Toronto 2026/Ward 15/Sheena Sharp
Running for
Councillor
Ward 15
Don Valley West
Days until polls open
29

About Sheena

Written by Sheena Sharp in answer to our questionnaire, and published as given. Not our description of them.

Its astonishing to me that we might run an election, as large parts of Canada are on fire, and not make climate action the most important issue for the city to tackle. In fact, council punted a decision on building emissions standards until after the election.

Climate Action is not a technology problem, or a money problem, its a political problem, and it belongs in every election.

Eighteen years ago I decided to refocus my architectural firm on the problem of decarbonizing buildings. I am proud to be the architect of the City’s first Net-Zero building, the Mount Dennis Childcare. I am also proud of The Elmwood, a seniors non-profit housing project that is the first net-zero ready affordable housing project approved under CMHC’s Apartment Construction Loan Program.

Despite successes, we can’t meet our climate goals one building at a time. We need government to align their efforts with the private sector for maximum reductions. For example, the city can play a vital role in finance renovations using CPACE to transfer repayment to property tax bills. With efforts like this, I can see a viable, affordable path to decarbonization in 20 years, which will contribute to climate stabilization.

I also serve at the Chair of the Toronto 2030 District, a non-profit dedicated to promoting the most affordable and best solutions to decarbonizing the City of Toronto.

Our questionnaire

Where Sheena Sharp stands

Sheena Sharp’s own answers to the questions we put to every candidate, published as given — including, where they wrote one, their reasoning in their own words.

Five decisions facing the next council

Should Toronto permit substantially more housing as-of-right in every ward, including areas currently dominated by detached and semi-detached homes?

  • Sheena Sharp
    Yes

    Walk around Rosedale. You will see multi-family dwellings. You will see apartments sprinkled throughout. Same with my ward. Look at the size of some single family homes, towering over their neighbours. We need housing at all price points, all tenures, and gentle intensity is a good way to do it.

When a person living in a park has been offered an available indoor space that meets their accessibility, safety and household needs, should the city require them to leave the encampment?

  • Sheena Sharp
    Yes

    Be like Denmark.

Should Toronto introduce road-pricing measures, such as congestion charges or tolls, if the revenue is dedicated to transportation improvements?

  • Sheena Sharp
    No

    I support solutions that move most people faster. if there is a scheme that does this and includes congestion pricing, I will listen.

Should Toronto raise additional local revenue to address its infrastructure repair backlog rather than defer maintenance while seeking funding from other governments?

  • Sheena Sharp
    Yes

    Uploading the Gardiner/404 was a good move. I support other levels of government paying some operating costs, not just project related cost sharing.

Should Toronto publish project-level budgets, schedules and performance updates for all major capital projects?

  • Sheena Sharp
    Yes

    With the caveat that most reporters do not understand construction budgets. Glen Murray once said "If the government is doing 100 projects and one goes bad, that is the only one on the front page of the Globe and Mail". I have sympathy for that view, while wanting more transparency.

Public safety and public space

Which approach should receive the greatest additional investment to improve public safety?

  • Sheena Sharp
    Mental-health response, addiction treatment and youth intervention

    None of the above. According to research, 2 people driving around in a car is the least effective way to stop crime. The fastest growing crimes are internet fraud and hate crimes, which require different skill sets. We need to modernize our police force.

Over the next council term, the Toronto Police Service budget should:

  • Sheena Sharp
    Remain approximately constant after inflation

    The police need KPIs like the rest of us.

How should Toronto govern automated licence-plate readers and similar surveillance technology used on public streets?

  • Sheena Sharp
    Establish citywide limits on access, retention, auditing and data sharing

    If any surveillance is permitted, establish the purpose of the surveillance and monitor for effectiveness.

Transit and transportation

What should receive the greatest share of the next available transit funding?

  • Sheena Sharp
    New rapid-transit lines and extensions

    With recent investments, Line 5 and the Ontario line, we are not significantly expanding service areas. We need to do that.

When there is not enough street space for every use, which should generally receive priority?

  • Sheena Sharp
    Deliveries, trades, emergency vehicles and accessibility

    Its a system! we must balance all three. Our "debates" on this, and the three answers you provide are rather simple.

Housing and growth

If Toronto could make one major housing intervention this term, which should receive the greatest emphasis?

  • Sheena Sharp
    Permit substantially more housing as-of-right

    Permission actually reduced approval times in planning, where the problem lies. In the past 20 years, building permit processing times, which are about safety, have improved dramatically. There are a lot of "commentators" who done know the difference and are causing harm.

What should be Toronto's primary role in delivering affordable and supportive housing?

  • Sheena Sharp
    Supply land, funding and incentives to non-profit and private providers

    I favour government support for non-profit ownership, including co-ops and cohousing. We also need support for condo governance and templates for condos with few units. People need control over tenure, and we need lots of options. Housing is the base of our economy.

Where should Toronto permit the greatest increase in housing density?

  • Sheena Sharp
    Permit more apartments and multiplexes in nearly every neighbourhood

    We need multiple housing types at every price point.

City government and service delivery

Which change would you implement to reduce the cost of building housing in Toronto?

  • Sheena Sharp
    Reduce development charges, parkland payments and related levies

    This is an unfortunate question. We should do all of the above, which will raise taxes.

What is the most important change Toronto should make to reduce capital-project delays and cost overruns?

  • Sheena Sharp
    Strengthen professional project management, procurement and contracting

    Strengthen project management and make new expectation explicit.

Which service-delivery model should Toronto use more often?

  • Sheena Sharp
    Expand permanent city staff and internal operational capacity

    Direct delivery provides organizational memory, and strengthens oversite of those project which are procured externally due to a peak demand. It allows the city to be nimble and increase control. This requires a cultural change.

Taxes, spending and fiscal sustainability

Over the next council term, residential property-tax revenues should generally:

  • Sheena Sharp
    Grow faster than inflation to improve or expand services

    Actually, they should cover expenses, whatever the increase/decrease.

Which type of additional revenue should Toronto rely on most heavily?

  • Sheena Sharp
    Property taxes or new municipal income or sales taxes, if authorized

    If we value new citizens, we can't fleece them.

What should Toronto do first to address its infrastructure repair backlog?

  • Sheena Sharp
    Introduce a levy or other recurring source reserved for maintenance

    Many non-residents use Toronto services and the province should contribute to maintenance.

Governance and representation

What should be Toronto's primary approach to the provincial government?

  • Sheena Sharp
    Publicly press for greater authority, revenue and a different fiscal arrangement

Strong mayor powers should be used mainly for:

  • Sheena Sharp
    the powers should sit unused regardless of who holds them

Your ward and your record

Which objective should receive the greatest attention in your ward during the next council term?

  • Sheena Sharp
    Transit, roads, parks, waste collection and local infrastructure

Which single result should voters use to assess your performance at the end of the term?

  • Sheena Sharp
    A specific measurable result identified by the candidate

    We need to make the city climate ready.

    If you selected “Ward commitment,” state one numerical target and a deadlineA 20% reduction in emissions by 2029.

Priorities and trade-offs

Over the next council term, Toronto should:

  • Sheena Sharp
    Remove or redesign lanes that fail defined safety, ridership or congestion standards

    We need a faster, balanced transportation system, which includes cycling, which tops out as 30% in cycling cities, and must be used in winter to qualify as transportation. This may mean "review and expand".

When demonstrations substantially block transportation or access to essential institutions, the city should prioritize:

  • Sheena Sharp
    Accept significant disruption unless there is an immediate safety threat

Where should Toronto direct its next major technology investment?

  • Sheena Sharp
    Public data and systems that measure outcomes and hold departments accountable

When Toronto faces a structural operating-budget gap, what should it do first?

  • Sheena Sharp
    Reduce internal administration, staffing or contract costs

What is the most important municipal intervention for improving Toronto's business climate?

  • Sheena Sharp
    Expand housing, transportation, public safety and infrastructure

How should Toronto attract major employers, investment and events?

  • Sheena Sharp
    Housing affordability, transportation, safety and quality of life

What should Toronto prioritize to increase construction capacity?

  • Sheena Sharp
    Maintain a stable, long-term pipeline of public projects

What should receive the greatest priority in Toronto's public-realm budget?

  • Sheena Sharp
    Cleanliness, roads, sidewalks, snow clearing, washrooms and routine park care

What should be Toronto's primary tool for supporting arts, culture and nightlife?

  • Sheena Sharp
    Grants, city facilities and affordable cultural space

If autonomous taxi services operate in Toronto, which condition should the city prioritize?

  • Sheena Sharp
    Mandatory reporting on trips, collisions, congestion and curb use

Each card is one question, with Sheena Sharp filed under the answer they gave and their own words underneath it. The other options offered are not shown, nor how the rest of the field answered.

How the whole city answered

Registered candidates from the City Clerk’s official list, refreshed daily. Campaign sites are linked as published by the candidate; a link is not an endorsement.

Everyone running in Don Valley WestWhere the whole field stands