Canada: Ms. Olivia Chow, a Chinese-Canadian, has elected as the new mayor of Toronto on 26th June 2023.
During her victory speech, Ms. Chow expressed the mandate for change that the voters of Toronto had relied upon her with. The new mayor acknowledged her gratitude to supporters and conveyed a message of hope, stating that the results of the election were a clear response to any doubts or uncertainties about what can be accomplished when people come together and work towards a better future.
Ms. Chow secured victory with 37.2 percent of the vote, surpassing Ms. Ana Bailao who received 32.5 percent. Mr. Mark Saunders, the former city police chief, came in third place with 8.6 percent of the votes.
Thank you, Toronto! pic.twitter.com/kQFNkWaOO6
— Olivia Chow (@oliviachow) June 27, 2023
With a population of 2.7 million, Toronto is struggling with issues such as soaring rent prices, a significant budget deficit, and public safety concerns. The former mayor, Mr. John Tory, stepped down in February 2023 after confessing to being involved in an affair with a staff member.
Ms. Chow is set to make history as the first female mayor since Barbara Hall in 1997. Her earlier attempt for the mayoral position was in 2014, where she secured the third-place spot. born in Hong Kong, 66-year-old Ms. Chow is an immigrant who came to Canada when she was 13 years old. The mayor successfully completed her studies in fine art at the University of Guelph.