Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow leading trade mission to the U.K., Ireland
TORONTO — Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow will be leading a trade mission to the United Kingdom and Ireland, which she says will focus on supporting economic opportunities for Toronto businesses and workers.
The trip was set to begin Sunday and Chow says she will be accompanied by leaders from Toronto's film industry.
The mayor is scheduled to meet with production companies and broadcasters to encourage Canadian content production through agreements with Ireland and the U.K.
Chow says at a time of 'historic uncertainty,' reliable trade partners have never been more important, adding the trip is part of the city's economic action plan to respond to U.S. tariffs.
The mayor has meetings scheduled with the Ireland-Canada Business Association, Enterprise Ireland executives and the UK-Canada Chamber of Commerce.
She is also scheduled to participate in bilateral meetings with Dublin Lord Mayor Ray McAdam and London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 6, 2025.
The Canadian Press
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CTV News
36 minutes ago
- CTV News
Toronto couple loses $480,000 in roofing renovation nightmare
A Toronto couple are still in shock after being pressured into paying over $480,000 for renovations that will have to be done over again as well as paying for some additional work that wasn't needed in their home and other work that wasn't done at all. CTV's Pat Foran reports.
CBC
4 hours ago
- CBC
News anchor Travis Dhanraj says he was pushed out of CBC for highlighting systemic issues, editorial imbalance
Former CBC News reporter and anchor Travis Dhanraj said he had no choice but to resign from the broadcaster after he says he raised systemic issues in its newsroom related to lack of diversity of opinion and editorial independence and was stonewalled by his employer. His lawyer says he intends to sue the public broadcaster. In an internal note to fellow CBC staff sent out Monday morning, Dhanraj said he felt he had no choice but to leave the broadcaster after his questioning of some of the CBC's editorial decisions and the "gap between CBC's stated values and its internal reality" was met with resistance. "When I pushed for honest conversations about systemic issues and editorial imbalance, I was shut out. Sidelined. Silenced. And ultimately, erased," Dhanraj wrote in the email sent to various CBC group email addresses from his CBC account. He accused his employer of "tokenism masquerading as diversity, problematic political coverage protocols, and the erosion of editorial independence," and said he had to "navigate a workplace culture defined by retaliation, exclusion, and psychological harm." CBC 'categorically rejects' allegations In an emailed statement, CBC spokesperson Kerry Kelly said the Crown corporation "categorically rejects" Dhanraj's allegations about what led to his departure, including his claim that his decision to leave was not voluntary and that he was "forced to resign." Kelly did not elaborate on Dhanraj's resignation or the reason he went on leave earlier this year; nor did she comment on his specific claims about editorial independence and newsroom culture at CBC. "We are saddened to see this public attack on the integrity of CBC News," she said. Dhanraj also posted a Google form on the social media site X earlier Monday in which he asked people to leave their contact information so he could keep them informed about the case. "When the time is right, I'll pull the curtain back," he wrote. "I'll share everything…I'll tell you what is really happening inside the walls of your CBC." The post was later removed. When CBC News reached out to Dhanraj's Toronto-based lawyer, Kathryn Marshall, to ask if he intends to sue the broadcaster, she responded with a one-word answer: "Yes." She also told the Toronto Star that Dhanraj plans to file a complaint with the Canadian Human Rights Commission. Previously worked at CP24, CTV, Global Born in Alberta, Dhanraj was a general assignment reporter for CBC Edmonton and CBC Toronto before leaving for positions at CP24, Global News and CTV News. He returned to CBC in 2021 as a senior parliamentary reporter and later hosted Marketplace and Canada Tonight. Speculation began swirling in February when Dhanraj was abruptly no longer appearing on air, and Canada Tonight was replaced by Ian Hanomansing's Hanomansing Tonight. CBC confirmed at the time that Dhanraj was on leave but did not provide additional details. Dhanraj's lawyer said the leave was due to "ongoing systemic issues" at the broadcaster. The first public sign of tension surfaced a few months earlier when Dhanraj posted on X in April 2024 that he had requested an interview with then CBC president Catherine Tait when new funding for the public broadcaster was announced in the federal budget. According to a copy of his resignation letter published by the Toronto Sun, Dhanraj said CBC launched an investigation over that post and asked him to sign a non-disclosure agreement, which he said he refused to do.
Toronto Sun
5 hours ago
- Toronto Sun
WARMINGTON: Forget the lights and cameras, mayor, we need action in Toronto
Chow's trip to Ireland, U.K. feels like prime summer getaway as Torontonians struggle to pay bills Get the latest from Joe Warmington straight to your inbox Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow is on a trade mission to Ireland and the U.K. this week. Chow, left, meets with IDA Ireland (Foreign Direct Investment Agency) executive director Mary Buckley at their Dublin office on Monday, July 7, 2025. Photo by TORONTO MAYOR'S OFFICE / Toronto Sun Yes, that was Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow you saw on location for this movie production. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account The scene for this Toronto movie script is being written in Dublin and London. Starring Toronto's dancing and dressup mayor, this project is not being produced at our City Hall but ones in Ireland and England. But funded by Toronto taxpayers. 'This trade mission is about supporting more economic opportunities for Toronto workers and businesses, including export diversification and foreign direct investment attraction,' Chow said in a news release on the rationale of going across the pond for film industry trade discussions until Saturday. Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow is on a trade mission to Ireland and the U.K. this week. Chow, left, meets up with Canada's Ambassador to Ireland Dennis King in Dublin on Monday, July 7, 2025. Photo by TORONTO MAYOR'S OFFICE / Toronto Sun It may feel like a comedy, but it's being sold as a business trip. 'I am pleased to be joined by leaders from Toronto's film industry to highlight one of the many sectors in which Toronto is home to a world-class industry,' said Chow, who is expected to meet with Dublin Mayor Ray McAdam and London Mayor Sadiq Khan. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. With McAdam not tweeting about Chow's visit and the Irish press not seeming to mention it, this feels more like a prime-time summer getaway at a time when Torontonians are struggling to pay for lodging and facing crime, high taxes and long waits for emergency services. Mayor Olivia Chow dancing salsa!Mayor of Toronto Job Description💃- dance- create a rain tax- make the city the epicentre for tеrror in North America- wear costumes- wear hijabs- house a few low-income seniors in shipping containers and boast about it What am I missing? — dahlia kurtz ✡︎ דליה קורץ (@DahliaKurtz) July 6, 2025 This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Apparently that stuff can wait. 'It comes down to a question of priorities,' said Councillor Brad Bradford. 'And I certainly think there's lots for the mayor and council to be working on on this side of the Atlantic.' Turns out, though, that U.S. President Donald Trump is being written in as the villain. 'At a time of historic uncertainty, reliable trade partners have never been more important,' said Chow. Read More First Carney was taking Canadian trade to Europe and now it's Chow. 'The city is leading collaborative, export-focused initiatives that enhance Toronto's role as a global trade player,' said a release. 'In addition to trade missions, Toronto is also delivering city-led and partner-driven programs that address key gaps especially for SMEs (small and medium enterprises) with a focus on three core areas: Education and capacity building, strategic market access through trade missions and targeted support for priority sectors.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Say what? Move over Eglinton-Crosstown! 'I can appreciate the need to diversify our relationships, looking for new partnerships and investment,' said Bradford. 'But as a local councillor, I hear about all the challenges facing the city right here at home. I hear from Torontonians struggling to make ends meet in a city that's less and less affordable, gridlock that has made commutes unbearable and has ground the city to halt, parents who are concerned about safety in our park and safety on transit.' I also had the opportunity to visit Dublin's Famine Memorial, an emotional tribute to the millions who died or emigrated during the Great Famine. A companion memorial stands at Ireland Park on Toronto's waterfront, honouring those who found a new home in our city. Thank you for… — Mayor Olivia Chow 🇨🇦 (@MayorOliviaChow) July 7, 2025 This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. It's unclear how many people are on the Toronto tab for this trip, how much the bill will be and if there will be any economic benefit. But what is known is July is not a cheap time to visit the United Kingdom or Ireland. 'It's peak season,' said Bradford. 'Why now?' It's my view that nobody from city hall should be there and that no grants, funding or tax credits to foreign entertainment or business ventures should be offered. This includes the World Cup of soccer, which the elite should pay for with their own hundreds of millions. RECOMMENDED VIDEO If the mayor or council want to go to the U.K, they should pay for expenses themselves – like late mayor Rob Ford did when he went to Austin, Texas, to check out the live music industry in 2013. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'I paid my own way and for my staff. I think it was $9,000,' Ford told me at the time. In this Oct. 24, 2010, then-Toronto mayoral candidate Rob Ford is seen at his campaign office in Toronto. Photo by Dave Abel / Postmedia Network File Photo There should be no municipal taxpayer money used to fund international soccer tournaments or concert stadiums or movies or basketball practice facilities. If the show they are putting on is good enough – like Taylor Swift's Eras Tour, which put on six soldout shows here in 2024 with no subsidies – then it benefits Toronto. If it needs to be propped up by families who can't make ends meet, it's not helping Toronto. Taylor Swift opens her first night of six shows on the Eras Tour at the Rogers Centre in Toronto on Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024. Photo by Jack Boland / Toronto Sun Local governments should stick to roads and public safety. I don't want to ruin Chow's excellent adventure, but with food bank lines around the block, she should get back here and do the job she's elected and paid well to do. However, Chow's news release argues 'Toronto's economic relationship with Ireland, as the only English-speaking country in the European Union, is a gateway into the EU single market for Toronto businesses.' There may be a debate if this movie's plot is fictional, but there's no debating England and Ireland are nice in July – especially when someone else pays. Canada Canada Toronto & GTA Toronto & GTA Sunshine Girls
