Voters in Toronto have elected Olivia Chow as mayor of Canada's largest municipality in Monday night's byelection.
globalnews.ca
Congratulations roll in
Tory offered his “sincere congratulations” to Chow in a statement on Twitter late Monday evening.
“She brings a great deal of experience in the public life of our city and our country, and I know that will serve her well as Mayor,” he said.
Congratulations to Mayor-elect
@oliviachow. Please see my full statement below.
pic.twitter.com/qCy9MhMg0p
— John Tory (@JohnTory)
June 27, 2023
“We are so fortunate to live in Toronto and I know Ms. Chow will work with Council and with the other governments to make our city even better,” he continued.
Tory said Chow “loves this city,” and said he will “do anything I can to help her in the days and months ahead.”
He said the job is “complex and challenging,” adding that “we should all be hoping for her success.”
Premier Doug Ford congratulated Chow Monday evening, saying she has “proven her desire and dedication to serving the city.”
“While we’re not always going to agree on everything, what we can agree on is our shared commitment to making Toronto a place where businesses, families and workers can thrive,” he said in a statement posted to Twitter.
Ford said he will “work with anyone ready to work with out government to better out city and province.”
“There’s nothing we can’t achieve when we work together,” he continued. “Together, let’s focus on building a strong Toronto for generations to come.”
I want to congratulate Olivia Chow on tonight’s election win and on becoming the next mayor of Toronto.
Read my full statement
pic.twitter.com/xgzooEdr30
— Doug Ford (@fordnation)
June 27, 2023
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also congratulated Chow, saying he is “looking forward to working together to deliver results for Torontonians.”
Congratulations on being elected Mayor of Toronto,
@OliviaChow. I’m looking forward to working together to deliver results for Torontonians.
— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau)
June 27, 2023
In her concession speech, candidate Ana Bailão also congratulated Chow.
“Congratulations Olivia,” she said. “Our city faces many challenges, and I wish you all the best as you navigate these challenges alongside city council and working with other governments.
She said it was time for unity: “In our city’s most challenging moments, Toronto has always had a way of coming together to find solutions,” she continued. “Now, with Olivia Chow as our next mayor, it’s time to come together.”
Bailão was the shock story of election night, surging into a comfortable second place ahead of Mark Saunders, and polling significantly higher than estimates anticipated.
Saunders offered his congratulations to Chow, saying she “fought a tough fight and, at the end of the day, came out victorious” on the day.
“We have to do everything we can to make this city an amazing city, (the) incredible city that it is, but we have so much (more) to do,” he said in a concession speech Monday. “So, we have to support Olivia Chow in that position of mayor because there is a lot of work we all have to do.”
Anthony Furey, former columnist and the outsider among the race’s top candidates, conceded earlier in the night and said he was pleased with how the the race had played out, calling his team “the little campaign that could.”
