Anthony Furey, a journalist and broadcaster, is running for Mayor in the 2023 Toronto By-Election. With more than a decade of experience, Furey has worked as a political columnist for Postmedia and as a talk show host on Sirius XM Radio. His reporting has centered on politics, civil affairs, and Toronto news.
Furey has frequently appeared as a guest on CBC News, CTV News, and Global News programs. Recently, he served as the vice president of editorial and content at True North, a Canadian digital media platform.
On June 8, Anthony Furey participated in a Zoom interview, where he laid out his objectives as a mayoral candidate.
What are the biggest issues facing Torontonians in 2023?
Furey: Right now is a time for choosing in the city of Toronto. And, the question is, do we want Toronto to look more like Seattle, San Francisco, [and] Vancouver — those heartbreaking scenes we’re seeing for those cities? Or do we want to say no? We can turn this city around. We can make a brighter future for our youth. We can make our seniors feel safe again, [and] we can bring business back to the city. The answer is yes, we can do that. As someone who was a newspaper columnist dealing with the issues that matter in the city for 10 years, and as the father of three small kids, I believe that this is a city worth fighting for and that we can fix this.
Students deal with a variety of challenges, ranging from financial constraints, mental health issues, safety concerns, to commuting difficulties. What policies do you plan to implement that would help students live in the city?
Furey: I’m going to say no, to the push for entirely new taxes that the people running against me have previously supported and proposed, like a municipal sales tax, road tolls, these new parking levies because ultimately, people who don’t have a lot of disposable income; students, seniors — these things will only make life worse for them. When I say I’m going to hire 500 new police officers, [this] will only bring us back to the headcount we had in 2014, so it’s just a start for me. What I’ll be doing is increasing the visible presence of officers on our streets and in our communities. Because everyone, including students, talk about how they don’t feel as comfortable on public transit as they used to, even walking down some streets. That’s tragic. My commitment is to turn that around.
Toronto boasts numerous colleges and universities. The TTC plays a crucial role as many students rely on public transit. As a mayoral candidate, how do you intend to manage the TTC?
Furey: We need to get transit built sooner. We can’t accept endless delays. As mayor of Toronto, I plan to sue Metrolinx for breach of contract and damages because we can’t take this stuff sitting down anymore. We have to be a louder voice at the table, and we have to start fighting for ourselves. By doing that legal action, I’m also sending a signal that we will not tolerate the same sort of delays when it comes to the Ontario line. I am a big supporter of getting transit done. We have to make it clear that these projects need to be better managed.
How does your background and experience prepare you for the responsibilities of being the mayor of Canada’s largest city?
Furey: It’s been an honor to be a newspaper columnist and broadcaster for over a decade, dealing with the city issues that matter to people. I know the files. I know what people think about the city; that’s what makes me best positioned to take Toronto in a different, more positive direction for a brighter future.
Furey adds:
It’s great right now to be the only candidate who has momentum in the polls and whose support is growing by the day. I’m energized to get out there and meet more people all across this amazing city.
The election date falls on June 26. Voters can find more information on the City of Toronto website.
