Laura Dean

The Mayor and City Council

I would create a multi-stakeholder taskforce with one mission: eliminating chronic homelessness. One elected official accountable for measuring and reporting results. An actionable strategy built across social services, healthcare and law enforcement. I can get it done because I have worked across City departments and the broader community to achieve shared goals, from securing a building permit to setting up a farmers' market. I know what it takes to build consensus and to actually measure outcomes.

Housing

Homelessness and eviction prevention must be scaled up so households struggling with rent can stay housed. Prevention saves taxpayers thousands per person in emergency services and healthcare costs. Housing stability is also an economic driver: people keep their jobs, work better, and have money left to spend at local businesses. These measures have to be coupled with sustained investment in affordable housing, to increase supply and bring costs down over the longer term.

Cost of Living

Housing is the number one expense for Torontonians. We must increase housing supply over the long term to bring down costs. I would prioritize faster approvals for rental, affordable and missing middle developments by addressing known logjams, including lack of coordination between City departments. In the short-term, I would provide financial relief to transit riders by imposing a fee cap which makes the TTC free after a certain number of rides each week.

Safety in Public Spaces

Toronto needs an actionable plan with measurable objectives for transit safety. I would look at the data on where incidents happen and why, and allocate resources accordingly. I would hire more TTC officers with de-escalation and mental health experience, visible in major stations and circulating through the system to be dispatched as needed. More eyes on streets and in parks make people feel safer. Providing real housing solutions would also mean that public spaces and transit are not used as de facto shelters.

Getting Around the City

Toronto's transportation system operates in silos. No board or committee is responsible for the whole system, there is no master plan, and no elected official is accountable for results. Enforcement, better signals and fixing slow zones get us part of the way but organizational change is required if we are to have a coherent and reliable system. I would build a transportation team under the Deputy Mayor to prepare a real master plan, so decisions about limited road capacity are made against a vision instead of project by project.

Confronting Hateful and Hostile Behaviour

When a community is targeted, it matters that the Mayor shows up, listens, and says plainly that it was hate and it was wrong. I will make sure the City and the Toronto Police Service have a clear process for receiving reports of hateful and hostile behaviour, and use the data to direct enforcement and education. Hatred is the product of ignorance. Torontonians need more chances to connect and break down prejudice. And less rage-baiting from elected officials. Civility starts at City Hall.