Chow Secure on One Year Anniversary

July 11, 2024 (Toronto, ON) – A new Liaison Strategies poll for the National Ethnic Press and Media Council of Canada (NEPMCC) shows Olivia Chow would be re-elected if a mayoral election were held today.

Conducted from July 7-8, 2024, using interactive voice response technology, the poll surveyed 858 Toronto residents. The margin of error for the poll is +/- 3.35%, 19 times out of 20. Liaison is a member of the Canadian Research Insights Council (CRIC).

"Olivia Chow's approval is up 6 points to 59% and she leads Ana Bailao in a theoretical rematch by 19 points" said David Valentin, principal at Liaison Strategies. "On her one-year anniversary as mayor she looks secure at City Hall after a term full of tough decisions."

"In a rematch of the race from 2023, Chow scores 43% to Bailao's 24% with councillor Brad Bradford in third at 8%. Chow performs best in Downtown (40%) and worst in Etobicoke (25%) but even there she is leading as opposition is split. To be sure, we don't expect all contenders from 2023 to seek the mayor's chair again so there will likely be some consolidation but that could work to Chow's benefit as well."

"Olivia Chow's approval rating is up 6 points this month - the trend has recently had her between 52% and 53%. It remains to be seen if this is the new normal as we get further and further away from the budget or if this is a momentary spike in support. That being said, Chow is performing well when it comes to the way she is handling multiple issues - though she doesn't perform well when it comes to crime or traffic congestion."

Do you approve or disapprove of the way Mayor Olivia Chow is handling....
The relationship with the provincial and federal governments - 67% approval
Affordable housing - 62% approval
Crime - 52% disapproval
Traffic congestion - 54% disapproval
Transit - 74% approval
Tensions over the Middle East in Toronto - 44% approval, 33% disapproval

"Chow's rising approval rating comes at the same time that City Council's approval has fallen by 8 points. While a majority of Torontonians believe the city is moving in the right direction, 45% now want to see spending cuts at City Hall - more than double from April of 2023."

"We asked Torontonians what the most important issue facing the city is and while Affordable Housing is still the top issue it's down 6 points while those saying Crime is the top issue is up 8 points."

"Lastly, we checked in on Toronto's decision to rename Yonge-Dundas Square to Sankofa square. We had last polled this in January and found the decision was widely unpopular. Despite or perhaps because of, months of this issue being in the public, those numbers are virtually unchanged with 70% of Torontonians disapproving of the name change," concluded Valentin.

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