Diana Yoon

The Mayor and City Council

There is a housing crisis and we must act with urgency to end chronic homelessness. I will expedite shovel-ready projects and work towards creating at least 1,500 supportive and affordable homes in four years. This crisis affects everyone, from first-time buyers who are pushed out, to tenants being renovicted, to seniors falling into homelessness. I have secured $1.5 billion for co-op housing from the Government of Canada. I will use my experience as a housing professional to lock in funding and build more homes immediately.

Housing

I am proud of my track record of securing $1.5 billion of funding from the federal government for new affordable co-op housing. I would prioritize creating new co-op housing and invest in community land trusts. We can double the funding for the Multi-Unit Residential Acquisition program to help co-ops and non profits buy buildings. We can also help tenants stay in their homes and stop unfair rent increases. RentSafeTO needs to be better enforced and expanded. My office will always be a resource for those trying to find a secure place to live.

Cost of Living

We must tackle the cost of living crisis head-on and fast. Since May, I have advocated for a weekly fare cap and I am pleased to see the mayor adopt it as a campaign promise. We can push this even further for a daily fare cap for the TTC. Getting around affordably is one way the city can make a difference in the lives of everyday people. I will use my experience negotiating with other levels of government to make sure Toronto gets its fair share of funding for the TTC to implement this.

Safety in Public Spaces

Safety is eroded when people feel the city is not responsive to their concerns. Seeing individuals in crisis or witnessing erratic behaviour can feel unsafe, but most often people just need support and there are far too few options available. We can prioritize safety by expanding the 211 crisis support system on the TTC and on our streets. I will double funding for crisis support so that frontline workers can quickly connect people to mental health, addictions, and housing services they need.

Getting Around the City

I’ve long been an advocate for faster transit, and I was happy to help support the King streetcar pilot back in 2018. I am committed to getting transit moving faster and more reliably, and I’ll work with the community to implement the best solution possible. I’d like to explore the adoption of additional transit priority measures including possible parking reallocation, bans on left turns, and adjustments to signal timing. I’d also like to see bike lanes upgraded to be fully protected. More people out of cars means traffic that flows faster.

Confronting Hateful and Hostile Behaviour

We know that division between community members gets exacerbated as affordability and economic crises worsen. As a racialized queer woman and immigrant to Canada, I have seen this firsthand. The best way to reduce hate is to make sure people have the resources they need: affordable housing, a good job, and food on the table. Public education and cultural events can also support bridging divisions. I will prioritize building affordable housing, a public grocery pilot, and creating good jobs so we can build social trust between people.