The Ford Audition: Mayoral Hopefuls Tread Carefully Around the Premier
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As Toronto prepares for October's mayoral vote, candidates are less focused on a sovereign city vision and more on managing their relationship with Doug Ford.
OPINION: Let's be honest about what is happening in this mayoral race. While the candidates claim to be presenting visions for Toronto's future, they are actually auditioning for the approval of Premier Doug Ford, as first reported by CBC Toronto.
According to reporting from CBC Toronto, the "Ford factor" continues to cast a long shadow over city hall. The reality is that any candidate seeking the mayor's office must navigate a precarious balance: maintaining city autonomy while securing the provincial funding necessary to keep the city running. This isn't a debate about policy so much as it is a strategic exercise in managing the Premier.
At a recent Daily Bread Food Bank debate, the candidates' differing approaches to this dynamic were on full display. Mayor Olivia Chow attempted to frame her relationship with the province as a success, citing a "new deal" that shifted billions in costs for the Don Valley Parkway and Gardiner Expressway to the province. Chow claimed that she and the city have the "confidence" of both Premier Ford and Prime Minister Carney.
However, her rivals are using this relationship as a weapon. Coun. Brad Bradford slammed Chow for failing to push back against Ford's agenda, specifically citing the Premier's efforts to expand Billy Bishop Airport, the redevelopment of the Ontario Science Centre and Ontario Place, and the push to remove bike lanes from major streets. Bradford argued that Chow has not effectively fought the Premier on a single file and insisted the city needs "strong leadership."
On the other end of the spectrum, Chris Alexander gave Chow's inter-governmental efforts a "failing grade," but for the opposite reason. Alexander argued that fighting the province leads to a loss of authority and a waste of taxpayer money on issues like bike lanes. To Alexander, the path to success is cooperation, not conflict.
This cycle of auditioning is not new. As CBC Toronto notes, Andrew Tumilty—a senior advisor at Texture Communications and former war room director for John Tory—observes that every municipal campaign since Ford became premier has been centered on his policies. The Premier has a long history of intervening in city affairs, from slashing the size of city council in 2018 to implementing "strong mayor powers" in 2022.
While Premier Ford's office recently stated that he "will work with anyone," the candidates are clearly not operating under that assumption. Former progressive city councilor Joe Mihevc told CBC Toronto that while a Ford endorsement might not actually help a candidate win—pointing to former police chief Mark Saunders' distant third-place finish in 2023—candidates still feel the need to walk a careful line when critiquing the Premier's policies.
When the mayor's primary job becomes managing the whims of the province, the city's actual vision becomes secondary. The candidates aren't leading; they are reacting.