We are heading into a recession with expected tough times ahead. Inflation and cost of living are ever increasing. My priorities will be to focus on food security and shelter for those in the greatest need. We need to take care of our seniors and at risk communities.

Affordable housing is required now more than ever. We need to revisit zoning requirements and remove boundaries around creating multi-unit housing. We need mixed use areas close to services and amenities. We need to fast track permitting and allow builders leeway to provide efficient services.

Allow individuals to participate in food security by promoting community and backyard gardening. Remove strict lawn requirements and promote naturalized areas thereby reducing water usage. Promote taxation for non-residents vehicles using public roads to commute into Toronto (i.e. Gardiner Expressway), reduce congestion and idling by removing vehicles. Increase staff resources directed at enforcing environmental protections while targeting polluters.

We need better integration of public transport services and decreased downtimes. An integrated fare system to allow efficient travel. We need effective measures in place to ensure public transport hubs such as subway stations are safe, clean and efficient. Install barriers around subway tracks to prevent injury and deliberate harm to riders.

Increasing taxes is not always the answer. We need to look toward stronger enforcement around existing laws and regulations which will in turn bring about increased revenues. An example of this is enforcing the existing short term rental/"AirBnb" regulations which are largely left unchecked. This is an additional source of revenue which also addressing a part of the housing crisis.

Stronger mental health crisis response is needed along side policing. When you only have a hammer, everything becomes a nail. Policing services are largely overwhelmed and often do not have the time or specialization to deal with the variety of challenges they are faced with. There needs to be specialized response teams to support our police services and first responders in their duties.

My top priority will always be addressing the climate crisis. Communities around the world and in Canada are being ravaged by disasters driven by climate change. It would be both immoral and fiscally irresponsible to ignore it. Taking climate action also creates huge benefits for communities. Housing, waste management, water, sewage, transit, cycling, trees, pollinators, health, happiness, and sustainability are all connected. I will address all of these concerns by applying best climate sustainability practices to City planning.

The city of Toronto has neglected housing for far too long. We need a dedicated task force to address the crisis we are in and elected officials who will heed their advice. In the void of such a task force, advocates and volunteers have stepped up to offer recommendations. More Neighbours Toronto has compiled a comprehensive plan to address our housing problem. I agree with following these guidelines, and as councilor I will support turning their plan into a reality.

Infill housing is the best way to reduce our emissions, followed by heating electrification, and improving public transit. By building denser 15-minute communities, we reduce the distance people need to travel. Using electric heat in new buildings, retrofitting older buildings, and electrifying our buses and trains, we can push towards net zero as a City. The effects of climate change can be mitigated by planting more native trees and pollinator gardens, removing invasive species, and updating storm water infrastructure.

We need to invest in transit, cycling, and pedestrian infrastructure. We know where the most dangerous areas are, we have the data, so we need to start investing in those areas first. Best design practices are available, such as dedicated bus lanes, separated bicycle paths, traffic calming, etc. Other cities have shown that building the infrastructure will invite users. Instead of resurfacing our old roads, we need to redesign them to be safer. Every neighbourhood should be made safe enough for our children and elders to explore freely.

Toronto has suffered from decades of austerity partly because of low property taxes. The repair backlog of our city infrastructure is enormous and there are many desperately needed upgrades too. Toronto’s property tax rate of only 0.63551% is less than half that of some other Canadian cities. If we are to stop the city from crumbling, our tax structure needs to change to be more equitable and sustainable. We also need to create a land value tax with cooperation from the province to generate more revenue and incentivize maximum land use.

Toronto's police budget of $1.1B is not providing good return for the investment. Police officers are being used to perform the work of social workers, security cameras, sign posts, and outreach organizations. Through better distribution of funds, we can better serve our community's needs, helping people in need instead of punishing them. The Toronto Police Service (TPS) also needs to fully cooperate with the Confronting Anti-Black Racism unit (CABR) to eliminate system racism within the organization.