Adedokun Waliyu 
Former Toronto mayor John Tory is expected to formally endorse candidate Ana Bailão ahead of Monday’s anticipated byelection, a source has told CityNews.
Tory is familiar with Bailão, who represented Davenport on city council from 2010 until 2022. In 2017, Tory appointed Bailão as a non-statutory deputy mayor for Toronto and East York.
Tory resigned as the city’s mayor on February 10 after admitting to a months-long affair with a former staffer that ended earlier in 2023. The Toronto Star was the first media outlet to report on Tory’s relationship with the woman. The employee was not identified.
Tory has been out of the spotlight since then, maintaining a low profile with some questioning whether the 69-year-old would endorse a candidate before the byelection.
Bailão, 46, was a close political ally of Tory’s during her time in office, often voting in line with him.
“I am proud of the work that I have done with my community,” she said. “I have a track record of getting things through council.”
Ana BailaoToronto mayoral candidate Ana Bailão is photographed during an interview with The Canadian Press in Toronto Tuesday, June 13, 2023.
Tory’s endorsement of Bailão follows current Deputy Mayor Jennifer McKelvie’s, who threw her support behind the former city councillor last week. McKelvie, who has replaced Tory on an interim basis, said Bailão “is the only candidate capable of getting Toronto’s fair share from Doug Ford and Justin Trudeau.”
Bailão opted not to seek re-election as a city councillor in 2022 and took a job with a prominent Toronto developer as its head of affordable housing and public affairs. With Tory seeking a third term, Bailão planned to build affordable housing, then run for mayor “at the appropriate time,” she said.
In recent polling, ex-Toronto police chief Mark Saunders trails Olivia Chow by 14 points at 16 per cent, followed by current city councillor Josh Matlow at 13 per cent and Bailão at 12 per cent.
Ford endorsed Saunders on Monday, saying he plans on voting for the former police chief as he would “be the best mayor.”
The byelection is on Monday, June 26, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Here’s how to vote.
Durham Regional Police officers say a major collision on Highway 401 near Brock Road in Pickering Tuesday night led to “multiple” explosions and vehicles on fire. Part of the highway was closed in both directions.
