TORONTO, April 25, 2026 – On April 25, Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow responded to questions on community safety, household financial pressures, public service investment, housing, employment, and transportation at a media roundtable with Chinese-language community media. For Chinese senior families in the Greater Toronto Area, small business owners, residents concerned about neighbourhood safety, and families that rely on public services, some of the most closely watched information at the event included faster 911 response times, declines in auto theft and robbery, higher income thresholds for senior property tax relief and deferral programs, and a larger commercial property tax discount for small businesses.
On community safety, Chow said 911 calls in Toronto are now answered in an average of three seconds, and that response speed has improved significantly compared with the past. She said the city hired more than 90 additional call takers and introduced artificial intelligence to help with dispatching. She also said that over the past year, the city added 720 related personnel, including 500 police officers, firefighters, and paramedics. For residents experiencing a mental health crisis, she noted that 211 can be used to access relevant services.
According to figures cited by Chow at the event, several citywide public safety indicators have improved. She said Toronto’s homicide rate is at its lowest level in 50 years, auto theft is down 25 percent, robbery is down 20 percent, and shootings are down 43 percent. For many Chinese families, the more practical question behind those figures is whether waiting times when calling for help, the sense of neighbourhood safety, and anxiety around daily travel have actually eased.
On household financial pressures, the mayor highlighted two measures that directly affect the community. One is that the commercial property tax discount for small businesses has increased from 15 percent last year to 20 percent. The other is that the income threshold for senior property tax relief and deferral services has risen to CAD $62,000 per year, with residents able to ask about and apply through 311. For Chinese small business owners and senior families with limited incomes, these two measures are more immediate than broad fiscal messaging, because they affect day-to-day operating costs and the pressure of keeping a home.
Regarding the city’s fiscal situation, Chow said Toronto’s credit rating was upgraded to AA+ for the first time in 23 years, lowering borrowing costs and improving the city’s financial position. She also said relations with the federal and provincial governments are relatively smooth and that the city has secured CAD $13 billion in investment. According to her, those funds are gradually being directed into community services and infrastructure, including seven-day library service, youth and senior services, and projects such as 55 new subway trains and LRT vehicles.
On housing issues that are closely tied to the Chinese community, Chow said the city is encouraging more housing construction by reducing some development charges. She said four-unit and six-unit housing projects no longer require an additional application, and that some development charges for laneway suites and garden suites are being waived. For Chinese families interested in adding living space to an existing home, accommodating multi-generational living, or creating rental income, these changes may have some impact, though the exact conditions and costs still need to be confirmed on a project-by-project basis.
At the event, media also asked how the city could help young people find jobs. Chow replied that while employment is an issue involving all three levels of government, the city is trying to support business investment and construction employment through housing development, development charge relief, small business tax discounts, and an annual small business summit. She said development charge reductions can help developers hire more construction workers, while small business relief is intended to reduce operating pressure.
Transportation was also raised repeatedly. Chow said downtown congestion has fallen by 12 percent, and average TTC wait times have dropped from 3.5 minutes to 2.5 minutes. She said the city hired 100 traffic agents last year and will add 27 more this year, bringing the total to 127. She also said that once Line 5 opens, some commuting times are expected to improve. For residents who commute daily, make deliveries, or drive family members around, the more important question will still be whether these figures translate into more reliable travel during peak periods.
On Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport, Chow said the Ontario government wants to take over the airport and extend the runway to handle more passengers, but that the issue is broad and requires more study before any decision is made. She did not state a clear position in support or opposition during the event, and instead emphasized the need to assess the impacts first.
Media at the roundtable also asked whether she plans to run in the next mayoral election. Chow replied that her current focus remains on the work in front of her now.
Taken together, the April 25 media roundtable with Chinese-language community media included not only public safety statistics, but also tax relief, property tax eligibility, transportation, and housing issues that are closely connected to daily life in the Chinese community. For Chinese seniors, small business owners, and ordinary families, the more practical next step is still to verify the information that applies directly to them: seniors who may qualify for property tax relief or deferral can call 311 to confirm eligibility, business owners can check whether the commercial property tax discount applies to them, and residents concerned about safety and commuting can continue watching whether faster 911 response, public safety figures, and traffic improvements are actually reflected at the community level. (LJI by Yuanyuan)
