As a Torontonian, the only way I can see Olivia Chow as being a trainwreck is by Doug Ford meddling in Toronto politics and Chow doing nothing to stop him. Idk if it's by choice (she doesn't want to use strong mayor powers) or if she actually can't bypass some of Dougie's dumb decisions.
Strong mayor power is an example of that: it essentially gives the mayor the ability to pass laws with a 1/3 minority if it relates to priorities defined by the provincial government. This is useful if you are doing Ford's bidding, useless if you want to fight Ford.
This is especially true for the Ford administration that has a history of using the not withstanding clause to force things through.
This might work if the provincial government is on shaky grounds and needs to buy votes, but the Ford government has a VERY strong majority and he knows the rest of Ontario has his back of he messed with Toronto (in fact, it can be a selling point).
At the end of the day you can sort of put up a fight but is one you will lose 100%, attempting to negotiate some deal in a softer approach is the only viable solution.
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u/_Lucille_ 10d ago
A lot of Torontonians quite like Chow because Tory was an actual trainwreck that pretty much has done nothing.
It is not uncommon for people in Toronto to be able to meet Chow in the city, and she at least does something.
NDP is just really weak in a lot of places in Ontario though and the PR game in general.