George Smitherman endorses Olivia Chow for Toronto mayor: reports

Toronto MP Olivia Chow hasn’t yet said if she’s running to be mayor of Toronto but the New Democrat already has some high-profile support.

George Smitherman and director Deepa Mehta are endorsing Chow, according to reports in the Globe and Mail and the Toronto Star.

The Globe reports that “former Royal Bank executive Charles Coffey, former provincial cabinet minister and United Way CEO Frances Lankin and Dr. Joseph Wong, a leader in Toronto’s Chinese community” are also supporting Chow.

Chow told 680News in November she had not yet decided whether she would run for the city’s top job.

“October 2014 is very far away. I’ll make a decision later on,” Chow told reporter Cormac MacSweeney.

She also said she was “frustrated” by the scandal surrounding Mayor Rob Ford and was glad council was taking action to strip him of his powers.

Ford has vowed to run for re-election, repeatedly saying he will be on the ballot on Oct. 27, 2014. Two others have also thrown their hats in the ring, including  Toronto councillor and TTC chair Karen Stintz, and former city councillor David Soknacki.

Former leader of the Ontario PC Party, John Tory, and Coun. Denzil Minnan-Wong are rumoured to be considering bids.

The nomination period officially opens on Jan. 2.

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