This is a tale of two cities and two mayors.
In Toronto, there is a petition underway to remove Mayor Olivia Chow for not attending the one-year anniversary of the slaughter in Israel by Hamas militants from Gaza. In Barrie, there is appreciation for Mayor Alex Nuttall, who not only made it to that city’s ceremony but made sure it happened.
In Toronto, more than 8,200 people and counting — as of Thursday at 7 p.m. — want Chow to resign out of a 10,000-signature goal. It would certainly take a lot more than 8,200 people signing a petition demanding she resign for “neglecting the Jewish community” before she ever would.
But Chow, who could not miss B’nai Brith’s tweet saying “shame on you,” somehow just does not seem to understand how much hurt has been caused. And she seems to double down on it like an amateur.
“At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter,” she told CP24 on Thursday. “On Monday, I wore black the entire day, even most of the weekend, because mourning the loss was top of mind … I count on my staff to tell me where I am going … I apologize to the Jewish community and will do better.”
Chow can’t do any worse. The whole thing has left a black mark on the city and on her mayoralty.
That so many people have signed a change.org petition will be noticed in the mayor’s office and noticed even more if it grows past its goal. Perhaps not because the mayor will feel any pressure that she could potentially lose her job for not attending the Oct. 7 candlelight vigil at the United Jewish Appeal Federation’s Sherman campus on Bathurst. And perhaps not even because of the fear that could result in 10,000 votes against her in 2026.
No, what this petition does is stir up those who may run against her and those who may want to help fund a quality candidate who may want to run against her. There is no shortage of names who could try to challenge her – many of whom were at this event.
Councillor Brad Bradford is certainly one. Former mayor John Tory could decide to come back and he would be formidable. Anthony Furey ran fourth last time and though he is not yet on council, he is expected to win a byelection to replace the late councillor Jaye Robinson and is on the dance card of many to one day be mayor. Liberal MP Marco Mendicino is another possible contender and Independent MP Kevin Vuong, too.
Replacing her at the ballot box is the only way it will happen. Still, this petition is not waiting for that.
“Mayor Olivia Chow has been consistently absent at crucial moments when we needed her to stand with the Jewish community,” it says. “It is concerning to see our mayor failing to show up to support her city’s citizens during such troubling times.
“Mayor Chow has not taken sufficient action to shut down hate protests targeting the Toronto Jewish community. This ambivalence sends a disheartening message to the Jewish citizens of Toronto, making us feel isolated and overlooked in our own city.”
Throw in the 9.5% property tax increase, bike lanes everywhere, the renaming on Yonge-Dundas Square to Sankofa Square and there’s lots to work with. But it was not just being absent from the Oct. 7 vigil at the Sherman campus of the UJA that has irked many, but the notion that somehow she did not receive her invitation.
The Jewish groups have seen her media messes pile up, but say they have yet to hear from her directly. However, word is Chow’s chief of staff has made a phone call to UJA leadership to begin the process of setting up a meeting. Too late? A start?
Chow, who is not only known to attend events but actually dress up in cultural clothing of the group or community hosting the event to show her support for them, has said she “regrets” not being there and “should have” been there – albeit citing communications issues as the reason. She doesn’t seem to want to take any of the blame, which means she’s not fixing what she broke.
Meanwhile, one place where there was no problem getting the mayor to attend an Oct. 7 vigil was in Barrie. Nuttall not only received his invitation, but went a step further and made sure city hall was available for the special ceremony.
“We asked for his help and he was there in such a big way,” said Barrie businessman Steve Sperling, who attends of the Am Shalom Synagogue and wanted to do something to remember everyone slain at the hands of Hamas, while praying for peace and the release of remaining hostages. Sperling said the mayor “opened up the city hall rotunda” and there were no games or pushback or worrying about votes.
Saying “it was a great event that was well attended and safe,” Nuttall was there for his Jewish community.
“He sat in the front row and gave a beautiful speech,” said Sperling. “It — as well as the contribution from the amazing City of Barrie staff — was sure appreciated.”
Sperling said he expected about two dozen people to attend, but it was bigger.
“We had 300 people there,” said Sperling. “We feel really good about it and want to thank the mayor for being there for us.”
One mayor showed up and one didn’t.