TORONTO, ONT. โ Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow will not participate in an upcoming mayoral debate focused on antisemitism and public safety, with her team saying she will not attend candidate events before formally launching her re-election campaign the following day.
The Sept. 8 debate, organized by Jewish Lawyers of Canada, is expected to bring mayoral candidates before a large audience to discuss how City Hall should confront antisemitism and hate, protect community institutions and strengthen public safety.
Chow’s two leading opponents, Toronto Coun. Brad Bradford and former federal cabinet minister Chris Alexander, have confirmed their participation.
The mayor’s absence is drawing particular attention because the debate is being held amid persistent concerns about antisemitism and security within Toronto’s Jewish community. Toronto Police statistics show anti-Jewish incidents accounted for 82 percent of reported religion-motivated hate crimes in the city in 2025.
Chow’s campaign says the decision is about timing, not the subject of the debate.
Her spokesperson, Shirven Rezvany, said Chow is not formally launching her re-election campaign until Sept. 9 and “she will not be participating in any debates or candidate events” before that date.
Chow is expected to participate in another mayoral debate on Sept. 14 hosted by the Daily Bread Food Bank. Bradford and Alexander are also expected to participate in that event.
Jewish Community Safety Called A ‘Top Priority’
Rezvany said Chow considers the safety of Toronto’s Jewish community a “top priority” and acknowledged the extraordinary security measures that have become part of Jewish life in the city.
“Mayor Chow believes it is unacceptable that Jewish community members need police presence to go to Shul, to a community centre, to drop their kids at child care, or to take part in any aspect of Jewish cultural life,” Rezvany said.
He said Chow has condemned antisemitism, supported increased police presence, met with Jewish community leaders and law enforcement, and believes “there is more work to do.”
Her campaign said she intends to engage with the Jewish community on antisemitism and safety after formally launching her campaign.
The explanation has not ended questions about Chow’s absence.
Jewish Lawyers of Canada had been communicating with the mayor’s team about the debate since Aug. 7, according to reporting by the Toronto Star. The organization publicly announced the debate on Aug. 18 and said at the time that discussions were underway with Chow’s campaign about her participation.
Jesse Brown, founder of Canadaland and moderator of the Sept. 8 debate, questioned the explanation after Chow’s decision became public.
Brown said that if the date had been the obstacle, organizers would have moved it, and if his role as moderator had been the problem, he would have withdrawn.
Debate Location Kept Secret For Security Reasons
The circumstances surrounding the debate itself underscore the security concerns facing Toronto’s Jewish community.
The event is being held at a Toronto synagogue, but organizers have not publicly disclosed the address. The location is being provided to registered participants, with police and professional security expected to be present.
Jewish Lawyers of Canada originally announced that the event would provide candidates with an opportunity to explain how they would confront antisemitism and hate, strengthen public safety, protect community institutions, and ensure Toronto residents can participate in civic life without intimidation.
The organization expects an audience of approximately 1,200.
“Hate has no place in Toronto. We cannot accept gun violence or targeted hate directed at people in their places of worship, schools or businesses,” Jewish Lawyers of Canada president Eric Frydman said when the debate was announced.
Frydman cited Toronto Police figures showing anti-Jewish occurrences accounted for 82 percent of religion-motivated hate crimes reported in 2025.
“We stand against hate directed at every community, and anyone seeking to lead this city must take a firm stand when one community is being targeted so disproportionately,” he said.
The debate is part of Jewish Leadership in Canada Week, which runs Sept. 8 through Sept. 13.
The City of Toronto itself has proclaimed the week, with a proclamation issued in Chow’s name stating that the city “remains committed to confronting antisemitism and all forms of hate and discrimination.”
Chow’s Record Has Faced Jewish Community Criticism
Chow’s handling of antisemitism and Israel-related issues has been a recurring source of friction with some members and organizations within Toronto’s Jewish community since the Hamas-led terrorist attacks in Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.
In 2024, Chow faced criticism after missing a Toronto vigil marking the first anniversary of the Oct. 7 attack. She said her absence resulted from a missed email.
She also drew criticism that year after deciding not to attend the annual Israeli flag-raising ceremony at Toronto City Hall. Chow said at the time that the event had become “divisive.”
Further controversy followed comments by Chow in November 2025 in which she characterized Israel’s conduct in Gaza as genocide. Israel has repeatedly rejected genocide allegations.
Chow has rejected claims that she has failed to take antisemitism seriously and has repeatedly condemned attacks against Jewish institutions.
Toronto City Council also unanimously adopted a motion on July 30 addressing the increase in antisemitism and hate-motivated incidents. Chow was among the 23 members who voted in favour.
The debate over her record comes against a serious security backdrop.
Although Toronto Police reported that overall hate crimes declined substantially in 2025 compared with the previous year, Jewish residents remained disproportionately targeted among religion-motivated incidents.
Jewish institutions across the Greater Toronto Area have also faced shootings, vandalism, threats and heightened security requirements in recent years.
The Sept. 8 debate was designed to put those concerns directly before candidates seeking Toronto’s highest municipal office.
Bradford and Alexander will be there to answer those questions.
Chow will not.
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