‘SHAME ON YOU’: Complaints flooded Mayor Olivia Chow’s inbox after Oct. 7
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In the days after her absence from a vigil one year after Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack, Mayor Olivia Chow got an earful, emails released to the Toronto Sun show.
A freedom-of-information request yielded 135 pages worth of emails to and from Chow and her staff. Most of them are fully redacted – essentially just blank pages – but 44 of them contain emails regarding the Oct. 7 vigil and its organizers, the United Jewish Appeal and Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs.
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‘SHAME ON YOU’: Complaints flooded Mayor Olivia Chow’s inbox after Oct. 7 Back to video
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Of those, most are emails from irate Torontonians sent after Chow’s absence.
Chow has since apologized and has cited fatigue, a scheduling conflict with a meeting on bike lanes, an issue with her email account and a decision to instead wear black as reasons for not attending.
In a recent emailed statement to the Sun, Chow did not address the complaints but again apologized, saying she “should have been there to show the Jewish community how much I care about their safety and well-being in this city.”
The vigil was held one year after the attack on Israel to honour the 1,200 people who were slain.
Some of the emails were sent the night of the vigil.
“You … chose not to attend the UJA memorial tonight,” one email read. “Nor have you posted a statement on social media to honour families who lost loved ones in the most horrific attack last Oct. 7… You are a disgrace and you should continue hiding until you are finally voted out of office. You owe the Toronto Jewish community an apology. Shame on you!” (Any information that could identify someone who made a complaint, such as a name or email address, was redacted by city staff.)
Another email sent Oct. 9 began: “I am a Jewish man who has lived in Toronto all of my life. Never have I, and so many other Toronto Jews, ever felt more uncomfortable and threatened in our lives.”
“There seems to be ample time for you to have press conferences in opening Woodbine toilets early, time for you to tweak at Caribana, a photo opportunity at Nuit Blanche, all of the really important and relevant things you were elected to do,” the man added.
A parent, who also emailed on Oct. 9, expressed “frustration” with Chow’s apparent inaction.
“My daughters who attend a Jewish high school have had three bomb threats made to their school just for being Jewish,” reads that message. “I am shocked that you have not played a more active role in combating this blatant anti-Semitism!”
Another Oct. 9 email from an “appalled” resident stated: “A meeting on bike lanes? That was more important than being there to show support for all those who were killed, raped or taken hostage? You did not get my vote in the last election and your absence and then your terrible excuse have made sure you will never get my vote. I am embarrassed to be a Torontonian because of you.”
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Another person wrote on Oct. 10: “It is shocking that someone in your esteemed position could not exercise the moral clarity to prioritize standing alongside the Jewish community, but instead chose to remain at a meeting about bike lanes. Mayor Chow – only one word comes to mind: egregious.”
An Oct. 8 email accused Chow of being “conspicuously un-empathetic to the Jewish population of Toronto.”
“Please comment in a meaningful way so I am able to comprehend your absence in this matter.” (It does not appear Chow replied to this or any other of the emails from constituents.)
“Regardless of the mayor’s personal politics,” a constituent wrote on Oct. 10, “she is the mayor of all the people… The mayor should know that she can support one side and still have empathy and compassion for the other. The latter in this case sorely lacking.”
A brief Oct. 10 email, sent to both Chow and Ontario Premier Doug Ford, stated Chow “should be kicked out of Toronto” and called the Mayor a “pathetic weasel.”
On the afternoon of Oct. 9, a self-professed lifelong Jewish resident of Toronto claimed to be “astounded” that Chow wasn’t at the vigil.
“The event was attended by Premier Ford and several MPPs, former mayor John Tory and several members of Toronto council and several MPs. Prime Minister Trudeau attended the event in Ottawa. Your absence is inexcusable … I have seen you on television at several Palestinian events.”
“Are we really supposed to believe that a seasoned politician and the mayor of a world-class city like Toronto was unable to attend because of an alleged email mishap?” reads another email from Oct. 10. “This explanation is as flimsy as it is offensive. … And now, rather than acknowledging the growing fear and alienation in the Jewish community, you offer a half-hearted ‘regret’ through a statement sent to the media.”
An Oct. 8 email from a voter reads: “As a Jew in Toronto – who voted for you – I feel unseen, unheard, unacknowledged, uncared-for.”
In another email, sent Oct. 9, the writer admitted feeling “lost” since the no-show and brought up the memory of Chow’s late husband.
“You should have been fighting to be there, to stand up for those tragically slain innocents, to support your constituents who mourn. Jack would have been there,” the email said. “My disappointment stems from your lack of concern. It deepens to disgust when I imagine the reason for your non-attendance was to please that part of your constituents to whom you pander.”
An Oct. 9 email expressed “profound dissatisfaction” in the email subject line.
“You are a disgrace to the office of mayor – supposedly mayor for all the people of this diverse city. You attend street festivals and smile your way to all – except the Jewish community,” the email accused. “The Jewish community will never forget nor forgive your absence and failure to acknowledge our pain. Shame on you!”
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A talk radio listener wrote on Oct. 9: “I heard you this morning on the John Moore show (on) CFRB with your incredibly ridiculous excuses, none of which will fly with anyone with even one synapse firing in their heads.”
An Oct. 10 email with “Disappointed” in the subject line accused Chow of failing to do her job.
“You know that Oct 7, 2023, was the most horrific day in the lives of humanity since the Holocaust… A resignation from you would please many,” the person wrote.
An Oct. 9 email ended: “Apology is just a word. Your actions have conveyed a hateful message to all Torontonians.”
An email from the morning of Oct. 8, with the subject line “Your silence speaks volumes,” reads: “When the Jewish community comes together they do not block streets, do not cover their faces and do not shout hate.”
Another email from that same day ended: “I will be volunteering to help anyone who will put their name forward to run against you in the next election.”
An email writer on Oct. 9 signed off: “You are a terrible and nasty mayor.”
And another email sent on the evening of Oct. 8 stated: “The mayor should be completely ashamed of herself, and is unfit to lead a diverse city like Toronto. The sooner she resigns, the better.”
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