b'TORONTO MAYORAL BYELECTIONOLIVIA CHOWWINS TORONTO MAYORAL BYELECTIONWHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY? By Warren HeeleyWITH A RECORD 102 candidatesExperts have noted that two key tasksShe also wants to access the federal on the ballot, Oliva Chow won thefor the new mayor are to improvegovernments significant investments Toronto Mayoral byelection on June 26 andcity services and put in place a newin the National Housing Strategy, using assumes the leadership of a city strugglingdeal with the province and federalCMHC programs in addition to a small with a number of key issues, includinggovernment. Chow also assumes theincrease of 0.33 per cent to the existing housing affordability, public safety andnew strong mayor powers, whichCity Building Fund.a $1.4-billion budget deficit. Chow is ainclude special authority for a number former Toronto city councillor, a federal NDPof decision-making processes suchAnother construction-oriented position member of parliament, and, as noted in theas hiring and firing of senior city staff,is getting developers to provide more Globe and Mail, the first racialized persondeveloping the city budget and passing to be elected leader of Canadas mostbylaws. She has indicated, however, shecommunity benefits in new construction diverse city. will not use the minority voting powers.projects. Chow also wants to ensure road construction is better co-ordinated Chows comfortable lead in the advanceCONSTRUCTION IMPACT across city divisions and governments polls dwindled when former Mayor JohnOn housing, Chow wants to see the cityin order to keep traffic, cyclists and Tory endorsed his deputy mayor Ana Bailaoact as a developer and partner withpedestrians moving as much as possible.less than a week before the election. Still,builders to construct a mix of affordable Chow overcame Bailaos late surge andand market-rate rental apartments toWhat does this mean for the citys ended up with 37 per cent of the popularbe operated by non-profit groups. Herconstruction industry? The industry vote compared to Bailaos 32 per cent.goal is 25,000 new rental housinghas articulated a number of challenges Early estimates indicate that voter turnoutunits in eight years and to spend $100affecting how construction companies was around 30 per cent higher than in themillion annually to help purchase, repairin Toronto do business. The city needs municipal election in October of 2022.and transfer existing affordable rentalto sort out these challenges. First and buildings to non-profit, community andforemost, there are bylaws and logistical Chow ran on a platform of changing TorontoIndigenous housing providers.to be a more caring, safe and affordablebarriers that are making it increasingly city. A key pillar of her platform involvedIn her plan, Chow refers to the 28,000difficult to keep up with construction raising property taxes and taxes on vacantacres of land owned by the city, ademands. The needs of residents homes and land transfer on homes aboveportion of which will be used to meetagainst the demands of ongoing $3 million.the 25,000-housing unit objective.construction need to be balanced.22Quarter 22023 BUILDERSDIGEST'