Mayoral candidates Olivia Chow and John Tory offered their views Monday on how to improve accessibility in the city for individuals living with disabilities.

The two candidates took part in an afternoon debate at Ryerson University and touched on topics including physical and financial barriers as well as discrimination facing those with disabilities.

One issue discussed by the two mayoral hopefuls was affordable and accessible housing.

Olivia Chow said that if elected mayor, she intends to create 15,000 units of affordable housing by asking developers to make 20 per cent of units in the buildings affordable.

Tory described his plan to make existing affordable housing more accessible.

“There is no reason whatsoever when we are repairing extensive numbers of buildings that have fallen into poor repair that we can’t make sure a clear targeted percentage of those units are made more accessible,” Tory said.

Mayoral candidate Doug Ford was not in attendance at Monday’s debate but has confirmed he will be participating in a debate on Tuesday.

Tory receives endorsement from Scarborough councillor:

Just a few hours before the debate, Tory picked up another endorsement from a member of city council.

At a news conference at the Chinese Cultural Centre Greater Toronto in Scarborough, Ward 41 Coun. Chin Lee announced he would be throwing his support behind Tory for Toronto’s next mayor.

“As a mayor, he will be the face of Toronto to our municipal partners, our provincial partners and our federal partners. That face is very important,” Lee, who represents Scarborough-Rouge Valley, said.

Lee said he worked closely with Tory on The Greater Toronto Marketing Alliance and applauded Tory’s SmartTrack plan and his efforts in attracting jobs and investment to Toronto.

While speaking about the importance of job creation in the GTA, Lee went on to take a shot at mayoral candidate Doug Ford, criticizing Ford’s company, Deco Labels and Tags, for its operation in Chicago.

“(Doug Ford) loves Chicago. I’m asking why don’t you become mayor of Chicago rather than being the mayor of Toronto because we need someone who loves Toronto,” he said.

Tory also jumped in to criticize Ford’s ability to “get things done” for the people of Scarborough and Toronto.

“I think Mr. Ford has a track record to deal with where things have often been very divisive and very combative and very difficult and that is going to make a difference and not a positive one,” he said.

Doug Ford’s presence on the campaign trail has been very limited since he decided to step into the mayoral race in place of his brother, who has recently been diagnosed with a rare malignant tumour.