---
title: "Chow and 15 current councillors oppose Bradford's plan to restructure Toronto Water"
description: "Brad Bradford says restructuring Toronto Water into a separate public utility would cut the average household water bill by 25 per cent. Olivia Chow, CUPE Local 416 and 15 current councillors say the plan risks losing control of the water system."
canonical_url: "https://voche.me/on/toronto-2026/news/bradford-water-plan-councillors-oppose-october-21"
last_updated: "2026-10-22T02:50:15.711Z"
---

[Brad Bradford's](/on/toronto-2026/candidates/brad-bradford) plan to restructure Toronto Water drew a formal letter of opposition from [Olivia Chow](/on/toronto-2026/candidates/olivia-chow), CUPE Local 416 and 15 current city councillors on October 21, five days before election day.

CBC News reported the dispute on October 21, 2026.

## Bradford's proposal

Bradford proposes turning Toronto Water into a separate, publicly owned utility, following the model of Toronto Hydro, which became a corporation in 1999. Bradford's campaign says the restructuring would cut the average household water bill by 25 per cent. City of Toronto documents cited by CBC News put the average water bill at about $1,100 per year.

Bradford says the current structure collects too much money for city reserves on top of the actual cost of delivering water, and he says a separate utility would charge only the cost of delivery. Bradford told reporters he would ensure the utility "always" remains publicly owned, according to CBC News.

## The opposition letter

CUPE Local 416, the union representing City-run Toronto Water workers, collected opposition from 16 current council members, including Chow and some who are retiring, to sign a letter warning against the plan. CBC News reported 13 of the signing councillors are seeking re-election on October 26.

CUPE released a legal opinion from a Toronto-based law firm saying that under Ontario's rules for publicly owned waste and wastewater corporations, the provincial minister would have the power to intervene in the utility's governance and change ownership rules in ways City Council could not override.

Chow told reporters at a campaign event on October 21: "My opponent cannot promise what the water bill will be, he cannot promise that Toronto will remain in control." Chow said she would never give the city's water away.

## Bradford's defence

Bradford told reporters he wants rates to reflect the actual cost of delivering water, and said current billing overcharges households. CBC News reported his position, and CP24 reported he called the opposition's arguments inaccurate.

CBC News noted that if enough councillors who signed the letter win re-election, Bradford could face a council that would not support his plan.

## What this means for voters

## If Bradford wins the mayor's race on October 26, 2026, the future of Toronto Water will depend on council. Thirteen of the 15 opposing councillors are on the ballot. Voters can find Brad Bradford's full platform at [/on/toronto-2026/candidates/brad-bradford](/on/toronto-2026/candidates/brad-bradford) and Olivia Chow's at [/on/toronto-2026/candidates/olivia-chow](/on/toronto-2026/candidates/olivia-chow).

## Sitemap

See the full [sitemap](/on/toronto-2026/sitemap.md) for all pages.