Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow did not take part in debate on antisemitism
In Toronto, Canada, mayoral candidates and community representatives held a debate on antisemitism and the security of community institutions without incumbent Mayor Olivia Chow. The forum took place on Tuesday at a synagogue, and its address was not publicly announced for security reasons — it was provided only to registered participants.
The event was organized by the Jewish Lawyers of Canada association so that candidates could present their approaches to combating antisemitism, protecting community institutions, and strengthening public safety. As The Jerusalem Post reports, Chow's team told local media that the mayor would not take part in debates until the official start of her re-election campaign.
Explanation for the mayor's absence
The discussion's moderator, journalist and podcaster Jesse Brown, told those present that organizers had not received a response regarding Chow's participation for several weeks. According to him, they were informed last week that she would be unable to attend the event because her campaign officially begins on September 9. When the organizers proposed moving the debate to that date, no response followed, Brown added.
Chow's main rivals took part in the debate: City Councillor Brad Bradford and former federal minister and diplomat Chris Alexander. Bradford criticized the mayor's absence, saying that the city was not having a full conversation about antisemitism, which, in his view, had intensified in Toronto over the past three years.
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Participants' positions
Bradford promised that, if elected, he would join the city's police board. He said that security incidents had affected schools, synagogues, and local businesses, and that security was a necessary condition for the city's freedom.
Alexander emphasized his experience in the federal government and diplomacy. He said that combating antisemitism and hate crimes requires the candidates' varied experience, and that city authorities must take into account the connection between international threats and local security.
City Councillor Mike Colle also addressed the audience. He said that municipal elections concern more than just property taxes, traffic congestion, or cycling infrastructure, and stated that without leadership and moral conviction, the city would be unable to counter what he called an ongoing attack on the Jewish community.
