Keenan Courtis

The Mayor and City Council

Often rigid municipal policies block progress. As a Fortune 500 financial cybersecurity advisor who has spoken internationally on AI privacy threats, I routinely help executives navigate complex global regulations, high-stakes tech contracts, and regional bureaucracy. On city council, I will bring this IT strategy experience and a proven willingness to grind through municipal red tape. I will clear the civic blockers that currently slow down vital projects like street pedestrianization and the bike-share network.

Housing

To alleviate rents, Toronto must expand below-market co-ops, push for rent freezes, and boost private supply via low- and mid-rise infill development. This requires growing its middle-market developer pool and incentivizing contractors to upskill into multi-unit construction. Because land acquisition is the biggest hurdle downtown, the city must coordinate with provincial and federal governments to create dedicated financing structures. This will help smaller, local builders secure land for these vital housing projects.

Cost of Living

To combat the rising cost of living, Toronto must support its public grocery pilot and improve commercial rent protections to shield local restaurants, corner stores, and independent grocers from inflation. However, because residential rent remains the largest financial drain on most Torontonians, the comprehensive housing and infill densification initiatives mentioned above are what will ultimately deliver the greatest and most lasting economic relief to our communities.

Safety in Public Spaces

Public safety across Toronto requires a proactive approach. We must deploy specialized crisis responders and police officers at major transit nodes, expanding the successful model used at Union Station during the FIFA tournament. To address drug use on the TTC, Toronto must implement real-time monitoring and a rapid next-stop response system that pairs transit security with mental health professionals. We must also install lighting along park paths to ensure all residents enjoy safer, well-lit walks home at night.

Getting Around the City

To improve Toronto commutes, we must optimize transit, pedestrianize pathing, and rapidly build a protected cycling grid. This means implementing far-side streetcar stops with signal priority, capping slow-zones, and providing free Presto passes to residents to incentivize driving alternatives. We will reclaim sidewalks via seasonal pedestrian hours with mechanical bollards on Kensington, Ossington, and Yorkville, enforce heavy e-bike bans, increase construction closure fees, expand Bike Share and replace flimsy flexi-posts with real barriers.

Confronting Hateful and Hostile Behaviour

Building a safer Toronto means fighting hate by strengthening the community at its core. By championing open pedestrian hubs like Kensington, expanding public co-ops, and securing neighborhood parks, we create inclusive spaces where residents can connect safely. True safety comes from proactive care—whether through transit mental health crisis responders or protecting the diverse independent grocers that bring our communities together