---
title: "Chow and Bradford clash on taxes and water at final CP24 debate"
description: "Olivia Chow and Brad Bradford held their final debate before election day on Thursday at CP24, trading challenges over affordability plans, a water system overhaul, and campaign promises."
canonical_url: "https://voche.me/on/toronto-2026/news/chow-bradford-cp24-debate-results-october-22"
last_updated: "2026-10-23T02:37:52.031Z"
---

[Olivia Chow](/on/toronto-2026/candidates/olivia-chow) and [Brad Bradford](/on/toronto-2026/candidates/brad-bradford) met for the last time on Thursday at the CP24 Toronto Decides debate, four days before Toronto votes on October 26. CBC reported that the two candidates went back and forth over property taxes, a plan to restructure the city's water system, and whether Bradford can pay for his promises.

## Affordability

CBC reports that when asked how they would make Toronto more affordable in their first year in office, the two candidates gave different answers.

Bradford said he would freeze property taxes for a year and cut residents' water bills by 25 per cent. He said the water bill cut would come from turning Toronto Water into a separate company, similar to how Toronto Hydro is set up. The union representing Toronto Water workers and 15 sitting councillors have written a letter opposing that plan, according to CBC.

Chow focused on two programs she says are already running. She said she would provide free lunches to every grade school student in the city and cap TTC fares so riders pay for no more than 10 trips a week.

## Paying for the promises

Chow challenged Bradford's ability to fund his proposals. "The councillor has promised billions of dollars of campaign promises that he'll have a hard time paying," CBC quoted her as saying.

Bradford's pledges, including cutting the land transfer tax on the first $1.1 million of all homes and the property tax freeze, amount to hundreds of millions of dollars, according to CBC. Bradford said Thursday his plan would involve no cuts to front-line services. He compared his approach to how federal and provincial governments operate, borrowing to pay for infrastructure over decades rather than saving up before spending.

## Where the polls stand

CBC reported that a Liaison Strategies poll released Wednesday put Bradford ahead by two points, within that survey's margin of error. A Nanos Research poll from Tuesday put Chow ahead by three points, also within the margin of error. A Mainstreet Research poll from a couple of weeks earlier had Chow leading by six points. Earlier polls from this election are covered on the [Toronto election news page](/on/toronto-2026/news).

## What voters can do

Voting day is Monday, October 26, 2026. Polls open at 10 a.m. The City of Toronto's website at toronto.ca has a tool to find your voting place.

## Sitemap

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