---
title: "Chow pledges to protect Toronto Public Library from budget cuts if re-elected"
description: "Mayoral candidate Olivia Chow said on October 14 that she would keep the Toronto Public Library budget intact and expand youth programming if voters return her to office on October 26."
canonical_url: "https://voche.me/on/toronto-2026/news/olivia-chow-library-promise-october-14"
last_updated: "2026-10-17T18:40:00.196Z"
---

Mayoral candidate [Olivia Chow](/on/toronto-2026/candidates/olivia-chow) published a pledge on October 14 to protect the Toronto Public Library from budget cuts if voters return her to office on October 26. NOW Toronto reported the announcement, written by reporter Tyreike Reid, which the campaign says builds on changes made during her current term.

"Life wasn't easy growing up, but we could rely on our public library. It's a free place for families, they make life more affordable," Chow said, according to NOW Toronto.

## What the pledge covers

Chow's platform, as described by NOW Toronto, would add more drop-in spaces, after-school programs, teen zones, digital literacy tools, and free nutritious snacks for young people at library branches.

The campaign also says Chow would continue the move toward seven-day-a-week library service that began during her first term, along with children's programming every weekend and more free family activities. The campaign has not published a cost figure or timeline for these additions.

## Warning about cuts

Chow's announcement framed the pledge as a defence against future reductions. "We can't take our progress for granted. We've seen libraries put on the chopping block before, and there's a risk they will be cut again," she said, according to NOW Toronto.

Brad Bradford did not respond to the library pledge in NOW Toronto's report. He has separately told Global News he considers the current library hours "a good value for residents" and would maintain them. That statement covers hours only and does not address the broader budget commitment Chow put forward, which includes new programming and expanded youth services at branches across the city.

## What voters can do

Toronto voters choose a mayor on October 26, 2026. Voting places open at 10:00 a.m. and close at 8:00 p.m. The full list of mayoral candidates is at [/on/toronto-2026/candidates#mayor](/on/toronto-2026/candidates#mayor).

## Sitemap

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