June 21, 2025, 12:20pm
In a stunning and frankly absurd display of political theatre, Mayor Olivia Chow and her personally appointed Executive Committee unanimously voted to reject Councillor Brad Bradford’s motion to livestream the Mayor’s press conferences, a practice common in global cities such as New York, Chicago, and San Francisco.
City staff presented their 11th-hour report on the matter, pegging the cost at $600,000 annually, including the hiring of four full-time staff at $150,000 each. A rather eye-opening and shocking estimate for something that can be done relatively cheaply with existing A/V infrastructure at city hall. Rather than adopt the motion, the Committee opted to amend it with vague language about “identifying opportunities” to improve access — effectively shelving the initiative.
This decision marks a significant erosion of democratic transparency. Informed civic engagement depends on residents having clear, unfiltered access to their elected leaders. Blocking the livestreaming of press conferences undermines accountability, limits media access, and diminishes public trust.
In a particularly bizarre but on-brand moment, Councillor Gord Perks (Parkdale–High Park, Ward 4) accused Bradford of “rage farming,” rather than engaging the substance of the motion.
IntegrityTO Executive Director Daniel Tate delivered a deputation highlighting the importance of real-time access to mayoral communications. At one moment he had to stop because Councillor Shelley Carroll was talking and disrupting his deputation. Every member of Chow’s Executive Committee voted against the motion, including:
- Alejandra Bravo (Davenport, Ward 9)
- Paula Fletcher (Toronto–Danforth, Ward 14)
- Shelley Carroll (Don Valley North, Ward 17)
- Josh Matlow (Toronto–St. Paul’s, Ward 12)
- Mike Colle (Eglinton–Lawrence, Ward 8)
- Gord Perks (Parkdale–High Park, Ward 4)
- Amber Morley (Etobicoke–Lakeshore, Ward 3)
- Paul Ainslie (Scarborough–Guildwood, Ward 24)
- Ausma Malik (Spadina–Fort York, Ward 10)
So much for transparency.