John Tory, but faster.
Meet the status quo speed runners.
Learn more about Brad Bradford's team of advisors. When choosing this team, Bradford knew he could pick a team that represented either the rich diversity of Toronto or the rich.
Jaime Watt
Watt is a Conservative strategist who is the Executive Chairman of Navigator, a crisis communications firm best known for representing Jian Gomeshi, Michael Bryant, the Ottawa police force (for their protest messaging), and Hockey Canada (for the sexual assault scandal). Watt was a key architect of Mike Harris’s Common Sense revolution (Watt resigned after news of his fraud conviction broke), a strong proponent of private healthcare, and seems to be a fan of Pierre Poilievre.
Known For:
Claiming that John Tory is the champion Canada’s housing crisis needs
Memorable quote:
“Wokeness, after all, is a virus.”
“Tory is a determined and accomplished leader. Now he must get his hands dirty.”
Brian Teefy
Teefy is a Vice President at StrategyCorp, a lobbying firm that counts among its clients Therme Group (lobbying to privatize Ontario Place), Air Products Chemicals (a manufacturer of industrial gasses), and the firm EllisDon hired to fight against unionized construction workers. Teefy served as senior policy advisor to Kathleen Wynne and Dalton McGuinty and is currently one of the spokespersons for Brad Bradford’s campaign for mayor.
Known For:
Was part of Kathleen Wynne’s team that helped killed the Scarborough LRT.
Brad's Team in the News
"Consider one of the first mayoral contenders to (almost) declare they are going to run, Brad Bradford. This week he released the names on his “advisory committee.” …
Most interesting on Bradford’s list includes principals from four of the most powerful communication and lobby firms in Canada: Navigator, StrategyCorp, Rubicon and Enterprise…
So, even before officially running for mayor, one candidate has a backroom full of elite lobbyists with long client lists we’ll never see. It’s telling that these four competing firms will easily sidle up to potential power together. Where does the regular Torontonian fit in here?"
Kathryn Randle
Randle is Vice President of Development & Planning at Rockport Group, a real estate developer based in Toronto. Randle is married to Brad Bradford. In 2021, Bradford was identified as one of Toronto’s top 11 councillors to receive developer money according to the ACORN Report: Who Controls Toronto? People or Developers? 41% of Bradford’s campaign donations came from the development industry. In response, Bradford said, “This report is qualitative and there’s no clear explanation for how an alleged connection to development or real estate is being defined.”
Karen Stintz
Stintz is a former Toronto city councillor and currently the CEO of Variety Village. During her tenure as TTC Chair, Stintz cancelled Transit City (a long-term public transit plan). During her run for mayor in 2014, Stintz advocated selling city assets (such as a majority of Toronto Hydro) to fund the Downtown Relief Line.
Known For:
Spent part of her office budget on personal speaking lessons. She also proposed/restructured three different transit plans in under three years.
Memorable quote:
“I am starting to really dislike the bike lanes on Yonge, University and the Danforth.”
Andrea Barrack
Barrack is a former bank executive. Barrack unsuccessfully ran as the Ontario Liberal Party candidate in the University-Rosedale riding for the 2022 provincial election, where she came under fire for spreading disinformation, as well as donating to Conservative MPP Peter Bethlenfalvy’s campaign.
Known For:
Creating fake ads saying “Andrea Barrack is the best choice for progressive voters” showing very strong polling for the Liberals in her riding—in an election she ultimately lost.
Barbara Fox
Fox is CEO of Enterprise Canada, a strategic communications firm recently known for representing Metrolinx, providing engagement support for their controversial expansion projects and botched community consultations.
Known For:
59% CEO approval on Glassdoor
Tausha Michaud
Michaud is Vice President at McMillan Vantage, a public affairs firm. Michaud was formerly the Chief of Staff to Erin O’Toole, leader of the Conservative Party from 2020–2022, and most recently served as an advisor to the Ontario PC party in the 2022 election.
Dennis Matthews
Was formerly the advertising advisor to Stephen Harper and a “veteran of numerous political campaigns.” He is Principal at Enterprise Canada, a strategic communications firm recently known for representing Metrolinx to provide engagement support for Metrolinx’s controversial expansion projects and botched community consultations.
Stephanie Smyth
Smyth is a former anchor for CP24 and Owner at Smyth Media Group.
Known For:
Repeatedly calling Desmond Cole and then immediately hanging up. When Cole called Smyth back asking if she had been doing this, she said, "Well, yes, but it's only because I don't know what to say to you!" After berating Cole for his criticisms of CP24's coverage of a police assault, she said, "This is what you do, Desmond, you always twist things around."
Tim Hockey
Hockey is the former CEO of TD Ameritrade and was hired as a special advisor to Doug Ford on tech-based projects.
Memorable quote:
“John Tory has been an unrelenting champion for all of us in Toronto. His vision…[is] just what the city needs to lead us forward.”