Chow set for political comeback on Tuesday
Former NDP MP, mayoralty candidate will take on Liberal incumbent Adam Vaughan
Olivia Chow will announce her return to federal politics Tuesday morning, according to a report from Radio-Canada.
After the Star reported last week that Chow had assembled a team and was forming her comeback strategy, Radio-Canada reported Monday night that the former NDP MP and one-time Toronto mayoral candidate was ready to announce her run at a press conference. Joining her will be her family — including the children of her late husband and former NDP leader Jack Layton, city councillor Mike Layton and Sarah Campbell, and their children.
Chow did not return requests for comment, and NDP officials refused to comment on the report that she would unveil her comeback bid Tuesday.
Chow — who served eight years in Ottawa as an NDP MP for her home riding Trinity-Spadina — will take on newly incumbent Liberal Adam Vaughan in the reformed riding of Spadina-Fort York. Leading up to a rumoured announcement, senior party officials including NDP Leader Tom Mulcair hinted at Chow’s comeback, pitching her experience on the Hill and in her local community.
“It’s an exciting election campaign and nothing would make me happier than having someone with Olivia’s extraordinary depth and experience decide to come back on board,” Mulcair said last week.
One NDP source earlier told the Star that Chow has plans to tackle a national child-care system, a file she has keenly worked on since her days as a city councillor.
Since her third-place defeat to Mayor John Tory in the municipal election, Chow took on a three-year teaching job at Ryerson University. As of last week, a spokesperson said students could still sign up for her fall class. With files from Bruce Campion-Smith