Brad Bradford

 ( Canadian Urban Planners ) 

During the 2023 budget debate, the proposed TPS budget included a $48.3 million increase. Councillor Alejandra Bravo moved a motion to transfer $900,000 from the proposed increase to operating more warming spaces. Bradford questioned if the motion was meant to "defund the police".

As estimated costs for the original initiative grew to $13 million, the city adopted a new plan in December 2023 endorsed by Mayor Chow, to defer renaming the street and only move ahead with the square, two subway stations and a library branch at a cost of $2.7 million. In June 2024, Bradford indicated that he was concerned about the rising costs of the initiative and believed the project should be paused, stating in an interview with CBC News that "the city is broke and this is something the vast majority of Torontonians weren't asking for." He later introduced an unsuccessful motion aimed at blocking the renaming of the square by redirecting the funding towards accessibility and safety improvements.

Bradford defeated candidate Matthew Kellway, who represented Beaches—East York federally from 2011 to 2015 as the New Democratic MP.

He was advised by Liberals Khokon Abbas, a consultant, former candidate Andrea Barrack and campaign strategist Bob Lopinski, as well as Progressive Conservatives Dennis Matthews and Kory Teneycke, who worked on Premier Doug Ford's campaign team. Bradford hired Matt Hiraishi, who previously worked as chief of staff and former campaign manager to Ontario education minister Stephen Lecce, as his campaign manager.

One of the first platform items he released was a plan to increase public safety on the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC). He proposed establishing a new agency to respond to mental health crises, expanding cell phone service throughout the Toronto subway, hire an additional 40 special constables and 50 police officers to patrol the TTC and, and retrofit subway stations to include platform doors.

Bradford proposed redeploying 200 parking enforcement officers at 50 intersections during rush hour, and create a new office to coordinate construction and maintenance projects.

Shortly after he indicated he was considering a run for mayor, a postering campaign describing him as "two-faced Brad" began to circulate in his ward.

He lost the election to Olivia Chow, coming in eighth place with 9,254 votes (1.28%).

In April and May of 2023, Bradford's campaign sent out mass emails announcing the opening of a campaign office and criticizing Olivia Chow. Four constituents subsequently submitted complaints to the integrity commissioner; while they had previously contacted Bradford in his capacity as councillor, they did not sign up to receive campaign communications.

In a letter to Batty, Bradford described the incidents as a "mistake", caused when a campaign volunteer who was a former employee at his city hall office uploaded an email database believed to be from a previous campaign, but was actually from his council office's database. Bradford took responsibility for the error and offered an apology.

• City of Toronto webpage