Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow says that Doug Ford’s “first job” amid a renewed trade war with the U.S. is to “fight Trump” and not move forward with the removal of bike lanes along three arteries in the city. The Court of Appeal for Ontario released a decision on Aug. 14 which cleared the way for the Ford government to remove bike lanes along Bloor Street, Yonge Street and University Avenue. Ontario Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria subsequently called the decision a “victory for common sense” after a lower court initially ruled that the government’s plan violated the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms because it would “put people at increased risk of harm and death.” However, the government has not indicated when it might move forward with the removal of the bike lanes. Asked about the issue during an unrelated news conference on Monday, Chow said that she wants Ford’s focus to be elsewhere right now. “I can’t guess (when the lanes will be removed) but I think the premier his first job is to fight trump right?” she said. “Be ‘Captain Canada’ as part of team Canada and work with the prime minister closely and I believe that will be his first priority. Bike lanes are very local, leave it to the local community to decide. That is what I believe in.” Chow’s comments on Monday came after U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to increase tariffs on all cars and trucks to 50 per cent next year following the collapse in trade talks with Canada. Discussing the tariffs more broadly, Chow said that while they are “going to hurt,” she is confident that Toronto’s economy can withstand the impact. “Toronto is incredibly resilient, even during this climate of uncertainty. In 2026, we are on track to create 16,000 jobs, new jobs. Whereas in America in a lot of the major cities the unemployment rate is etching up, our unemployment rate, I believe, is etching down,” she said.
