Politics

The Record

What they said, what happened — the standing ledger of promises by sitting politicians, checked on the record. Said vs did, side by side.

File 1 — Olivia Chow, Mayor of Toronto

Property-tax record: increases of 9.5%, 6.9%, 2.2% across her budgets

Said: City budgets 2024–2026 (per Ep research file 2026-10-12); cross-checked 2026-10-27 against Fox Marin's Toronto election analysis (Sept 2026 data): "Toronto property taxes rose 9.5% in 2024, 6.9% in 2025, and 2.2% in 2026, about 20% total"

The test: Each future budget's residential increase vs her affordability framing

Check: Every budget day

VERIFIED 2026-10-27 — published in The Record, Oct 27 edition

10,000 new rental homes (2026 campaign pledge)

Said: 2026 campaign

The test: Starts/completions counted against 10,000 by end of term

Check: Quarterly

OPEN — term clock starts Nov 2026

65,000 rent-controlled homes target

Said: Council 2023.EX7.2 (voted Yes; adopted 23-1)

The test: City progress reports vs target trajectory

Check: On each city housing report

OPEN

Renoviction licence by-law — landlords need a licence to renovict

Said: Council 2024.PH16.4 (adopted 25-1)

The test: Licences issued, enforcement actions, renoviction volumes

Check: Semi-annual

OPEN

Support for the Scarborough East Rapid Transit Line

Said: Council 2026.EX30.11 (adopted 25-0, Apr 22 2026)

The test: Funding, milestones, construction start vs promises

Check: On each transit milestone

OPEN — Scarborough watch item

Will not exercise the budget veto

Said: Mayoral Decision 4-2026

The test: Any budget veto use during the term

Check: Continuous

OPEN

Study banning surveillance pricing on groceries, staff report due Q1 2027

Said: Council 2026.EX33.33 (adopted 26-0)

The test: Report delivered Q1 2027? Findings? Action?

Check: Q1 2027

OPEN — dated deliverable

Keep property-tax increases "around the rate of inflation" if re-elected

Said: 2026 campaign, reported by The Canadian Press / CTV (Oct 2026)

The test: Residential increase in Budget 2027 (and each budget of the term) vs the inflation rate

Check: Budget 2027, then every budget day

OPEN — new-term pledge, added 2026-10-27

Cap TTC fares: free rides after 10 paid trips in a week

Said: 2026 campaign, reported by The Canadian Press (Oct 26, 2026)

The test: Fare-cap policy live on the TTC; terms as promised

Check: On implementation / first term budget

OPEN — added 2026-10-27

Expand the school meal / school food program city-wide

Said: 2026 campaign, reported by The Canadian Press and The Local (Oct 2026)

The test: Program reach vs campaign commitment

Check: On each program announcement

OPEN — added 2026-10-27

File 2 — Mark Sutcliffe, Mayor of Ottawa

Keep property-tax increases to no more than 2.5% in the first two budgets of the new term

Said: 2026 campaign, reported by Capital Current (Oct 2026); also cited $252 million in savings found in the first term

The test: Residential increase in Ottawa Budgets 2027 and 2028 vs the 2.5% cap

Check: Each Ottawa budget day

OPEN — added 2026-10-27

Find another $250 million in savings by maintaining hiring freezes and expanding a program review

Said: 2026 campaign, reported by Capital Current (Oct 2026)

The test: City-reported savings vs $250 million

Check: On each city financial report

OPEN — added 2026-10-27

File 3 — Danielle Smith, Premier of Alberta

No second separation referendum while she is premier, if Remain wins the Oct 19, 2026 referendum (paraphrase-flagged: she told CBC there would be no second vote "as long as I am premier" if Remain won)

Said: CBC interview, Oct 9, 2026, as carried in Chronicle coverage

The test: Any second separation referendum called, or legislation introduced toward one, during her premiership

Check: Continuous; term watch

OPEN — added 2026-10-29. Unofficial Q10 result: Remain about 75 per cent; official results released Oct 29, 2026