Michael Taube: Chow’s hard-left base resorts to fearmongering against Bradford

It seems like only yesterday that the Toronto mayoral election appeared to be a foregone conclusion. Olivia Chow, in spite of her left-wing ideology, fiscal irresponsibility and tax-and-spend mentality, had led in the polls from the start. She had outpaced and outlasted an assortment of potential challengers, including former mayor John Tory, and was on the cusp of victory.

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That’s not the case any longer. In less than three weeks, a significant number of Torontonians have had second thoughts about giving Chow a second destructive term in office. Her lead has completely disintegrated — and her main challenger, city councillor Brad Bradford, has been riding a massive wave of political change that may propel him to a historic victory.

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Some recent polls are showing Bradford in the lead for the first time. Build Canada’s Oct. 11-16 poll put him in front of Chow by 48-44 per cent. Mainstreet Research had Bradford ahead by 49-48 per cent in its Oct. 16-18 poll. Liaison Strategies’ Oct. 18-19 poll suggested Bradford was on top by 49-47 per cent.

These are all close margins, to be sure. Things could easily change in this election at the mere drop of a hat. Nevertheless, it’s quite clear that Bradford, and not Chow, has all the momentum before voters go to the polls on Oct. 26.

Chow and her team may be putting on a brave face in public, but they surely know in private that this election has unexpectedly slipped from their grasp. Losing by a close margin now seems like a distinct possibility. Hence, they’ve been throwing everything and the kitchen sink at Bradford and his team in hopes that something — anything — would break his momentum.

Nothing has succeeded to date.

The mayor critiqued her main rival’s plan at the Oct. 6 debate, for instance, and brazenly claimed his policies would cut library services, transit services and affordable housing for Torontonians. Chow suggested that Bradford’s campaign promises would ultimately close libraries and the Toronto Zoo without any supporting evidence.

Progress Toronto, a left-wing ally of Chow’s, unsuccessfully attempted to give the mayor a boost by releasing a bizarre meme that stated, “One does not simply vote for a man named Brad Bradford” — attacking his name, of all things. Chow announced some recent endorsements from two of the least successful premiers of Ontario, Bob Rae and Kathleen Wynne, as well as far-left B.C.-based environmental activist David Suzuki, that barely caused much of a stir.

Chow’s hysteria and desperation to score cheap political points reached a new low this week. She claimed that Bradford wants to privatize Toronto’s water if he becomes mayor.

Chow held a press conference on Oct. 21 to speak out against Bradford’s plan to transform Toronto Water from a City of Toronto department into a municipal corporation, which would be along the lines of a public utility like Toronto Hydro. The aforementioned Suzuki made an appearance, calling the idea “crazy” and asking, “Why the hell are we trying to privatize things where the public has already invested in the infrastructure to deliver our water?” Chow also rejected Bradford’s campaign promise of lowering the city’s water prices, noting, “My opponent cannot promise what the water bill will be. He cannot promise that Toronto will remain in control.”

CUPE 416, which represents workers at Toronto Water, issued a letter on the same day signed by Chow and 15 city councillors, including Alejandra Bravo, Paula Fletcher and Gord Perks.

“These incumbent Councillors expressed concern about handing over Toronto’s drinking water system to Provincial control, removing Toronto’s say over rates and planning, and increasing debt to pay for critical water infrastructure, which will ultimately lead to higher water bills,” the letter stated. “Toronto residents expect water services to be safe, reliable and publicly accountable.”

Chow’s assertions are complete nonsense. Bradford has never supported or called for water privatization as either a Toronto city councillor or mayoral candidate. He couldn’t do it even if he actually wanted to, either.

“Provincial law bans private ownership of Toronto’s water,” Bradford campaign spokesperson Laryssa Waler correctly pointed out in an Oct. 21 statement. “Under the Water and Wastewater Public Corporations Act, as amended this May, shares in a municipal water corporation can only be held by a municipality, the Province or the Government of Canada. Not an investor. Not a pension fund. Not a private company. Private ownership is prohibited in the statute itself.”

Waler also stated that under Bradford’s plan, “the City is the sole shareholder, and a City bylaw bars private investment of any kind. Toronto’s water stays 100% public.”

Bradford’s campaign position seems pretty clear-cut. There’s no discussion on his part of water privatization. There’s no insinuation that he’s thinking about anything other than keeping the city’s water in public hands. There’s not an ounce of wiggle room to be seen.

Chow’s current strategy against Bradford is remarkably easy to understand. She, like most candidates who have witnessed their once-successful campaigns crumble near the finish line, is hoping beyond hope that political spin and fearmongering will salvage her flailing re-election bid. It’s not working, however.

A growing number of Torontonians aren’t falling for Chow’s manufactured lines and failed policies any longer. There doesn’t seem to be a drop of political water left for her to drink.

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