James Dann

The Mayor and City Council

The most important thing I would act on is making sure our services and infrastructure keep pace with the growth coming to our neighbourhoods, so schools, transit, parks and community spaces do not fall behind the new housing. I am suited to this because I have done it. I spent 25 years at the City of Toronto running parks, the waterfront and public infrastructure, delivering multi-million-dollar projects with federal and provincial partners. I know how City Hall actually works from the inside, so I can get things done on day one.

Housing

The east end is growing fast. My priority is making sure we build the homes we need and the neighbourhoods to support them. That means more housing across the spectrum, including affordable and supportive units, along with schools, transit, and community space that make growth livable. I would also get stalled and derelict properties back into use instead of letting them sit empty, and I would push hard to protect renters as we build. I have spent my career working on city projects, so I know how to get things built in a timely manner.

Cost of Living

The fastest thing a councillor can do on affordability is stop the City from being part of the problem. Too often the City itself adds cost and delay through fees, red tape and slow approvals, and that drives up the price of everything from a new home to a coffee at a local shop. I would cut that friction and get real value out of every dollar the City already spends, because waste at City Hall ends up on your tax bill. It is not flashy, but it is deliverable and it matters now.

Safety in Public Spaces

I ran the City's waterfront parks and public spaces for 25 years, so this one is personal. People feel safe in places that are well lit, well maintained, active, and cared for, and unsafe where things are neglected, dark, or falling apart. My priority is the basics that change how a place feels: lighting, upkeep, clear sightlines, and programming that brings people out. I would also tackle the abandoned and derelict buildings that drag a block down and leave people uneasy. Safety is not only about policing, it is about caring for shared spaces.

Getting Around the City

East-enders spend too much of their lives stuck in traffic or waiting on transit. On transit, I would fight for a TTC that is clean, safe, and reliable. That is what gets people out of their cars. On roads, I would push to get the approved Gardiner and Lake Shore rebuild moving faster while delivering short-term relief now, like better-timed signals and using routes such as Eastern Avenue. And I would make sure people who walk and cycle can do it safely. However you travel, you deserve to move through this city without it costing you your day.

Confronting Hateful and Hostile Behaviour

Everyone in this city deserves to feel that they belong here. I would make sure the City responds quickly and seriously to hate and harassment, and that we support the community organizations already doing this work on the ground. Furthermore, I would make sure our public spaces and City services are welcoming and accessible to newcomers and to racialized and equity-deserving communities, because belonging is built in the everyday. I spent my career making public spaces that are for everyone, and I would bring that same standard to City Hall.