Toronto's Population Overtakes Chicago

Toronto city councilman Michael Thompson

Good news for Toronto, bad news for the Windy City. From the Toronto Star (Canada): "Since Toronto was amalgamated in 1998, it has billed itself as North America’s fifth largest city after Mexico City, New York, Los Angeles and Chicago. But according to the latest census data from Statistics Canada, as of last July 1, Toronto’s population was 2,791,140, about 84,000 more than Chicago’s 2,707,120."

More about Chicago: "While the title of number four confers bragging rights, it also brings challenges. 'We need to focus on creating more jobs,' said [moderate-conservative] Councillor Michael Thompson, chair of the economic development committee. 'We have to make sure people can find work; we have to make sure people have housing.'"

The article continues: "Toronto is in friendly competition with Chicago, a longtime sister city, Thompson said, noting that in September Mayor Rob Ford led a trade mission to Chicago with about 60 business people, eight councillors and a handful of city staff. 'We love Chicago,' he said. 'We support the things that Mayor (Rahm) Emanuel is doing in Chicago, and we support the relationship that we’ve had."