Neil Simon

Toronto should permit more housing in every ward, including gentle-density options such as duplexes, fourplexes, townhomes and small apartment buildings. Growth must be responsibly planned, with affordable units, adequate parking where needed, green space, schools, and transit.

If a person is offered a suitable indoor space the city should require the encampment to be cleared. This must be done respectfully, with outreach workers, transportation, storage for belongings and continued support—not through sudden or harsh enforcement.

Even if the revenue supports transportation, congestion charges or tolls could unfairly burden workers, families and small businesses. Toronto should first improve public transit, traffic-light coordination, construction planning and traffic enforcement.

Toronto residents and small businesses are already facing high costs. Before creating new taxes or fees, the City should review spending, redirect existing funds, prioritize urgent safety repairs, and use partnerships where they provide good value without privatizing essential public assets.

Toronto should publish easy-to-understand budgets, timelines, progress reports, delays and cost overruns for every major capital project. Residents deserve transparency and accountability for how their tax dollars are spent.

Toronto should invest more in mental-health response, addiction treatment and youth intervention. Police remain important, but trained civilian teams can prevent crises and allow officers to focus on violence, serious crime and immediate threats.

Police need stable funding to address crime, traffic enforcement and neighbourhood safety. The budget should keep pace with inflation, with any additional increase tied to clear needs, measurable results and strong accountability.

Police may use this technology for legitimate public-safety purposes, but Toronto needs strict rules for access, data retention, sharing and independent audits. Information about innocent residents should not be stored without a valid reason.

Toronto must maintain its transit system and plan future expansion, but the next available funding should mainly improve daily service. More frequent and reliable buses, streetcars and subways would provide residents with the quickest benefit.

Emergency vehicles, accessibility, deliveries and trades should generally come first. Toronto must also support transit, walking and cycling and preserve reasonable parking and loading spaces where residents and small businesses depend on them.

Toronto should prioritize affordable and supportive housing because supply alone will not help those most in need. The City should use public land, partnerships and senior-government funding to build homes residents can truly afford.

Toronto should provide land, funding and incentives while partnering with non-profit, co-op and responsible private builders. Strong agreements must protect long-term affordability, public accountability and supportive services.

Toronto should allow more housing in every neighbourhood, including multiplexes and small apartments. The greatest density should be near transit and major streets, where residents can easily reach jobs, shops and services

Toronto should expand as-of-right zoning and speed up routine permits. Clear timelines and simpler digital approvals can reduce delays and costs while protecting safety, accessibility and neighbourhood standards.

Toronto needs stronger project management, competitive procurement and better contract oversight. Major projects should have clear budgets, timelines and public progress reports so delays and cost overruns are identified early.

Toronto should use competitive outside providers when they offer better value and service. Contracts must include clear standards, public reporting and strong oversight. Essential services should remain publicly accountable.

Property-tax revenue should generally keep pace with inflation and population growth so Toronto can maintain essential services. Any increase above that level must be transparent, justified, and balanced with affordability.

Toronto should rely more on land-transfer and real-estate activity revenues than road tolls or new taxes. Charges must be designed carefully so they do not discourage affordable and rental housing construction.

Toronto should prioritize repairing existing roads, transit, water systems and public buildings before starting non-essential expansion projects. Urgent repairs should be fully funded so neglect does not create higher costs later.

Toronto should work with the province to secure funding and approvals for housing, transit and infrastructure. Partnership does not mean silence—the City must still speak firmly when provincial decisions do not serve Toronto residents.

Strong mayor powers should be used rarely and mainly to move affordable housing forward. They should never replace open debate, community input or financial oversight. Every decision must be publicly explained.

Ward 9 needs reliable transit, safer roads, clean parks, dependable waste collection and well-maintained infrastructure. I will focus on the essential services residents use every day, with a mandate for growth, safety, and order.

Residents deserve a councillor who listens and responds. My office will answer complaints quickly, provide clear updates and help residents reach the correct City department.