Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow has taken to Reddit, a popular online platform, to engage directly with residents about pressing city issues. In a post shared on the r/toronto subreddit, the mayor introduced herself with a picture holding a handwritten sign featuring her Reddit username and invited Torontonians to submit questions.
“Instead of just lurking on this subreddit, I’d love to take some time to answer questions and talk to folks about what’s going on at City Hall,” Chow wrote in the caption.
The Reddit Ask Me Anything (AMA) session is scheduled for Friday, January 10, from 2-3 p.m., and questions have been flooding in since her announcement. By Thursday morning, the thread had already garnered over 1,500 comments.
Addressing Toronto’s Challenges
Residents are using the AMA to voice concerns about various city issues. One user raised the housing affordability crisis, sharing their struggle to stay in the Greater Toronto Area despite having a good job. Chow is expected to discuss the city’s HousingTO 2020-2030 Action Plan, which outlines strategies to address housing challenges, from homelessness to affordable housing development.
Another commenter highlighted the paramedic services crisis, citing low ambulance availability, staff shortages, and ongoing labor disputes. This follows recent negotiations with the Toronto Civic Employees Union Local 416, which ratified a new agreement, while 1,400 paramedics voted against its terms.
Mass transit projects were also a key topic, with one user urging residents to support city-wide developments like the Ontario Line, Eglinton Crosstown projects, and the Scarborough Subway extension by opposing “Not In My Backyard” (NIMBY) attitudes.
Broader City Issues
Questions about bike lanes, pedestrianizing downtown streets, and the future of the Ontario Science Centre have also been raised, along with updates on infrastructure projects like the Gardiner Expressway rehabilitation and plans for Highway 413.
Mayor Chow’s spokesperson, Bradley Hammond, called the AMA a “wonderful opportunity” for the mayor to connect with Torontonians directly. Chow has pledged to address as many questions as possible during the session, further demonstrating her commitment to open dialogue with the city’s residents.