Despite polls showing she could beat Mayor Rob Ford and rampant speculation she might run, Chow, the widow of NDP leader Jack Layton, says she won't jump into the 2014 mayoralty race.

"Toronto is a beautiful place, Jack loved the city, loved the citizens and I'm so glad (Councillor Mike Layton) is now working here at City Hall and doing a fine job," Chow said just before the memorial for Layton in Nathan Phillips Square on Wednesday.

Asked directly if she wants to run for mayor, Chow gave a blunt "no."

"Thank you for asking though," she said. "I thought it was just summer idle discussion."

A Forum Research poll conducted at the end of June found Chow would beat Ford in a two-way race. Around 58% of the 1,212 Toronto residents polled said they would vote for Chow for mayor, while only 34% said they would vote for Ford. Just 8% said they were undecided.

The Toronto NDP MP said she's committed to working on a national public transit strategy that will be up for a vote this fall.

"You know what would be a great impact (for Toronto) is (Prime Minister) Stephen Harper bring some of that money that we give to the federal government through the form of taxes of all kind, bring some of that money back so we can fix the Gardiner (Expressway) ... and we can finally have some finding for public transit because it is desperately needed," she said.