Hamid Shakeri

The Mayor and City Council

It's time to change priorities at City Hall and focus on ordinary residents. For too long, the city has been subservient to corporate bosses and big construction companies dictating our development. It should be the other way around: the Municipal Government must tell them what kind of development our communities actually need. With my strong background in engineering, management, and planning—plus firsthand experience supporting those facing hardship and trauma—I bring both the professional expertise and empathy needed to put people first.

Housing

We need comprehensive housing strategies from all three levels of government. Toronto's crisis wasn't created by city hall alone; lack of development across Ontario and Canada has overwhelmed our city. The provincial and federal governments must contribute significant funding. We need to cap housing costs at a fair percentage of household income, like 35% for rent or mortgage. Waiting 15 years for social housing is a shame, and seeing homeless individuals everywhere is unacceptable.

Cost of Living

A huge chunk of household income goes toward housing for both homeowners and tenants. Reducing these costs will give residents flexibility for other expenditures. City Council must lobby provincial and federal governments for direct grocery benefits. Additionally, municipally-run grocery stores would reduce the cost of essentials for Torontonians. Public transit fares must be frozen, and increasing competition for other services will further lower the cost of living.

Safety in Public Spaces

Perception differs from reality. Some career politicians exaggerate problems to create fear or advance an agenda. To make everyone safe, we must focus on poverty reduction, mental health resources, and stopping gun smuggling from the US. Some advocate for more police, but we have enough police personnel; we just need to use them efficiently. We rather need more social workers. Anyone wanting more policing must find a way to pay for it without burdening the city budget, perhaps by bringing in additional forces from the OPP or RCMP.

Getting Around the City

We must catch up. Our infrastructure was mostly built in the 60s, but zoning changes increased population without proportional upgrades. This is unsustainable. We need capacity for more residents, which requires funding from federal and provincial governments. We must freeze high-rise construction on main arteries, encourage working from home, and enact practical bylaws for e-bikes and e-scooters. Bike lanes must be evaluated case-by-case and built without stressing our outdated 1960s roads.

Confronting Hateful and Hostile Behaviour

I’ve experienced this myself. However, what our media reflects is mostly influenced by agendas highlighting certain hostile attitudes while neglecting others. We have proper laws for these cases; law enforcement and the judiciary can deal with illegal activities without degrading freedoms protected under Canadian law. This issue must be dealt with independently, free from any pressure or influence by foreign agents or those lobbying on behalf of a foreign country.