Campaign Rhetoric or Concrete Relief? Dissecting the Mayoral Playbooks for the Trade War
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As U.S. tariffs hit $28 billion in Canadian goods, mayoral hopefuls are pitching divergent strategies to save local business—ranging from tax cuts and loan guarantees to 'buy local' slogans.
### The High Stakes of the Trade War
Toronto is currently weathering a storm of economic volatility following the Trump administration's imposition of tariffs against $28 billion worth of Canadian goods. As first reported by CBC Toronto, the city's mayoral race has become a battleground for how to handle this trade war, with 53 candidates vying for the office. As a watchdog for City Hall, it is my job to distinguish between the candidates offering structural economic shifts and those relying on the optics of patriotism.
According to CBC Toronto, leading candidates Mayor Olivia Chow, Coun. Brad Bradford, and former Conservative MP Chris Alexander have all laid out visions to insulate local businesses from the fallout.
### Mayor Olivia Chow: The 'Team Canada' Approach
Mayor Olivia Chow is leaning on her administration's existing machinery. During a news conference on Thursday, Chow highlighted a strategy of prioritizing local procurement, noting that in 2026, approximately 98 per cent of city spending went to Canadian companies.
Chow's strategy is rooted in a 2025 economic action plan that barred U.S. businesses from city contracts. She pointed to the city's $18 billion operating budget and $60 billion capital budget as tools to ensure the city is "buying local and procuring locally."
Additionally, Chow implemented a tax deferral program in 2025 allowing local industry owners to defer taxes for six months. She is also promoting a "love local" campaign, urging residents to choose Canadian-made goods, such as National Dry and Brio sodas.
### Coun. Brad Bradford: The Tax Cut Gambit
Coun. Brad Bradford has taken a more aggressive stance toward direct financial relief, centering his platform on a proposed 25 per cent tax cut for businesses—a measure he unsuccessfully introduced to council last year.
Bradford has criticized Chow's six-month tax deferral as "not adequate," arguing it fails to signal that Toronto is competing for business investment. He indicated the city's tax stabilization reserve account could offset the resulting revenue loss.
To address bureaucratic hurdles, Bradford is proposing a "concierge service" to help employers navigate tariff codes and access provincial and federal relief. He also pledged a permanent tariff response table at city hall, claiming Chow's existing economic action team has not consistently engaged with local businesses.
### Chris Alexander: Expanding the Toolkit
Chris Alexander has proposed expanding the city's economic development and growth in employment program, which provides five years of property tax relief for businesses that build to expand.
Writing to CBC Toronto, Alexander called for a "sharper focus," proposing the creation of a loan guarantee program for small businesses and a move to lower the ratio of commercial to residential property taxes.
### The Political Landscape
Polling conducted by Liaison Strategies between Aug. 14 and 16 of 1,000 Torontonians shows Mayor Olivia Chow leading with 49 per cent support, followed by Brad Bradford at 38 per cent and Chris Alexander at 11 per cent.
While all three agree on encouraging residents to buy local, the fundamental disagreement remains: is the city's role to act as a procurement engine, a tax-relief agency, or a loan guarantor?