WHAT THE MAJOR CONTENDERS SAID

Mitzie Hunter has known Premier Doug Ford for many years, back when his brother was a councillor and she worked for Toronto community housing. While they sometimes clash in question period at Queen’s Park, they are not enemies, she said.

“I’ve already personally received his commitment that he would work with me should I be elected mayor of Toronto and I believe that we would have a respectful relationship,” Hunter said.

If the Ford government gets something wrong, she said wouldn’t hesitate to publicly tell them.

Brad Bradford said he worked with the premier to introduce a small-business tax class in the city during the pandemic. “I will always be a strong leader for Toronto … but I will also focus on shared priorities with the provincial and federal government,” said the city councillor.

“You start at a point of shared values and objective, and you focus your time and energy there. Getting into fights with the premier or the prime minister doesn’t serve the city’s interests.” Mark Saunders said as police chief at major events, “I had to represent the city of Toronto, dealing with the premier and directly dealing with the prime minister … I’ll stand up for the city Toronto’s best interests. One of my key successes has been collaboration. I don’t make decisions out of personal reasons. I make them out of collaborating.

“I make them from being informed by people that are knowledgeable in the field. And then I prioritize what needs to be done. But understanding that a co-operative working environment is far more healthy than one where there is agitation or conflict.”

said she and Ford might be political opposites, but they have a bond through Rob Ford, who became friends at city council with her late husband Jack Layton. Each family expressed support during their fatal illnesses, she said.

“If you connect on certain issues with personal issues I think you get much further than just publicly insulting each other,” said Chow, while adding she would be more transparent about their dealings than Tory was.

If the city and province are in conflict, educating the public about the city’s issue is one technique, Chow said. Josh Matlow said that if Ford “genuinely seeks to support the interests of Torontonians, my job will be to roll up my sleeves and work with the provincial government toward getting results.”

But Matlow, who, if elected, would ask Ford to repeal strong-mayor legislation, said he will not follow Tory’s “get along to go along” approach. The gloves would come off if the premier acts in any way to harm Toronto or the interests of its residents. The councillor says as mayor, he would seek “creative” ways to fight Queen’s Park. Ana Bailão said her relationship with Ford, when both were at city hall, taught him “that there’s no BS with me and I think he appreciates that.”

The former councillor and housing advocate added: .“I said at the start of my campaign the province needs to upload the (Gardiner Expressway and Don Valley Parkway) highways … But I also said building housing on the parking lots of the Ontario Science Centre is a good idea. You need to find common ground. Doug Ford pays attention to the voter and the voter is the strongest power for us.”