Brad Bradford insists Toronto water stays public as Chow and Suzuki raise concerns
Bradford's plan to cut water bills 25% sparks debate over whether restructuring the utility opens door to privatization.
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Brad Bradford's plan to restructure Toronto Water into a publicly owned utility modelled after Toronto Hydro hinges on a central claim: the city has been overcharging residents. Toronto Water collected roughly $400 million more in user fees than the system cost to operate in 2024, Bradford says, and water and wastewater reserves grew to about $2 billion today.
His proposal would cut water bills by 25% — about $300 annually for the average household — by spreading the cost of major infrastructure over the useful life of assets rather than collecting the full cost from current residents upfront. The reduction would apply automatically to the first $1,500 of each household's annual water bill with no application or means test required. The city would remain the utility's sole shareholder under a municipal bylaw prohibiting private investment, with rates set by an independent board rather than politicians.
But incumbent Mayor Olivia Chow and environmental activist David Suzuki are warning that Bradford's restructuring could open the door to privatization. "This is the water our children drink," Chow said Wednesday at a campaign stop. "The water we depend on every single day, and it belongs to the people of Toronto. Which is why I will never give our water away." Suzuki, in a video shared by Chow's campaign, argued that when profit drives decisions about public services, quality can become secondary and prices can rise. "Water, like air and soil, is sacred," Suzuki said. "It's the foundation of our existence, and it should not be a commodity that you buy and sell."
Bradford's campaign points to the provincial Water and Wastewater Public Corporations Act as prohibiting private ownership of Toronto's water system. "Under Brad's plan, City Council appoints the board and the City holds every share, the same structure Toronto already uses for Toronto Hydro," campaign spokesperson Laryssa Waler said. "The people who operate and maintain our water system do excellent work, and they'll keep doing the same jobs under the same collective agreements, which carry over under the provincial framework."
As HighOnCity reported in September, Bradford had promised Monday to cut Toronto water bills by 25% if elected mayor. A new poll finds 60 per cent of Toronto residents concerned about water privatization amid the debate.
If restructuring Toronto Water follows Toronto Hydro's model, what differences exist between how Hydro's rates are set and how water rates would be set?
What would happen to Toronto Water's $2 billion reserve if the utility is restructured, and how would it be deployed under Bradford's plan?
We'll update this story as answers emerge.
The facts
By how much would Brad Bradford's plan cut Toronto water bills?
The proposal would reduce water bills by 25%, saving the average household about $300 annually. The reduction applies automatically to the first $1,500 of each household's annual water bill with no application or means test required.
How much did Toronto Water collect in excess fees in 2024?
Toronto Water collected roughly $400 million more in user fees than the system cost to operate in 2024, according to Bradford's figures.
What safeguards does Bradford's plan include to keep Toronto's water public?
The city would remain the utility's sole shareholder under a municipal bylaw prohibiting private investment. Rates would be set by an independent board rather than politicians, and the provincial Water and Wastewater Public Corporations Act prohibits private ownership of Toronto's water system.
