Beaches-East York Councillor Bradford critical of Mayor Chow’s ‘political’ decision to remove him as vice-chair of housing committee
By ALAN SHACKLETON
Beaches-East York Councillor Brad Bradford called Mayor Olivia Chow’s decision to remove him as Vice-Chair of the city’s Planning and Housing Committee a “political” one.
Chow said on Monday, Dec. 16, as part of a number of mid-term committee announcements that Bradford’s place as Vice-Chair would be taken by York South-Weston Councillor Frances Nunziata.
Bradford will remain a member of the committee.
In a statement on Dec. 16, Bradford said he was disappointed by the move.
“While I respect Mayor Chow’s right to make this political decision, it is still disappointing. Despite differing views on many issues, I thought the Mayor and I were aligned on the need to get more homes built in Toronto and deliver supply-related solutions. Clearly, her priorities lie elsewhere,” he said.
“Unfortunately, the Mayor has chosen politics over progress on the housing file.”
Though he was Vice-Chair of the Planning and Housing Committee, Bradford and Chow seemed to share a different philosophy regarding the best way for Toronto to increase the amount of housing available in the city.
“I am proud of my track record of pushing the Mayor and Council for more ambitious housing outcomes on a wide range of policies; from multiplexes, major streets and avenues, to proposing the amendments needed to secure nearly half-a-billion dollars from the federal government’s Housing Accelerator Fund,” said Bradford in his statement.
“As Vice-Chair for the past 16 months, I have worked with housing advocates and industry leaders to deliver these positive and meaningful wins on the housing file – despite significant pushback from the Mayor’s hand-picked committee Chair, who will remain in his role.”
Chair of the Planning and Housing Committee is Parkdale-High Park Councillor Gord Perks, and he will be continuing in that position.
Bradford has been critical of a number of the city’s decisions regarding housing, and pointed out that not much is actually being built in Toronto at the moment.
“Toronto’s housing starts are down 91 per cent from the 10-year average. Instead of finding pragmatic solutions to this crisis, the Mayor and her team are doubling down on their ideological commitment to the Public Builder model, which will just build more bureaucracy instead of building more housing,” he said in his statement.
“I want Toronto to succeed. That is why I cannot agree with the direction the administration is going on the housing file. I am laser-focused on the concerns I’m hearing from residents in my ward and across the city. On their behalf, I will continue to hold the Mayor to account and work to deliver results. Our future success and prosperity depend on it.”
In a statement sent to CTV News Toronto on Dec. 16, Chow said:
“The halfway point in any administration is a great chance to take stock, and focus on priorities, including building more homes, feeding more kids and getting Toronto moving. Councillor Bradford is an important voice in housing at the City and will continue his work on the Planning and Housing Committee. The housing committee is focussed on urgently building affordable housing, ensuring the success of the public builder model, protecting renters and unlocking an increased supply of market and nonprofit housing. Councillor Nunziata has shown a strong commitment to renters and will add a valuable perspective to the committee chair.”
