Olivia Chow: Meaning (information, definition, explanation, facts)

Olivia Chow(鄒至蕙) is a left-wing Canadian politician and city councillor in Toronto. Born in Hong Kong, Chow emigrated to Canada when she was thirteen years old. As a result, she enjoys fluency in two of her constituency's dominant languages, Cantonese and English.

Chow first became active in politics working with local NDP MP Dan Heap. With his support she ran for school board trustee and won in 1985. Popular on the school board she moved to Toronto city council in 1991. Ward 20, in the riding of Trinity—Spadina, has long been home to a diverse group of communities in the core of Canada's largest urban centre. Chow has been reelected to city council by wide margins ever since 1991.

In 1997, she ran as New Democratic Party candidate for the Canadian House of Commons in Trinity—Spadina. The NDP won no seats in Ontario, but Chow placed a strong second to Liberal Party incumbent Tony Ianno.

Chow has been an advocate for the homeless, public transit, and many other urban issues which promote sustainable development. She has also been a vociferous opponent of the proposed Toronto Island Airport expansion, a controversial plan by the Toronto Port Authority that would increase air traffic over Ward 20.

Following the amalgamation of Metropolitan Toronto, she and her husband Jack Layton were been prominent members of the city council. While sometimes critical of right-leaning mayor Mel Lastman and other suburban councillors, they came to focus on working with councillors across political lines to achieve practical progressive measures. Layton left his seat on council to become federal leader of the NDP. Both were strong supporters of David Miller's successful 2003 campaign to become Mayor of Toronto

Chow was forced to resign her position on the Toronto Police Services Board as a result of comments she made about police attempts to quell riots in front of the provincial legislature. Some argued, however, that she was ousted for her outspoken attitude towards alleged police misconduct.

Chow is renowned for her trademark bicycle, decorated with flowers and bright colours. She rides every day to Toronto City Hall, and carless commuting is consistent with her environmentalist values.

Chow was been voted "Best City Councillor" on numerous occasions by Toronto's alternative weeklies Now Magazine and Eye Weekly.

In 2004 Chow won the Trinity�Spadina NDP nomination in for the summer federal election, giving her another chance to unseat Ianno. Her other opponents included David Watters for the Conservatives, Anna Costa for the Green party, Asif Hossain PC, Daniel Knezetic for the Popular Democratic Party (Canada), Tristan Downe-Dowdoney for the Canadian Action Party candidate, and Nick Lin for the Marxist-Leninists. With support from Jack Layton, a new urban focus of the NDP, and higher party popularity nationwide, she was expected to do well in the polls despite some criticism from voters who elected her to a municipal seat just six months ago for leaving her previous elected position so quickly. She managed another strong second place showing, but failed to unseat Ianno.