New Poll Shows Growing Support for Mayor Olivia Chow in Toronto Mayoral Race

A new poll by Liaison Strategies suggests that Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow is experiencing a rise in support among decided and leaning voters. The survey indicates Chow holds 49 per cent of the support, placing her ahead of Councillor Brad Bradford, who has 38 per cent. Chris Alexander, a former Conservative MP, is at 11 per cent. This represents a slight increase for Chow since an earlier poll by the same firm.

Among all respondents, including those undecided, Chow has 39 per cent support, Bradford has 30 per cent, and Alexander has nine per cent, with 19 per cent undecided. The poll also found that 52 per cent of respondents approve of Mayor Chow's job performance, while 42 per cent disapprove.

Regarding the city's overall direction, 48 per cent of those surveyed believe Toronto is moving in the right direction, compared to 45 per cent who think it is moving in the wrong direction. The poll also highlighted differing views on bike lanes, with 65 per cent stating a candidate's stance on the issue is important. However, support for expanding or maintaining bike lanes is divided, with nuances based on geographic location within the city.

Additionally, the poll addressed voter sentiment on renaming Sankofa Square, with 56 per cent supporting a change. For the relationship between the mayor and the Ontario Premier, 48 per cent prefer a balanced approach, while 25 per cent favour a more confrontational stance and 19 per cent advocate for collaboration.

The findings are based on a random sample of 1,000 Torontonians polled between August 14-16, with a margin of error of +/- 3.1 percentage points. There are currently 45 candidates running for mayor of Toronto.