A group of Toronto politicians and business leaders will be packing up and heading to the “Windy City” in September in order to build on the Chicago-Toronto Partner City Agreement forged back in 1991.

Mayor Rob Ford made the announcement Tuesday along with Chair of Toronto’s Economic Development Committee, Councillor Michael Thompson as well as George Cohon and Robert Deluce.  Cohon is the Founder of McDonald’s Restaurants of Canada, and Deluce is the President and CEO of Porter Airlines.  The mayor’s brother, City Councillor Doug Ford was also in attendance and will be going on the trip.

Our goal is to attract new investments that can cultivate assessment growth and produce employment opportunities.  In turn, Toronto business leaders will have new opportunities and avenues to do business in one of North America’s biggest financial and manufacturing regions,” said Ford.

The mission will include a welcome reception hosted by the Consul General of Canada in Chicago and a series of information and networking sessions with key Chicago business leaders. 

Mayor Rob Ford says he wants to attract Chicago business to Toronto letting them know “Toronto is open for business.” 

Ford will also be meeting with Chicago’s Mayor Rahm Emanuel to “reaffirm a renewed version of the 1991 Chicago-Toronto Partner City Agreement”.

The mayor says all participants will be paying their own way for the mission on September 18^th, and 19^th.