The lack of affordable housing in Toronto is a serious problem, and it is my number one priority. We need to take the profit out of housing by limiting the power that corporate landlords and big developers have. That includes encouraging non-profit and co-op housing, as well as establishing full rent control for all units and implementing a vacancy tax. We also need inclusionary zoning to ensure new developments include affordable housing, and community benefit agreements to ensure our infrastructure and amenities keep pace.

In addition to full rent control and a vacancy tax, we also need to increase the number of non-profit and co-op apartments. We need to give these providers the first right of refusal on buildings sold in the city, as well as requiring that city-owned land only be used for affordable housing – not sold to private, for-profit developers. We also need to fix and properly fund Toronto Community Housing, and ensure that all affordable housing is built to accessible standards. Everyone deserves a place to call home.

We are already seeing the effects of climate change first-hand in York South-Weston, where basements regularly flood. We can’t just sit back and clean up after each storm – we need to address the problem. This means investing in our city’s infrastructure. It also means fully funding the TransformTO Net Zero Strategy, and scaling up highrise & commercial retrofits to improve energy efficiency without above-guideline rent increases. Lastly, we need to properly fund and expand our public transit, making it more reliable while keeping fares low.

It’s time to get everyone in York South-Weston moving. The lack of transit and cycling infrastructure investment in the ward has led to overcrowded surface bus routes, infrequent and inaccessible service, and even a cyclist’s death in the summer of 2017. This cannot go on any longer. We need to fully fund and enforce VisionZeroTO, and make the most dangerous intersections safer by implementing raised intersections. We also need a TTC fare freeze, fare integration, and most importantly, to Keep Transit Public.

We deserve to live in a city that we are proud of; however many parts of York South-Weston are feeling neglected. Our roads and sidewalks need repairing, we wait too long for the snowplows to arrive, garbage collects in our parks and ravines. It’s basic stuff but it’s what a great community and a great city are built on. We need equitable access to city services across all of Toronto. And at a time when it feels like everything is stagnating, I will stand and fight for York South-Weston.

It’s time to address the root causes of violence and crime in our communities. Increased funding to policing has done little to stop violence and crime in the long-term, and time and time again we see spikes of violence and crime when funding is cut for programs and workers that address the root causes. This means real, sustainable, and meaningful investment in social programs that have proven more effective in reducing and preventing violence, and are considerably more cost-effective than policing and incarceration.

To effectively represent the public and to consider the well-being and interests of my municipality. I will develop and evaluate the policies and programs of the municipality to ensure my community is not underserved.

To effectively represent the public and to consider the well-being and interests of my municipality. I will develop and evaluate the policies and programs of the municipality to ensure my community is not underserved.

The next city councilor should champion and push the city to do the following; • creating housing opportunities in all Toronto neighborhoods without exception. • help homeless and vulnerable people find and keep homes. • assist families and individuals to afford rents. • preserve and repair rental housing. • create new affordable rental homes. • help people to buy and stay in their homes. When people with a mix of incomes live in a range of housing tenures and types, a safe, healthy, strong and diverse communities is created.

• Use renewable energy by propelling the use of solar panels throughout the city. • Push utility companies to switch to low-carbon sources for generating electricity and provide them with funding support. This can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by running various systems with electricity instead of fossil fuels. • Help conserve and restore forests by enacting strong policies that help in stopping deforestation while promoting forest restoration projects. • Help conserve water by passing effective use of water by-laws

The city can do the following; • develop a new vision for a network of streets that re-allocates more space in the right of-way for pedestrian. • build new path extensions and improve connections to the city’s off-street trail system. • undertake bicycle safety initiatives at key locations within the city. • increasing service on existing surface routes and add new surface transit routes in areas of growth. • promote off-peak delivery using alternative delivery methods such as bicycles and smaller delivery vehicles.

They should ensure our roads are built in ways that can reduce speeds and provide safe infrastructure for all road users. Council should also strive to expand community safety zones and significantly accelerate the installation of automated speed enforcement cameras within the city. Council should equally vote to prohibit snowplows from storing snow and ice in bike lanes and on narrow sidewalks that creates additional accessibility barriers. Lastly, they should improve amenities such as signalized midblock crossings at TTC stops.

Council should promote community partnership. Community partnership means adopting a policing perspective that exceeds the standard law enforcement emphasis. It recognizes the value of activities that contribute to the orderliness and well-being of our neighborhoods. Instead of simply responding to crimes once they have been committed, community policing concentrates on preventing crime and eliminating the atmosphere of fear that it creates. So, in the fight against crime, the police should effectively engage neighborhood groups and agencies.