Jamie Atkinson

The Mayor and City Council

My first duty as Mayor would be to make Toronto capable of serving its people: a city that can build faster, operate more affordably and create the conditions for families and individuals to prosper. I bring a degree in political science, graduate studies in architecture, over a decade in flood protection and climate adaptation, and deep experience applying AI. Technology is not the purpose of a city; people are. AI and robotics should help us build homes, strengthen infrastructure and deliver better services so more people can build secure, me

Housing

I would prioritize helping people get and keep a secure home. That means preventing avoidable evictions, expanding subsidized and supportive housing, and moving people from shelters and streets into permanent homes with supports. I would create a Toronto Building MCP to accelerate approvals and make Toronto a proving ground for modular, robotic and safe autonomous construction alongside skilled trades. I would also pursue high-speed rail west to Windsor, widening access to lower-cost regional housing while keeping Toronto jobs within reach.

Cost of Living

I would prioritize making Toronto cheaper to live in by making the city itself more productive. I would use AI, robotics and better digital systems to lower the cost of delivering city services, then return those savings through lower fees, affordable transit and less pressure on property taxes. At the same time, I want Toronto to become the AI enablement capital of the world—attracting investment and creating more high-paying jobs so affordability is about both lowering costs and raising opportunity.

Safety in Public Spaces

I would treat safety in public spaces as a design and community challenge as well as a policing one. Even where reported crime is low, dark, empty or neglected spaces can feel unsafe. I would invest in better lighting, cleaner parks and stations, food pop-ups, street festivals, seasonal markets and community events. I also want more meaningful jobs in public spaces—people helping, maintaining and welcoming—so Toronto feels active, cared for and safe.

Getting Around the City

I would prioritize giving people time back. I would use AI to coordinate traffic, transit, construction and curb space as one connected system, and pilot Slipstream to move small goods and working robots underground. The goal is not to replace people, but to give workers better tools while reducing unnecessary vehicle trips. That means more road capacity for transit, drivers, cyclists and pedestrians, safer streets, cleaner air, less noise and lower environmental impact—while creating new opportunities for meaningful work.

Confronting Hateful and Hostile Behaviour

A free city is not a city without disagreement; it is a city where people can disagree without fear. I would protect freedom of belief, religion, identity and lawful expression while drawing a firm line at threats, intimidation, violence and unlawful discrimination. Freedom also carries responsibility: our public spaces should be safe, decent and welcoming, especially for children and families. Toronto’s strength is not that we are all alike, but that different people can live together with dignity, restraint and respect.