Walied Khogali Ali

Toronto should permit more housing in every ward, but that development must happen responsibly and it should be ensured that we are building supportive & affordable housing across the city.

It is of the utmost importance to build trust and understand why a certain individual has chosen to not go to an available indoor space, and we must be mindful of these needs so that we are addressing the root issues as opposed to temporary, short-term solutions. The person at risk must cooperate.

In the midst of an affordability crisis, I'm opposed to all tolls and new taxes that make life difficult for residents of Toronto.

We should not raise taxes at the municipal level, as it is the responsibility of the province and the federal government to ensure that municipalities are able to meet their infrastructure needs.

It is crucial that the government has full transparency and honesty with the public, so that people are able to respond

We have seen non-police interventions that emphasize crisis prevention and mental health be immensely successful. Toronto Community Crisis Response and other services require strong investments. We believe in prevention, not a cure as the solution to public safety.

De-tasking seems to be a proven method, and as more responsibilities are transferred away from TPS to civilian services such as Toronto Community Crisis Services, there needs to be a proportionate transfer of the budget accordingly.

We want to ensure that the data is not abused and used for nefarious means, so we want to implement very strict rules over when and where it can be collected. Privacy is a paramount right for Torontonians, and they should feel secure from illegitimate surveillance.

For large swathes of Torontonians, it is incredibly important that they are able to get to work, school or other commitments punctually. Many rely on the TTC to do so, whether that is through buses, streetcars or subways. This service must be as reliable and frequent as possible to meet those needs.

There has been a concerted push for pedestrianization in our downtown core, as residents are interested in connecting with their local streets. By prioritizing the needs of those taking public transit, walking or cycling, we are addressing the needs of the many residents who do not own vehicles.

There is a major need in Toronto for greater supply of affordable and supportive housing. Our current affordable housing waitlist is over 10 years long, and the city must meet the needs of its low-income, marginalized communities.

All 3 of these roles must be taken on by the City of Toronto at different levels; The City Planning Department, The Housing Secretariat, and the Economic Development Unit can take on various responsibilities to advance the creation of affordable & supportive housing.

For sustainable and equitable development, we must ensure that we are not concentrating growth in specific neighbourhoods, so that all of the various parts of the city are able to benefit from new development, and we can prevent displacement due to gentrification.

All 3 of these steps would have to be taken, as we need to not levy prohibitive taxes on those providing affordable housing. There needs to be responsible development, which means that while as-of-right zoning is positive, we must ensure new infrastructure is serving the communities it is in.

Too many projects in Toronto start and stagnate without additional construction due to a lack of funding. We must deliver on the projects that are promised, and they must be built expediently.

We should build internal capacity, to ensure that we are not contracting out essential services to outside parties. It is crucial to maintain a strict line of accountability, where the City is answerable to deliver on city infrastructure.

By tying the increase in taxes with inflation & population, we can ensure there is a fair medium to raise property taxes that is in accordance with other significant factors. Other levels of government also have a responsibility to contribute to city funds.

Property taxes currently makes up 30% of Toronto's annual revenue, and they are broadly consistent year-to-year. There is no need to implement new income or sales taxes, as the province could transfer a share of the existing income/sales taxes to the City instead.

We should make sure that our current pipeline of projects has been completed before undertaking new ventures. It is crucial that we build equitably, on-time and under-budget so that residents can access the services they need.

We should plan Toronto's budgets and services in a way where they can be suitably independent, without needing frequent assistance from other levels of government.

City Council and other departments should be able to have a suitable amount of authority in their respective areas without concern on being overridden by the mayor. The principle of subsidiarity, where decisions are made at the most local level, is an essential one for a City like Toronto.

It is essential that we unlock the potential of new investment and development for our ward in a way that is responsible and beneficial for our communities. By tying social development with infrastructure investment, we can meet the needs of all residents equitably.

The ward commitment would be the expansion of affordable housing commitments specifically.

There is great political uncertainty over bike lanes due to provincial decisions that has challenged the construction of cycling infrastructure on major streets.

We want to ensure the right to protest is protected to the fullest extent possible while not worsening congestion on major streets. We should plan for and support road users.

Major investments in performance management is critically important so we can have an evidence-based approach to improve outcomes in all city departments.

Small business owners have made it clear to the campaign that operational expenses can be a burden for businesses who are given challenges such as tariffs. The City should do more to support small businesses including support for festivals and for cost-saving measures as identified by BIAs.

It is crucial for Toronto to have information on how autonomous taxi services are operating and the pitfalls involved in order to make policy that protects residents.