Candidates

About Candidates

These are the candidates running in your ward of Eglinton-Lawrence. Click through the different candidates to learn more about their platforms, browse their social pages, website and more.

Ward 8: Eglinton-Lawrence Data

2021 Population
115,832
9th of 25
Population growth 2016-2021
1.3%
10th of 25
Population under 15 years old
16.4%
5th of 25
Population over 64 years old
17.9%
10th of 25

Eglinton-Lawrence Candidates

Select a Different Ward

Make this my Ward

All Candidates

MC

Eglinton-Lawrence

Mike Colle

365-650-6596

Responses by Mike Colle

This candidate has not responded yet.

All Candidates

PD

Eglinton-Lawrence

Philip Davidovits

647-892-5174

Responses by Philip Davidovits

If elected as a City Councillor, what would be your top priority, and how will you address it?

General Question

Public Health: Access Our Provincial Government has stated that there will be money to pay medical professionals, which is good news. I will work to use that funding to: Open transitional care housing for patients from our community who are moved out of the hospitals to Long Term Care Homes up to 300 kilometers away because they are not sick enough to be in the hospital but not well enough to be at home. If patients are so far away they will not have community support or easy access back to the hospital where they were treated.

What should the next City Council do about housing in Toronto? Why?

Housing

Construction: Instead of focusing on approving more new housing developments, I will: Focus on creating programs for the present homeowners to keep their homes. Protect our green spaces and homes. Prioritize finishing the 71 projects already approved in our community. Minimize the road construction caused by stop-and-go construction. Only look at project proposals to build a high-density affordable housing project once I understand what "affordable" means in a practical sense Allow homeowners to rent out individual rooms

What should the next City Council do to mitigate the effects of climate change and reduce its progression? How?

Climate Action

Create an economic bubble where people do not have to travel as much and there will be much less waste when we are able to purchase local goods affordably.

What should the next City Council do to improve the ability of the people of Toronto to get around safely and efficiently? How?

Getting Around the City

Understand that this is not a size fits. When we need to do some roadwork on a specific street we need at that time to also look at the needs of that specific area to help the community move around better, For some streets, it will be more bike lanes. On other streets more parking . While in some areas it may be more space for pedestrians to walk around,

Should the next City Council change anything about municipal taxes or city services? Why?

Taxes and Spending

We need to work with the budget we have . However, we should look at how the community will directly benefit from outside investment.

What should the next City Council do about the City of Toronto's approach to policing its residents and making our communities safe? Why?

Policing and Community Safety

The city of Toronto should do less policing and more community integration.

All Candidates

DM

Eglinton-Lawrence

Domenico Maiolo

Responses by Domenico Maiolo

This candidate has not responded yet.

All Candidates

ES

Eglinton-Lawrence

Evan Sambasivam

Responses by Evan Sambasivam

If elected as a City Councillor, what would be your top priority, and how will you address it?

General Question

My top priority is ending chronic homelessness. Two years ago, I lost one of my oldest friends to complications of homelessness - the single event that spurred me to run for City Council. The research overwhelmingly shows that it is cheaper to provide supportive housing for people experiencing chronic homelessness than it is to leave them to navigate the shelter system, occupy hospital beds, or end up in the justice system. Ending chronic homelessness isn’t a pipe dream - it’s the correct economic decision.

What should the next City Council do about housing in Toronto? Why?

Housing

Between the rising cost of living and sky-high housing prices, many of our neighbours are barely scraping by. Many of the people who make this city great - young people, immigrants, small business owners, and service workers - are being pushed out of the city they love because they can’t afford to live here. The city needs to do its part to increase the stock of affordable housing options for everyone - including students, families, and seniors - and I’m ready to lead the charge.

What should the next City Council do to mitigate the effects of climate change and reduce its progression? How?

Climate Action

By focusing on effective land use and improving transit, we can do our part to fight climate change while building a more liveable future at the same time. We should be incentivizing homebuilders to adopt green technology and remove zoning restrictions that encourage urban sprawl. We should also prioritize infrastructure improvements that allow for a diversity of commuting options, including protected bike lanes and improved transit reliability.

What should the next City Council do to improve the ability of the people of Toronto to get around safely and efficiently? How?

Getting Around the City

Between increased incidences of violence and consistent service disruptions, TTC ridership has fallen to 61% of pre-pandemic levels. In order to bring back commuters, we need to restore confidence that the TTC will take you where you need to go - when you need to get there - and keep you safe while doing it. Low-cost solutions like barrier doors at high-traffic stations and the staggering of buses on major routes would provide massive benefits. I would also follow the recommendations of RapidTO.

Should the next City Council change anything about municipal taxes or city services? Why?

Taxes and Spending

We need to be a lot smarter with the way we use our tax dollars. I want to establish an Economic Impact Office to evaluate every expense in the city budget to ensure that we’re providing the greatest possible value to the city. We should not be cutting basic services like road repairs or garbage collection if it will end up costing the city more in the long run. I believe that we can improve the quality of city services with the existing budget if we are more thoughtful about how we spend it.

What should the next City Council do about the City of Toronto's approach to policing its residents and making our communities safe? Why?

Policing and Community Safety

Toronto has experienced increases in gun violence, carjackings, and racist violence since the beginning of the pandemic. We can make our city safer while restoring trust in our institutions by providing culturally appropriate emergency response services to complement our existing infrastructure. I would expand the Community Crisis Response Program, and work with community leaders to create tailored crime prevention strategies. By fostering stronger communities, we can make our city safer by stopping crime from happening in the first place.

All Candidates

WW

Eglinton-Lawrence

Wendy Weston

Responses by Wendy Weston

If elected as a City Councillor, what would be your top priority, and how will you address it?

General Question

Housing is the top priority. City Council has many tools at its disposal. As a city councillor, I will advocate for an expedited and full implementation of HousingTO which is a big picture, people, and community focused plan. Input from reputable voices, whose work is to work to solve the housing crisis, have created a strategic plan for TORONTO. How can we build a city to meet the needs we’re facing now from homelessness to rental and ownership housing to long-term care for seniors? Please google HousingTO and read more about it.

What should the next City Council do about housing in Toronto? Why?

Housing

In addition to the tools outlined in HousingTO, city council must invest in units that are already home to those that live there. Investments to repair and maintain these properties are important for the future and important to improving the quality of life for those who rely on social housing in Toronto. Further, when housing developments are put forth to council, they must include community focused deals that create meaningful local jobs and training opportunities.

What should the next City Council do to mitigate the effects of climate change and reduce its progression? How?

Climate Action

City council has a tool in TransformTO to ease and slow the problems that climate change creates. Please google TransformTO and read more about it. TransformTO is important because it’s good for your environment, your health, your home and your future. Investing in public transit, supporting investments and research in green technology, education, and creating a walkable and bikeable city will offer ways to improve your health and wellbeing in Toronto. City Council must lead the way for a better environment in Toronto for us all.

What should the next City Council do to improve the ability of the people of Toronto to get around safely and efficiently? How?

Getting Around the City

Getting around Toronto is an issue for all of us. Transit users find their rides longer, more crowded, less convenient, and more expensive. Those walking or biking find their safety in jeopardy and drivers are frustrated by gridlock. It does a city good to slow down, know what to expect in which lane, refine and respect rules of the road, and each other. It’s good for lives, good for public transit, good for business, good for the environment, and good for drivers’ insurance premiums. Google Vision Zero Road Safety Plan to read more.

Should the next City Council change anything about municipal taxes or city services? Why?

Taxes and Spending

Public services like childcare, libraries, transit, and recreation are fundamental to our city. Public services must be improved and revenue from tools like a 1% increase to property tax (about $25/year/average household) would be a reasonable one to utilize. Also, when city contracts are up for renewal, they should also be up for review to ensure that services provided were as promised. Future contracts to provide city services must also be reviewed to ensure services promised are adequate and provide the best possible value for your money.

What should the next City Council do about the City of Toronto's approach to policing its residents and making our communities safe? Why?

Policing and Community Safety

Policing in Toronto is undergoing positive change. City Council has a responsibility to direct that change works to guarantee public safety for all of us. Racism and discrimination is experienced by many members of Indigenous, Black and racialized communities in Toronto and has been a problem in our city for decades. Working to dismantle the system of discrimination in policing in Toronto, which is widely recognized as a huge barrier to quality of life and opportunities for many people in our city, needs investment and urgent attention.