Brief
Poll shows 64% of Torontonians view mayor and council as out of touch
A CityNews poll released on Oct. 7 finds 64% of residents think municipal leaders are disconnected from residents' needs.
By Felo News Desk · Published
CityNews reported on Oct. 7 that a Canada Pulse Insights poll found 64% of Torontonians believe the mayor and city council are out of touch with what residents want and need.
What happened
The poll, conducted for CityNews, asked respondents about their views on the mayor, local councillors and the council as a whole. While 64% said the mayor and council are out of touch, 56% still believed the mayor was doing a good job, 64% thought their local councillor was doing a good job and 55% rated the council overall positively. When asked whether the city is headed in the right direction, 54% said it is on the wrong track and 46% said it is headed correctly. Supporters of incumbent mayor Olivia Chow were more optimistic – 71% said the city is on the right track – compared with only 21% of Brad Bradford’s supporters.
What the reports add
The poll identified affordability and cost of living as the top issue for 43% of all voters. Among Chow supporters, 45% named cost of living as the top issue, while 39% of Bradford supporters did so. Crime, policing and public safety ranked second overall at 29%, and traffic congestion and road infrastructure at 25%.
What was said
Pollster John Wright told CityNews, "I think what drives people to the polls is not only the desire for change, but why? What are the issues driving it right now? It’s affordability, and that lands more on Olivia Chow’s doorstep than it does on the other people."
How it came about
The poll was released ahead of the municipal election in which incumbent mayor Olivia Chow holds a slight lead over challenger Brad Bradford, a former city councillor for Beaches‑East York. The findings echo earlier local coverage of voter concerns about housing affordability, homelessness and public safety.
Key facts
- 64% of Torontonians think the mayor and city council are out of touch (toronto.citynews.ca)
- 56% say the mayor is doing a good job, 64% say their local councillor is doing a good job, 55% rate the council positively (toronto.citynews.ca)
- Affordability and cost of living is the top issue for 43% of voters (toronto.citynews.ca)
- 71% of Chow supporters think the city is headed in the right direction, versus 21% of Bradford supporters (toronto.citynews.ca)
Sources
- [1] toronto.citynews.ca — originally reported as “Two-thirds of Torontonians think mayor, city council are out of touch: poll”
