N環球 
Toronto's final mayoral debate: Chow and Bradford face off four days before election day
The last televised debate of Toronto's 2026 mayoral race aired Oct 22: Olivia Chow and Brad Bradford clashed over housing, the Gardiner rebuild, property taxes, and Scarborough transit in a 90-minute CP24 "Toronto Decides" debate; voters head to the polls Monday, Oct 26.
Why it matters
This was the final public debate before the Oct 26 vote. The latest poll has Olivia Chow and Brad Bradford within the margin of error, with about 13% of voters saying the debate could change their vote — this face-off may well decide the race.
Full report
At 7 p.m. on Oct 22, CP24 aired "Toronto Decides: The Municipal Debate," a 90-minute commercial-free broadcast moderated by anchor Michelle Dube, with viewer questions. Incumbent Olivia Chow and challenger Brad Bradford met for the last time just four days before Monday's Oct 26 election.
Key clashes
Housing drew the sharpest exchanges. Bradford accused Chow of delivering only 1,500 of 65,000 promised purpose-built rentals — "a mere two per cent… it would take 115 years"; Chow countered that approvals sped up 80% on her watch and development charges were lowered.
On the Gardiner Expressway rebuild, Chow said: "Rather than three years, we cut it by half, so a year-and-a-half of less congestion." Bradford accused Chow of raising property taxes 20%; Chow replied his promises would create a "$6 billion deficit."
On Scarborough transit, Bradford doubled down: the Eglinton East LRT as the top priority (construction goal 2030), removing 12 km of red bus lanes, and guaranteeing 15-minute service on key bus routes.
Context: a Nanos poll for CP24/CTV had Chow at 49.8% and Bradford at 46.6%, within the margin of error, with 13% of voters open to changing their vote based on the debate.
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