‘Read between the lines’: Ford nearly endorses Olivia Chow for mayor

Ontario Premier Doug Ford all but endorsed Olivia Chow’s mayoral race at a news conference Wednesday.

“The mayor and I have a phenomenal relationship, phenomenal,” said Ford. “We’re going to continue supporting the mayor, so read between the lines.” 

The premier made the comment when asked by a reporter where he “was at” in terms of the upcoming municipal election.

In a statement Thursday, however, a spokesperson for his office said: “We would like to clarify that Premier Ford did not endorse Olivia Chow and will not endorse any candidate in the Toronto mayoral race.

“The premier has demonstrated that he will work with anyone no matter their political stripe to advance the interests of the people of Ontario,” the statement from Jennifer Cunliffe said.

Ford was joined by the mayor and provincial ministers for an announcement regarding Ontario and Canada’s investment in global biopharmaceutical company Sanofi to expand vaccine manufacturing.

The comments are a far cry from Ford’s prediction during the 2023 mayoral race that electing Chow would be an “unmitigated disaster.”

The premier and Chow have not always seen eye-to-eye, coming to loggerheads in the past over issues like the province’s takeover of Billy Bishop Airport and its plans to rip out Toronto bike lanes. 

The two have worked closely on many issues since then, and Ford has often said the pair get along well.

Chow is running against Brad Bradford and Chris Alexander, among a packed slate of about 50 other candidates.

“Of course the Premier endorsed Olivia Chow,” said Mark Pelayo, spokesperson for Bradford’s campaign.

“She is the easiest negotiation he has ever had. Everything she told Torontonians she would fight and oppose, she handed over on a silver platter.” 

Alexander’s team responded to the news, saying in an email the fact remains that Olivia Chow has feuded with this Premier over countless issues.

“Neither side wins from these disputes.”