month donation. Youth: $133. Senior: $320. Low income, for those earning under $30,000: $320. Observer: $1,200.
— On making the delegate cut: If you’re signing up for the AGM, you’ll automatically be added to the delegate pool. Registrations made before 11:59 p.m. on July 25 will carry equal weight. If more names are in than positions available, a delegate election may follow. After that deadline, any remaining spots will be handed out in chronological order of registration.
Brad’s opening pitch — A year out, the race to become Toronto’s next mayor is on.
About 50 organizers and fundraisers joined Brad Bradford for an informal get-together at the Royal York on Wednesday.
“I think anyone running for mayor should be spending their time listening to constituents and figuring out practical solutions to move the city forward,” the councillor, who was glad-handing at Ford Fest, told this reporter on Friday. “There’s a lot of time between now and the next election. I’m spending that time having conversations with Torontonians.”
Who’s who: It was a cross-partisan crowd. Dennis Matthews, an ex-advisor to Stephen Harper, and Gen Tomney, who co-led Bonnie Crombie’s provincial campaign, spoke. So did Hamish Marshall, who worked on Mark Saunders’ last run. Ex-senator Jerry Grafstein, ex-Trudeau advisor Dani Saad and Ben Mulroney also showed up.
“This was him saying loud and clear, ’I’m Olivia’s chief challenger,’” said a source in the room.
Meanwhile, internal polling by Abacus shared at the lunch found Bradford as best-positioned to take on Chow.
According to the memo:
— Vulnerable? Maybe. Weak? Not quite: “A majority (46%) say the city is on the wrong track, compared to 42% who believe it’s heading in the right direction.”
“When asked directly whether they would re-elect Olivia Chow, only 17% said definitely yes, while 53% would prefer someone new. That’s a clear warning sign.”
“Her support base is concentrated among the youngest and oldest voters, NDP supporters, and residents of Toronto, and she continues to be seen as a credible and likable leader. In a crowded race, that makes her a formidable opponent.”
“... Chow’s net favourable is lower than all others with Bailao and Bradford with the highest net favourables. So, while Chow is not coasting toward re-election, she’s not on the brink either. She’s beatable but only by the right challenger.”
— Tory talk: “Even among those who like him, only 36% would choose [Tory] in a hypothetical matchup against Chow, Bradford, Bailão, and others. A striking 64% of those with a positive impression of Tory say they would vote for someone else or are undecided. That disconnect points to a deeper truth: voters may remember Tory fondly, but they’re not necessarily eager to return to him.”
“While 28% say they’d be thrilled to see him run again, another 49% either believe it’s time for someone new (36%) or outright oppose his return (13%). That’s not disqualifying, but it’s far from a coronation.”
“Tory’s strength lies in who he was. He remains associated with stability, pragmatism, and leadership. But the city he governed up to 2023 is very much the city of 2026 and he may have a hard time running on change when he could be associated with many of the problems people perceive exist.”
— Indulge the scenario: “In a hypothetical six-way race, Chow leads with 27%, followed closely by Tory at 25%. Bradford is third. Bailão, Mendocino, and Anthony Furey all in the single digits, with a substantial 29% undecided. But this is expected when two of the candidates are universally known.”
— So: “Bradford likely has the best combination of upside and existing brand clarity to challenge Chow, particularly if he becomes the consensus choice for change. Bailão is not far behind but needs a stronger rationale beyond experience and a good showing in 2023. The fact that she almost won in 2023 and yet still lacks name recognition means that she didn’t leave a lasting impact on voters. Their vote for her was likely caused by Tory’s endorsement than a genuine appeal.”
There’s more than one poll. A survey by Pallas found Chow leading Tory with 30 per cent to 19 per cent. At 11 per cent, Bradford placed third, though behind the 21 per cent who said they were still undecided.
Can Doug Ford tip the scale? “I suppose it all depends if Ford figures that Chow’s re-election would pose a significant challenge for him implementing his municipal agenda, and whether his endorsement would tip the scales against Chow,” said Joseph Anglano. “There is not — as of right now — a candidate strong enough to beat Chow. So in that light, the Premier may decide to not spend his political capital in the mayoral election.”
It was all warm between Ford and Chow at Ford Fest, though the ex-mayor still caught a jab.
— The House is out for the summer.
— Heritage, Infrastructure and Cultural Policy is taking Bill 9 on tour for public input. It would establish a standardized municipal code of conduct and allow for the removal and four-year disqualification of councillors found guilty of serious misconduct.
The itinerary:
Want to have your say? Make a submission.
— Canada Day at the Park: The 10 to 5 p.m. event will feature live performances, midway rides, family-friendly games, roaming entertainers, self-guided tours of the building and more. Yes, there’ll be food. More.
The Board of Internal Economy had green-lit a one-time spend of $263,500 for this year’s party.
— Last week, we told you about two Liberals who insist they never signed on — but ended up on the New Leaf’s list anyway.
Add Carolyn Parrish to the list. Though her name didn’t appear on the website, Mississauga’s mayor was New Leaf’d — she received an email from organizers to verify if she had actually signed up. “We had a feeling that the submission was inauthentic, which is why we reached out,” they wrote to her.
Talk about dedication: We’re told that Parrish’s name was entered over six times.
“We contacted her before ever making it public,” an organizer said. “Troublemakers are going to try to find ways to disrupt legitimate movements that they’re uncomfortable with. We’re working to build a stronger Ontario Liberal Party, and we’ll do what we can to ensure the validity of our signatures.”
Meanwhile, Monday’s launch email didn’t sit well with some Liberals. It went to people who hadn’t signed up — or even shared an email — raising questions about whether the data came from someone in the party or, say, a past leadership campaign.
From the email: “February’s election hurt, and in the months since, we’ve been hard at work thinking about how best we can ensure the Liberals are trusted by Ontarians at the next election. The goal of our movement is simple — to channel the frustrations and hopes of Liberals who rightly expect more from our party, and then to work incredibly hard to make the Ontario Liberal Party as strong as it can be.”
Recall: The group is calling for a ground-up overhaul of the party — and new leadership to lead it. They blame Bonnie Crombie for her “inability to undertake the necessary steps to rebuild our party," and say that if she’s unable to lock in two-thirds support in September, she should quit.
— Premier Doug Ford says he’s sorry for a tongue-in-cheek moment that didn’t sit well with Indigenous leaders.
What Ford said: On Wednesday, a day before a sit-down with dozens of Anishinabek Nation chiefs, Ford said they “can’t just keep coming hat in hand all the time to the government.” “You’ve got to be able to take care of yourselves. And when you literally have gold mines, nickel mines, every type of critical mineral that the world wants, and you’re saying, ’No, no, I don’t want to touch that, by the way, give me money’ — not going to happen.”
Yesterday, he took it back. “I speak from the heart and sometimes my words don’t come out properly, which I think you’ve all seen over a number of years. I sincerely apologize if that has offended anyone. I’ve never been too proud to sit back and apologize for something that I’ve said or if I have offended someone,” he said.
— Meanwhile, he took to Boston on Monday “to try to forge alliances against Donald Trump’s tariffs.”
— Bill 5 v. Bill C-5: One Liberal MP isn’t too happy with Bill C-5, which would let the Carney government fast-track projects deemed to be in the “national interest.”
Nate Erskine-Smith drew a parallel to the Ford government’s Bill 5. “Similar to Ford’s Bill 5, [Bill C-5] gives the government unchecked power to exclude or alter any law that would otherwise apply to such a project.”
Some say that candour is exactly what got him booted from the cabinet.
— CUPE Ontario is sponsoring a rally on Sunday to “demand an end to war between Iran and Israel.” Labour Minister David Piccini called it “shameful.” “Members deserve better for their dues than sponsoring this,” he wrote on X.
Hahn, in response: “What the Minister of Labour doesn’t know — or perhaps doesn’t care to repeat — is that we have a policy, passed by our members, against the war on Iran,” he said. “We also have policy that clearly lays out our opposition to the totalitarian regime in Iran. The Minister wouldn’t know that we have worked collaboratively in a project with trade unions because union organizing was declared illegal in Iran.”
Hahn accused Piccini of seeking to dodge heat over the drawn-out WSIB strike. The two have a history.
— Tracking the measles: Public Health Ontario is reporting 96 new cases — bringing the total to 2,179 since the fall.
— Laryssa Waler says one mystery group’s push for the Ford government to rein in spending and pivot to the right is “less about good governance and more about ideological gatekeeping.”
— Ontario once led on ethics. These days, it’s struggling to follow, the integrity commissioner found.
— The Ford and Carney government have quietly landed a multi-million dollar housing deal.
— Bill 17 is expected to hit Toronto’s bottom line, per a new city report.
— John Michael McGrath digs into the proposed shake‑up to the blue-bin program.
— The race to become Toronto’s next mayor is on, writes Brian Lilley.
— Mayor of Mayhem? Perhaps. But that’s not who Rob Ford wanted to be, says ex-councillor John Filion.
— Ford isn’t too happy about it.
— Remember his mid-campaign jaunt to Washington? Here’s the price tag.
— How cash-strapped Toronto will fund the six allocated FIFA World Cup is still anyone’s guess.
— Iris Gorfinkel says ER wait times are “going to get worse.”
Thank you for reading POLICORNER. Are you planning to challenge Chow? Parrish in Mississauga? Brown in Brampton? Horwath in Hamilton? My inbox is open — and I’ll keep you anonymous. We’re back in your inbox next week.
Red, blue and in-between packed in for Brad — and new polling shows he has “the most promising path” to take on Olivia Chow. Meet the mayor who got New Leaf’d. Mr. Ford goes to Boston. But to begin, a private call to clear the air — and kill a campaign-that-isn’t.
SCOOP — Karina Gould called Bonnie Crombie to say she’s not coming for her job.
The call, according to several sources with direct knowledge of it, took place earlier this month. Gould — who placed a distant third to Mark Carney in March’s federal leadership contest — told Crombie she had no interest in her job and had nothing to do with an apparent “run, please” campaign.
On June 7, a Google Form labeled “Karina Gould for Leader of the Ontario Liberal Party” started to circulate, especially among those in the party’s youth wing. It’s unclear who was behind it, though some suspect that ex-Nate Erskine-Smith supporters were behind it. The form has since been quietly pulled.
When asked, the ex-cabinet minister said she’s not unappreciative — but denied any involvement. “I am not associated with this and I did not know about it until you sent it to me,” she said in a text message. “I was just re-elected in Burlington to the House of Commons and I am 100 per cent focused on representing my community.”
Gould has been one of those name-checked as a potential replacement to Crombie if September doesn’t go her way. Though she’s now chairing FINA, some see her third-place federal run as a dry run for the provincial leadership. Being dumped from cabinet, like Erskine-Smith, could give her one more reason to walk.
First thing’s first: More information about the review vote — and how much it’ll cost to attend — were shared last night.
— The early rate: Regular: $375. Pay monthly: $225, plus $20-a-month donation. Youth: $100. Senior: $240. Low income, for those earning under $30,000: $240. Observer: $1,000.
— The full fare: Regular: $500. Monthly payment: $300, plus $20-a-month donation. Youth: $133. Senior: $320. Low income, for those earning under $30,000: $320. Observer: $1,200.
— On making the delegate cut: If you’re signing up for the AGM, you’ll automatically be added to the delegate pool. Registrations made before 11:59 p.m. on July 25 will carry equal weight. If more names are in than positions available, a delegate election may follow. After that deadline, any remaining spots will be handed out in chronological order of registration.
Brad’s opening pitch — A year out, the race to become Toronto’s next mayor is on.
About 50 organizers and fundraisers joined Brad Bradford for an informal get-together at the Royal York on Wednesday.
“I think anyone running for mayor should be spending their time listening to constituents and figuring out practical solutions to move the city forward,” the councillor, who was glad-handing at Ford Fest, told this reporter on Friday. “There’s a lot of time between now and the next election. I’m spending that time having conversations with Torontonians.”
Who’s who: It was a cross-partisan crowd. Dennis Matthews, an ex-advisor to Stephen Harper, and Gen Tomney, who co-led Bonnie Crombie’s provincial campaign, spoke. So did Hamish Marshall, who worked on Mark Saunders’ last run. Ex-senator Jerry Grafstein, ex-Trudeau advisor Dani Saad and Ben Mulroney also showed up.
“This was him saying loud and clear, ’I’m Olivia’s chief challenger,’” said a source in the room.
Meanwhile, internal polling by Abacus shared at the lunch found Bradford as best-positioned to take on Chow.
According to the memo:
— Vulnerable? Maybe. Weak? Not quite: “A majority (46%) say the city is on the wrong track, compared to 42% who believe it’s heading in the right direction.”
“When asked directly whether they would re-elect Olivia Chow, only 17% said definitely yes, while 53% would prefer someone new. That’s a clear warning sign.”
“Her support base is concentrated among the youngest and oldest voters, NDP supporters, and residents of Toronto, and she continues to be seen as a credible and likable leader. In a crowded race, that makes her a formidable opponent.”
“... Chow’s net favourable is lower than all others with Bailao and Bradford with the highest net favourables. So, while Chow is not coasting toward re-election, she’s not on the brink either. She’s beatable but only by the right challenger.”
— Tory talk: “Even among those who like him, only 36% would choose [Tory] in a hypothetical matchup against Chow, Bradford, Bailão, and others. A striking 64% of those with a positive impression of Tory say they would vote for someone else or are undecided. That disconnect points to a deeper truth: voters may remember Tory fondly, but they’re not necessarily eager to return to him.”
“While 28% say they’d be thrilled to see him run again, another 49% either believe it’s time for someone new (36%) or outright oppose his return (13%). That’s not disqualifying, but it’s far from a coronation.”
“Tory’s strength lies in who he was. He remains associated with stability, pragmatism, and leadership. But the city he governed up to 2023 is very much the city of 2026 and he may have a hard time running on change when he could be associated with many of the problems people perceive exist.”
— Indulge the scenario: “In a hypothetical six-way race, Chow leads with 27%, followed closely by Tory at 25%. Bradford is third. Bailão, Mendocino, and Anthony Furey all in the single digits, with a substantial 29% undecided. But this is expected when two of the candidates are universally known.”
— So: “Bradford likely has the best combination of upside and existing brand clarity to challenge Chow, particularly if he becomes the consensus choice for change. Bailão is not far behind but needs a stronger rationale beyond experience and a good showing in 2023. The fact that she almost won in 2023 and yet still lacks name recognition means that she didn’t leave a lasting impact on voters. Their vote for her was likely caused by Tory’s endorsement than a genuine appeal.”
There’s more than one poll. A survey by Pallas found Chow leading Tory with 30 per cent to 19 per cent. At 11 per cent, Bradford placed third, though behind the 21 per cent who said they were still undecided.
Can Doug Ford tip the scale? “I suppose it all depends if Ford figures that Chow’s re-election would pose a significant challenge for him implementing his municipal agenda, and whether his endorsement would tip the scales against Chow,” said Joseph Anglano. “There is not — as of right now — a candidate strong enough to beat Chow. So in that light, the Premier may decide to not spend his political capital in the mayoral election.”
It was all warm between Ford and Chow at Ford Fest, though the ex-mayor still caught a jab.
— The House is out for the summer.
— Heritage, Infrastructure and Cultural Policy is taking Bill 9 on tour for public input. It would establish a standardized municipal code of conduct and allow for the removal and four-year disqualification of councillors found guilty of serious misconduct.
The itinerary:
Want to have your say? Make a submission.
— Canada Day at the Park: The 10 to 5 p.m. event will feature live performances, midway rides, family-friendly games, roaming entertainers, self-guided tours of the building and more. Yes, there’ll be food. More.
The Board of Internal Economy had green-lit a one-time spend of $263,500 for this year’s party.
— Last week, we told you about two Liberals who insist they never signed on — but ended up on the New Leaf’s list anyway.
Add Carolyn Parrish to the list. Though her name didn’t appear on the website, Mississauga’s mayor was New Leaf’d — she received an email from organizers to verify if she had actually signed up. “We had a feeling that the submission was inauthentic, which is why we reached out,” they wrote to her.
Talk about dedication: We’re told that Parrish’s name was entered over six times.
“We contacted her before ever making it public,” an organizer said. “Troublemakers are going to try to find ways to disrupt legitimate movements that they’re uncomfortable with. We’re working to build a stronger Ontario Liberal Party, and we’ll do what we can to ensure the validity of our signatures.”
Meanwhile, Monday’s launch email didn’t sit well with some Liberals. It went to people who hadn’t signed up — or even shared an email — raising questions about whether the data came from someone in the party or, say, a past leadership campaign.
From the email: “February’s election hurt, and in the months since, we’ve been hard at work thinking about how best we can ensure the Liberals are trusted by Ontarians at the next election. The goal of our movement is simple — to channel the frustrations and hopes of Liberals who rightly expect more from our party, and then to work incredibly hard to make the Ontario Liberal Party as strong as it can be.”
Recall: The group is calling for a ground-up overhaul of the party — and new leadership to lead it. They blame Bonnie Crombie for her “inability to undertake the necessary steps to rebuild our party," and say that if she’s unable to lock in two-thirds support in September, she should quit.
— Premier Doug Ford says he’s sorry for a tongue-in-cheek moment that didn’t sit well with Indigenous leaders.
What Ford said: On Wednesday, a day before a sit-down with dozens of Anishinabek Nation chiefs, Ford said they “can’t just keep coming hat in hand all the time to the government.” “You’ve got to be able to take care of yourselves. And when you literally have gold mines, nickel mines, every type of critical mineral that the world wants, and you’re saying, ’No, no, I don’t want to touch that, by the way, give me money’ — not going to happen.”
Yesterday, he took it back. “I speak from the heart and sometimes my words don’t come out properly, which I think you’ve all seen over a number of years. I sincerely apologize if that has offended anyone. I’ve never been too proud to sit back and apologize for something that I’ve said or if I have offended someone,” he said.
— Meanwhile, he took to Boston on Monday “to try to forge alliances against Donald Trump’s tariffs.”
— Bill 5 v. Bill C-5: One Liberal MP isn’t too happy with Bill C-5, which would let the Carney government fast-track projects deemed to be in the “national interest.”
Nate Erskine-Smith drew a parallel to the Ford government’s Bill 5. “Similar to Ford’s Bill 5, [Bill C-5] gives the government unchecked power to exclude or alter any law that would otherwise apply to such a project.”
Some say that candour is exactly what got him booted from the cabinet.
— CUPE Ontario is sponsoring a rally on Sunday to “demand an end to war between Iran and Israel.” Labour Minister David Piccini called it “shameful.” “Members deserve better for their dues than sponsoring this,” he wrote on X.
Hahn, in response: “What the Minister of Labour doesn’t know — or perhaps doesn’t care to repeat — is that we have a policy, passed by our members, against the war on Iran,” he said. “We also have policy that clearly lays out our opposition to the totalitarian regime in Iran. The Minister wouldn’t know that we have worked collaboratively in a project with trade unions because union organizing was declared illegal in Iran.”
Hahn accused Piccini of seeking to dodge heat over the drawn-out WSIB strike. The two have a history.
— Tracking the measles: Public Health Ontario is reporting 96 new cases — bringing the total to 2,179 since the fall.
— Laryssa Waler says one mystery group’s push for the Ford government to rein in spending and pivot to the right is “less about good governance and more about ideological gatekeeping.”
— Ontario once led on ethics. These days, it’s struggling to follow, the integrity commissioner found.
— The Ford and Carney government have quietly landed a multi-million dollar housing deal.
— Bill 17 is expected to hit Toronto’s bottom line, per a new city report.
— John Michael McGrath digs into the proposed shake‑up to the blue-bin program.
— The race to become Toronto’s next mayor is on, writes Brian Lilley.
— Mayor of Mayhem? Perhaps. But that’s not who Rob Ford wanted to be, says ex-councillor John Filion.
— Ford isn’t too happy about it.
— Remember his mid-campaign jaunt to Washington? Here’s the price tag.
— How cash-strapped Toronto will fund the six allocated FIFA World Cup is still anyone’s guess.
— Iris Gorfinkel says ER wait times are “going to get worse.”
Thank you for reading POLICORNER. Are you planning to challenge Chow? Parrish in Mississauga? Brown in Brampton? Horwath in Hamilton? My inbox is open — and I’ll keep you anonymous. We’re back in your inbox next week.
Red, blue and in-between packed in for Brad — and new polling shows he has “the most promising path” to take on Olivia Chow. Meet the mayor who got New Leaf’d. Mr. Ford goes to Boston. But to begin, a private call to clear the air — and kill a campaign-that-isn’t.
SCOOP — Karina Gould called Bonnie Crombie to say she’s not coming for her job.
The call, according to several sources with direct knowledge of it, took place earlier this month. Gould — who placed a distant third to Mark Carney in March’s federal leadership contest — told Crombie she had no interest in her job and had nothing to do with an apparent “run, please” campaign.
On June 7, a Google Form labeled “Karina Gould for Leader of the Ontario Liberal Party” started to circulate, especially among those in the party’s youth wing. It’s unclear who was behind it, though some suspect that ex-Nate Erskine-Smith supporters were behind it. The form has since been quietly pulled.
When asked, the ex-cabinet minister said she’s not unappreciative — but denied any involvement. “I am not associated with this and I did not know about it until you sent it to me,” she said in a text message. “I was just re-elected in Burlington to the House of Commons and I am 100 per cent focused on representing my community.”
Gould has been one of those name-checked as a potential replacement to Crombie if September doesn’t go her way. Though she’s now chairing FINA, some see her third-place federal run as a dry run for the provincial leadership. Being dumped from cabinet, like Erskine-Smith, could give her one more reason to walk.
First thing’s first: More information about the review vote — and how much it’ll cost to attend — were shared last night.
— The early rate: Regular: $375. Pay monthly: $225, plus $20-a-month donation. Youth: $100. Senior: $240. Low income, for those earning under $30,000: $240. Observer: $1,000.
— The full fare: Regular: $500. Monthly payment: $300, plus $20-a-month donation. Youth: $133. Senior: $320. Low income, for those earning under $30,000: $320. Observer: $1,200.
— On making the delegate cut: If you’re signing up for the AGM, you’ll automatically be added to the delegate pool. Registrations made before 11:59 p.m. on July 25 will carry equal weight. If more names are in than positions available, a delegate election may follow. After that deadline, any remaining spots will be handed out in chronological order of registration.
Brad’s opening pitch — A year out, the race to become Toronto’s next mayor is on.
About 50 organizers and fundraisers joined Brad Bradford for an informal get-together at the Royal York on Wednesday.
“I think anyone running for mayor should be spending their time listening to constituents and figuring out practical solutions to move the city forward,” the councillor, who was glad-handing at Ford Fest, told this reporter on Friday. “There’s a lot of time between now and the next election. I’m spending that time having conversations with Torontonians.”
Who’s who: It was a cross-partisan crowd. Dennis Matthews, an ex-advisor to Stephen Harper, and Gen Tomney, who co-led Bonnie Crombie’s provincial campaign, spoke. So did Hamish Marshall, who worked on Mark Saunders’ last run. Ex-senator Jerry Grafstein, ex-Trudeau advisor Dani Saad and Ben Mulroney also showed up.
“This was him saying loud and clear, ’I’m Olivia’s chief challenger,’” said a source in the room.
Meanwhile, internal polling by Abacus shared at the lunch found Bradford as best-positioned to take on Chow.
According to the memo:
— Vulnerable? Maybe. Weak? Not quite: “A majority (46%) say the city is on the wrong track, compared to 42% who believe it’s heading in the right direction.”
“When asked directly whether they would re-elect Olivia Chow, only 17% said definitely yes, while 53% would prefer someone new. That’s a clear warning sign.”
“Her support base is concentrated among the youngest and oldest voters, NDP supporters, and residents of Toronto, and she continues to be seen as a credible and likable leader. In a crowded race, that makes her a formidable opponent.”
“... Chow’s net favourable is lower than all others with Bailao and Bradford with the highest net favourables. So, while Chow is not coasting toward re-election, she’s not on the brink either. She’s beatable but only by the right challenger.”
— Tory talk: “Even among those who like him, only 36% would choose [Tory] in a hypothetical matchup against Chow, Bradford, Bailão, and others. A striking 64% of those with a positive impression of Tory say they would vote for someone else or are undecided. That disconnect points to a deeper truth: voters may remember Tory fondly, but they’re not necessarily eager to return to him.”
“While 28% say they’d be thrilled to see him run again, another 49% either believe it’s time for someone new (36%) or outright oppose his return (13%). That’s not disqualifying, but it’s far from a coronation.”
“Tory’s strength lies in who he was. He remains associated with stability, pragmatism, and leadership. But the city he governed up to 2023 is very much the city of 2026 and he may have a hard time running on change when he could be associated with many of the problems people perceive exist.”
— Indulge the scenario: “In a hypothetical six-way race, Chow leads with 27%, followed closely by Tory at 25%. Bradford is third. Bailão, Mendocino, and Anthony Furey all in the single digits, with a substantial 29% undecided. But this is expected when two of the candidates are universally known.”
— So: “Bradford likely has the best combination of upside and existing brand clarity to challenge Chow, particularly if he becomes the consensus choice for change. Bailão is not far behind but needs a stronger rationale beyond experience and a good showing in 2023. The fact that she almost won in 2023 and yet still lacks name recognition means that she didn’t leave a lasting impact on voters. Their vote for her was likely caused by Tory’s endorsement than a genuine appeal.”
There’s more than one poll. A survey by Pallas found Chow leading Tory with 30 per cent to 19 per cent. At 11 per cent, Bradford placed third, though behind the 21 per cent who said they were still undecided.
Can Doug Ford tip the scale? “I suppose it all depends if Ford figures that Chow’s re-election would pose a significant challenge for him implementing his municipal agenda, and whether his endorsement would tip the scales against Chow,” said Joseph Anglano. “There is not — as of right now — a candidate strong enough to beat Chow. So in that light, the Premier may decide to not spend his political capital in the mayoral election.”
It was all warm between Ford and Chow at Ford Fest, though the ex-mayor still caught a jab.
— The House is out for the summer.
— Heritage, Infrastructure and Cultural Policy is taking Bill 9 on tour for public input. It would establish a standardized municipal code of conduct and allow for the removal and four-year disqualification of councillors found guilty of serious misconduct.
The itinerary:
Want to have your say? Make a submission.
— Canada Day at the Park: The 10 to 5 p.m. event will feature live performances, midway rides, family-friendly games, roaming entertainers, self-guided tours of the building and more. Yes, there’ll be food. More.
The Board of Internal Economy had green-lit a one-time spend of $263,500 for this year’s party.
— Last week, we told you about two Liberals who insist they never signed on — but ended up on the New Leaf’s list anyway.
Add Carolyn Parrish to the list. Though her name didn’t appear on the website, Mississauga’s mayor was New Leaf’d — she received an email from organizers to verify if she had actually signed up. “We had a feeling that the submission was inauthentic, which is why we reached out,” they wrote to her.
Talk about dedication: We’re told that Parrish’s name was entered over six times.
“We contacted her before ever making it public,” an organizer said. “Troublemakers are going to try to find ways to disrupt legitimate movements that they’re uncomfortable with. We’re working to build a stronger Ontario Liberal Party, and we’ll do what we can to ensure the validity of our signatures.”
Meanwhile, Monday’s launch email didn’t sit well with some Liberals. It went to people who hadn’t signed up — or even shared an email — raising questions about whether the data came from someone in the party or, say, a past leadership campaign.
From the email: “February’s election hurt, and in the months since, we’ve been hard at work thinking about how best we can ensure the Liberals are trusted by Ontarians at the next election. The goal of our movement is simple — to channel the frustrations and hopes of Liberals who rightly expect more from our party, and then to work incredibly hard to make the Ontario Liberal Party as strong as it can be.”
Recall: The group is calling for a ground-up overhaul of the party — and new leadership to lead it. They blame Bonnie Crombie for her “inability to undertake the necessary steps to rebuild our party," and say that if she’s unable to lock in two-thirds support in September, she should quit.
— Premier Doug Ford says he’s sorry for a tongue-in-cheek moment that didn’t sit well with Indigenous leaders.
What Ford said: On Wednesday, a day before a sit-down with dozens of Anishinabek Nation chiefs, Ford said they “can’t just keep coming hat in hand all the time to the government.” “You’ve got to be able to take care of yourselves. And when you literally have gold mines, nickel mines, every type of critical mineral that the world wants, and you’re saying, ’No, no, I don’t want to touch that, by the way, give me money’ — not going to happen.”
Yesterday, he took it back. “I speak from the heart and sometimes my words don’t come out properly, which I think you’ve all seen over a number of years. I sincerely apologize if that has offended anyone. I’ve never been too proud to sit back and apologize for something that I’ve said or if I have offended someone,” he said.
— Meanwhile, he took to Boston on Monday “to try to forge alliances against Donald Trump’s tariffs.”
— Bill 5 v. Bill C-5: One Liberal MP isn’t too happy with Bill C-5, which would let the Carney government fast-track projects deemed to be in the “national interest.”
Nate Erskine-Smith drew a parallel to the Ford government’s Bill 5. “Similar to Ford’s Bill 5, [Bill C-5] gives the government unchecked power to exclude or alter any law that would otherwise apply to such a project.”
Some say that candour is exactly what got him booted from the cabinet.
— CUPE Ontario is sponsoring a rally on Sunday to “demand an end to war between Iran and Israel.” Labour Minister David Piccini called it “shameful.” “Members deserve better for their dues than sponsoring this,” he wrote on X.
Hahn, in response: “What the Minister of Labour doesn’t know — or perhaps doesn’t care to repeat — is that we have a policy, passed by our members, against the war on Iran,” he said. “We also have policy that clearly lays out our opposition to the totalitarian regime in Iran. The Minister wouldn’t know that we have worked collaboratively in a project with trade unions because union organizing was declared illegal in Iran.”
Hahn accused Piccini of seeking to dodge heat over the drawn-out WSIB strike. The two have a history.
— Tracking the measles: Public Health Ontario is reporting 96 new cases — bringing the total to 2,179 since the fall.
— Laryssa Waler says one mystery group’s push for the Ford government to rein in spending and pivot to the right is “less about good governance and more about ideological gatekeeping.”
— Ontario once led on ethics. These days, it’s struggling to follow, the integrity commissioner found.
— The Ford and Carney government have quietly landed a multi-million dollar housing deal.
— Bill 17 is expected to hit Toronto’s bottom line, per a new city report.
— John Michael McGrath digs into the proposed shake‑up to the blue-bin program.
— The race to become Toronto’s next mayor is on, writes Brian Lilley.
— Mayor of Mayhem? Perhaps. But that’s not who Rob Ford wanted to be, says ex-councillor John Filion.
— Ford isn’t too happy about it.
— Remember his mid-campaign jaunt to Washington? Here’s the price tag.
— How cash-strapped Toronto will fund the six allocated FIFA World Cup is still anyone’s guess.
— Iris Gorfinkel says ER wait times are “going to get worse.”
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