Chow pledges 1,000 more monthly library passes for Toronto families if re-elected

Mayor Olivia Chow announced Saturday she would increase free museum passes available through Toronto Public Library if re-elected. The passes grant access to the Art Gallery of Ontario, Aga Khan Museum, Toronto Zoo, and Royal Ontario Museum.

"Taking the family out to a museum can be expensive," Chow said. "I will make it much easier for families to take advantage of what Toronto has to offer, for free."

Chow also promised free weekend programming for children at public libraries. The program, which first launched in 2007, currently distributes passes to residents, though the exact monthly volume was not specified.

Brad Bradford, Chow's main rival in the mayoral race, said he supports expanding the program but cast doubt on how it would work. "What Olivia announced today was a request to the Rom and to Library Foundation," Bradford told reporters in North York. "When I saw the announcement this morning, what that showed me was Olivia Chow has no ideas for Toronto." He said he would champion additional passes from both institutions but framed the pledge as a commitment to request them, not guarantee them.

The Toronto mayoral election is set for October 27. Chow has previously pledged funding for youth violence prevention and property taxes near the rate of inflation as part of her re-election bid.