Madura Shanmugaratnam

The Mayor and City Council

My priority is strengthening community engagement and creating more opportunities for residents, especially youth, to be involved in their neighbourhoods. Through my experience on parent council, I have seen what can happen when people work together toward local goals. I want to support neighbourhood committees and build partnerships with local businesses, schools, and community organizations to create opportunities for youth and address issues that are specific to each community.

Housing

I would prioritize increasing access to affordable and secure housing by working with the City, non-profit organizations, and housing providers. Toronto already has tools and incentives to support affordable units in new developments, and I want to ensure we are making effective use of them. I would also support partnerships with organizations that help create affordable homeownership and rental opportunities, while advocating for a range of housing options that meet residents' different needs.

Cost of Living

I would prioritize practical, community-based ways to reduce everyday costs, particularly food. I want to explore opportunities for cooperative grocery models, partnerships that connect communities with Ontario farmers, and community growing initiatives on suitable City land. I would also advocate for stronger school nutrition programs. These approaches can complement broader affordability efforts while strengthening local connections and improving access to nutritious food.

Safety in Public Spaces

I would prioritize a collaborative approach to community safety. That means building strong relationships between residents, local organizations, City services, and local police and working directly with neighbourhoods to identify areas where additional resources or attention are needed and develop community-informed action plans. Residents understand their neighbourhoods best, so their experiences should help shape local safety initiatives.

Getting Around the City

I would prioritize making our existing transportation network more reliable and accessible. That includes advocating for more frequent transit service where demand is high, addressing potholes and road maintenance in heavily travelled areas, and supporting safe infrastructure for walking and cycling. We also need better coordination of construction so residents can continue moving efficiently through their neighbourhoods.

Confronting Hateful and Hostile Behaviour

I believe preventing division starts by creating stronger connections between neighbours. I would support accessible neighbourhood events, cultural activities, reading groups, movie nights, and community conversations that bring together people of different ages and backgrounds. I also want to create more opportunities for open dialogue through community meetings and other welcoming third spaces. When people have opportunities to know and understand their neighbours, we can strengthen belonging while ensuring everyone feels welcome.