Now Toronto in collaboration with The Brandon Gonez Show is hosting one of the final mayoral debates one week before the Toronto by-election.
On Monday, June 19, five candidates will go head-to-head discussing the most important issues affecting Torontonians in the 90-minute debate, with the theme “Toronto’s Future, Now!” The debate will be livestreamed on both the Now Toronto and The Brandon Gonez Show’s YouTube channels from 7-8:30 p.m.
Participants will include: city councillors Brad Bradford, and Josh Matlow, former Member of Provincial Parliament Mitzie Hunter, former Toronto Sun columnist Anthony Furey and policy analyst Chloe Brown.
Mayoral candidates Olivia Chow and Ana Bailão have not confirmed their attendance and Mark Saunders declined his invitation. Seven participants were invited based on the top leading candidates in election polls as of May 31, 2023.
Moderated by broadcast journalist Brandon Gonez, the debate will provide a fresh take and an in-depth look at the candidates that have not been shown before. There will be approximately eight to 10 questions asked to the candidates on a range of topics, including the affordability crisis, transit, public safety, and the future of Toronto.
For most questions, candidates will be allocated one minute to answer individually, prior to opening the floor up for a three-minute debate. There will also be two lightning rounds where candidates will be asked to provide quick one-word answers to relevant questions currently on Torontonians’ minds. A media scrum is expected to follow the debate.
The candidates will also be asked a couple of questions submitted from the viewers watching the live stream on both platforms’ YouTube channels.
On the morning of Friday, June 16, a draw will be held to determine the orders of positions on stage and speaking order for each question.
The debate will be held at Now Toronto headquarters in Toronto, with a small in-house audience of the candidates’ team members and media. The debate will not be open to the general public.
The Toronto mayoral by-election is set for Monday, June 26.
Now Toronto and The Brandon Gonez Show are divisions of Gonez Media (GMI).
One Response
Olivia Chow was the leading contender on May 31st!!