Toronto Mayor Candidates 2022

Blake Acton is a veteran police officer who served for over 30 years, some of which as a police constable for the Toronto Police Service. As part of his campaign, he wants to optimize bike and car lanes—however, he told Global News he opposes the ActiveTO closures. In survey responses to The Local, he chose “prefer not to answer” when asked how he would vote on an item to make these bike lanes permanent. His platform also includes promises to clean up litter from public spaces, and work with developers and social service providers to address housing and mental health. He has said he plans to tackle the issue of affordable housing using “common sense,” and that crime is a pressing issue in the city. He has said he opposes a gun ban, but supports bail reform and wants the federal and provincial government to deal with illegal guns. His campaign references working closely with police as a solution. In May 2022, Acton called on the mayor to reinstate all unvaccinated city employees on unpaid leave. In an October 13 tweet, Acton said the election was corrupt because he wasn’t chosen for a candidates’ debate, subsequently tweeting that he believed it was because he’s “not diverse enough”.

While there is limited information about Avraham Arrobas’ professional background, his campaign website includes platform priorities such as the reduction of hate crimes and homicides in the city. Arrobas says he would also work to address the housing crisis by reducing the cost of rent and building more housing, develop city-run programs for those who are unhoused, and reduce traffic by implementing one-way streets in select areas.

Darren Atkinson describes himself as an “independent entrepreneur, inventor, and musician,” was the former Managing Director of British amplifier company Hiwatt. Atkinson has twelve key platform priorities, the first of which is seniors’ healthcare assistance. His priorities for policing include greater training for police in crisis de-escalation (Atkinson is against defunding police), increasing the size of the police force, expanding police drone presence, and opposing the decriminalization of schedule 1 drugs. He proposes a tax for foreign property investors, the creation of an Indigenous park for cross-cultural learning and reconciliation, interest-free microloans for small businesses, better regulation of companies employing gig workers, rent control on the level of building permits, and improvement of infrastructure like transit and public waste management.

Chloe Brown is a project coordinator at Future Skills Centre, an initiative providing underserved communities with essential skills for entering the workforce. Previously, she worked in former city councillor Pam McConnell’s office as part of a mentorship program. If elected, Brown wants to update land use designations, implement a land value tax model (which assesses taxes based on land itself, not the structures on it) and create more mid-rise affordable housing. Her platform also includes plans to cap executive payouts on publicly funded projects, as well as reward seasonal property tax incentives to workers that further the city’s environmental sustainability, social wellbeing, and good governance goals. She aims to prioritize financial stability, economic mobility, and accessibility for all. In survey responses to The Local, she said that potential funds from a switch to a land value tax model would go towards affordable housing and “accessibility enhancements” to roads. Her platform and responses also highlighted her plan for non-police response to non-violent crimes; or “de-tasking”, as a way to “fund shelter and social support services”.

Drew Buckingham previously ran for mayor in the 2018 election, where he placed 15th. At the time, he told Global News that he was a kindergarten teacher running on a platform of eradicating child poverty. This continues to be his main platform priority, according to his website and Twitter. In an October 6 tweet, he also suggested the use of libraries as stations for a snack program for children.

Little is available online about Elvira Caputolan. She was the Green party candidate for Don Valley West in the 2021 federal election, where she placed fifth.

Kevin Clarke is an advocate for unhoused individuals, having been unhoused himself at one point. He was previously a student teacher in Scarborough as well as a car salesman. Clarke has run for public office more than 20 times and is the founder of The Peoples Political Party (a provincial party unrelated to the federal People’s Party founded by Maxime Bernier). Most recently, he ran as an independent candidate in the 2021 federal election for the Scarborough-Guildwood riding, placing fifth with 155 votes. He has previously spoken about increasing housing programs, adding bike lanes, and ending police abuse. Clarke also opposed the TCDSB’s recognition of pride month in 2021 on his Twitter.

Sarah Climenhaga is a community activist who previously ran in the 2018 municipal election, where she placed sixth with 4,765 votes. She also ran in the 2019 federal election as a Green Party candidate for the Toronto — St Paul’s riding, where she placed fourth with 6.8 percent of the vote. Climenhaga has worked for organizations like the World Wildlife Fund and Cycle Toronto in the past. In 2018, she cited safe streets as her biggest passion and said her decision to get involved in municipal politics was based in part in her advocacy work with groups like TTC riders and the St. Clair Right of Way Initiative for Public Transport. If elected, Climenhaga wants to implement a park ambassador program to address encampments, reconsider the city’s relationships with ride-sharing apps like Uber, and introduce participatory budgeting, which, according to The Local survey responses, she sees as a way to depolarize municipal politics and let residents to vote on city spending “rather than only getting to have their voice heard once every four years.” She has also expressed interest in ending vaccine mandates to “let individuals make decisions about individual health.”

Phillip D’Cruze is a longtime Toronto resident and retired member of the Canadian Armed Forces. He aims to help low-income and marginalized individuals handle the pressing issue of rising cost of living. D’Cruze is advocating for a 20 percent rent reduction, three-year property tax freeze, and increased landlord fines.

Cory Deville is a self-described “serial entrepreneur” with a background in business, marketing and sales. As part of his campaign, he wants to focus on an array of social issues, including affordable housing, mental health, and entrepreneurial innovation.

Little is available online about Alexey Efimovskikh. In a July 31 tweet, Efimovskikh stated he supports “drinking in the parks,” improving policing (for which he was not specific), and the legalization of electric scooters. In another tweet on the same day, he said he also supports keeping marathons outside of main streets, and regulating the use of heavy electric scooters.

Isabella Gamk is a housing advocate and the founder of Protecting ODSP OW Funding, a nonprofit organization advocating for increased funding for disability benefits. In 2020, she launched a petition to raise ODSP benefits to align with CERB payments. In August, Gamk said that if elected, she would work to increase the accessibility of sidewalks and businesses in the city, including by addressing sidewalk obstacles like oversized patios. Regarding the ActiveTO plan, she has also said she supports periodic road closures.

Information about this candidate could not be found at time of publication.

On his Twitter profile, Peter Handjis writes he has 20 years of experience as a business owner and manager. As part of his platform, Handjis’ priorities include advocating for the rights of marginalized communities, supporting small to medium businesses, fighting the overcharging of rental units, boosting low-income rental options, and improving city infrastructure and emergency service capacity. He also wants to create a subsidy to help low-income families and those on benefits with the high cost of living in the city, and ensure frontline services are meeting the needs of those who are unhoused, and those recovering from addiction.

Rob Hatton is the former Director of Strategic Initiatives & Intergovernmental Finance at the City of Toronto, and describes himself as having been a municipal employee for 30 years. His platform emphasizes taking back authority on issues like transit and local governance from the Premier’s office, and improving the relationship between the city and provincial governments to allow Toronto greater agency. He also seeks to improve fiscal control and fairness in taxes so that the city’s wealthiest are taxed, rather than its lower-income residents. His platform also mentions improved transit and housing. In survey responses to The Local and in his platform, he voiced opposition to strong mayor powers.

Monowar Hossain previously ran in the 2018, 2014, and 2010 mayoral elections where he placed eighth (with 3,602 votes), fourteenth (with 614 votes), and seventeenth (with 1,194 votes), respectively. He also ran as a TDSB trustee candidate in 2000.

Soaad Hossain is an Enterprise Project Manager at Environics Analytics, a data and analytics company. He’s a graduate and former researcher of the University of Toronto, with a background in machine learning, data mining, philosophy, biomedical ethics, and project management. He previously volunteered with the NDP during the 2021 federal and 2022 provincial elections. His platform seeks to improve housing affordability by taxing home speculators, reducing taxes for first-time home buyers, increasing renter protection and changing permit and building regulations to decrease the cost of apartment buildings. He is also seeking to streamline transit and expand bike lanes and TTC service, increase funding for essential city programs, and revamp infrastructure. His health platform includes plans to provide translators in health systems across the GTA, implement the proposed Child Care Growth Strategy to fund daycare, and advocate to the provincial government for various causes including paid sick leave. In survey responses to The Local, he expressed support for permanent public toilets for encampments, as well as extending the hours of existing public washrooms during the summer. If elected, Hossain says he would increase funding for shelters and rent supplements in the city, and reallocate up to $10 million of the Toronto police budget to do so, “if there is no other way.”

According to her LinkedIn profile, Khadijah Jamal is a regional manager at an event technology company, with previous experience in event management. In a September 17 virtual debate, Khadijah described herself as a lifetime lobbyist (though she doesn’t appear to be registered in any lobbyist databases), and an advocate for teachers, support workers, and healthcare workers. She said her platform includes getting the city back to what it was like pre-amalgamation, making TTC fare free for all, and ensuring other public services are also accessible. In an Oct 12 interview, Jamal said she would support greater gun control if elected.

Kris Langenfeld, a former accountant, computer consultant, and software developer, previously ran in the 2018 mayoral election where he placed 28th with 695 votes. In 2018, he won a constitutional challenge, ruling security searches at police board meetings were a violation of Charter rights. Langenfeld’s platform focuses on fiscal transparency, traffic and transit solutions, accountable police oversight, destruction of information collected via carding, and affordable housing.

John Letonja, who refers to himself as ‘Mr. Nobody’, has previously run for mayor in 2010, and for city councillor in 2014 and 2018, in Wards 6 and 20 respectively. While his platform doesn’t include any specific plans, Letonja says he will focus on creating new businesses to fund social services, and will freeze and eliminate taxes. He claims he will not accept a salary if elected mayor.

Tony Luk is the founder of immigration consultancy firm CanHome Group. He is passionate about immigration and trade relations between China and Canada, serving on the boards and executive committees of organizations like the Canada-China Overseas Exchange Association. He ran for city councillor in Ward 22’s 2021 by-election, where he placed fifth out of nearly 30 candidates. His platform includes continued pandemic relief for small businesses, crime prevention and increased policing, and improving the city’s transit and childcare services.

Ferin Malek is an East York resident with a background in computer systems and IT. Malek’s campaign priorities are job creation for new immigrants, equal pay for women, increased policing and public safety. Malek’s campaign also includes a rent cap for housing in Toronto, although such legislation can only be enacted by the provincial government. In survey responses to The Local, Malek said they also want more shelters built for women facing domestic violence.

Gil Penalosa is an urban planning expert and the founder of 8 80 Cities, a non-profit that advocates for creating inclusive, accessible cities for all residents, and optimizing the use of public spaces. He has designed and consulted on parks around the world. In the 1990s, Penalosa was the commissioner for parks, sport, and recreation in his hometown of Bogota, Colombia, where his brother later became mayor. His father worked for the United Nations. Penalosa has released detailed platform plans for key issues including road safety, expanded access to public spaces and services on weekends, and maintaining and preserving public parks. His platform also includes reducing “chain stores” and increasing independent business in new developments, improving safety at shelters, heat relief in highrise buildings, and phasing out mounted police units. In survey responses submitted to The Local, Penalosa’s director of policy said that instead of increasing property tax for city funding (as proposed in a previous city motion), Penalosa would reallocate funds from the Gardiner Expressway and Toronto police budgets and “assess further service needs after.” Also in the survey, the representative indicated that Penalosa would vote “yes” on a motion to increase property taxes to fund the TTC. In early October, Penalosa said he would also make streets and sidewalks more accessible for people with physical disabilities.

Stephen Punwasi is the publisher and co-founder of Better Dwelling, a real estate news site, and was named one of Canada’s top 40 social influencers in finance, innovation and risk by Thomson Reuters in 2017. His platform includes plans for better and more affordable housing, greater financial transparency and auditing in municipal politics, improved transit funding through city-owned revenue streams, and improved municipal technological innovation. In survey responses to The Local, Punwasi added that he would build city-owned rental buildings to “provide stable housing.”

D!ONNE Renée has a background in performance arts, architecture, and activism. She previously ran in the 2014 and 2018 mayoral elections where she placed 30th and 21st. During her 2014 campaign, she crashed a mayoral debate involving John Tory and Olivia Chow to which she was not invited. Her platform is informed by a focus on equity and anti-oppression, and includes eliminating TTC fares, mandating affordable housing and childcare, and improving accessibility in the city’s design.

Kyle Schwartz is a student at York University’s Lassonde School of Engineering, completing a BSc in Computer Science and Economics. As of the date of publication, he has no campaign platform on his website.

Knia Singh is a criminal defence lawyer and advocate whose work focuses on issues affecting marginalized communities, particularly Black and other racialized people. He has been an outspoken advocate against police carding, and was named one of the Toronto Star‘s people to watch in 2014. Singh has previously run in multiple provincial elections, and has run for municipal office previously: in 2017‘s by-election for Ward 42 (324 votes) in 2018‘s election as a mayoral candidate (3,244 votes). Singh has yet to release a detailed platform, but his campaign website mentions affordable housing, crime rates, and support for those experiencing mental health and addiction concerns. In a virtual debate hosted on Oct 4, Singh also said he would investigate spending on government salaries, address a rise in violence, and wants to increase quality of life for residents.

Sandeep Srivastava ran in the 2014 (875 votes) and 2018 (273 votes) municipal elections and the 2017 by-election for Ward 42 (24 votes). In 2014, he was accused of plagiarism after his campaign website appeared to have copied content from three or four other council candidates’ pages, though he denied the allegations. Srivastava’s website points to affordable housing, support for business owners, and the implementation of a four-year tax freeze. To address traffic gridlock and safety, Srivastava says he would support funding and expansion of Adaptive Traffic Light Control Technology to synchronize traffic lights. He says he would also support the expansion of police services in conjunction with diversity training and alternative response models such as mental health and addiction services funding.

John Tory was elected Mayor of Toronto in 2014. He previously ran in the 2003 election, losing to David Miller, and was the leader of the Ontario PC party from 2004-2009, serving as the leader of the opposition. He was re-elected in 2018, with 63 percent of the votes. Tory has made it a priority to keep property taxes low and has resisted increases meant to better support the city’s services, including supportive housing and transit, and prevent the city from reaching a financial cliff. In 2022, in a major shift, he supported a “COVID-19 era budget” that increased taxes by 4.4 percent. Tory has voted against reductions in police funding and has been criticized by housing advocates for refusing to open up the city’s armouries for additional shelter space during the winters, or to declare a state of emergency on homelessness, and for deferring key housing decisions, like the vote on legalizing rooming houses. Most recently, Tory voted to scale down ActiveTO road closures on Lake Shore Boulevard. Tory was subsequently investigated by the city’s integrity commissioner after a complaint was filed alleging that Tory’s close relationship with Rogers—whose subsidiary, the Toronto Blue Jays, had lobbied for an end to ActiveTO—presented a conflict of interest and swayed his vote. Tory stated in an interview with 640 Toronto that, if re-elected, he would reconsider tolling the DVP and Gardiner.

Reginald Tull is an advocate for at-risk youth and the author of Memoirs of a Bad Boy which details his life growing up on the streets of Toronto. He volunteers for several non-profits, including the Ontario Prison Ministry, which provides spiritual guidance and support for incarcerated individuals. His platform includes plans for affordable housing and improved rights for renters, financial recovery support for small businesses, greater funding for shelters in the city, and temporarily expanded policing in the city to address gun violence.

Jack Yan has a background in finance and identifies himself as a “free market proponent” on his website, and describes John Tory’s policies as “ineffective socialist programs.” His platform includes plans to eliminate TTC fares, rigorously police unhoused people and scrutinize the funding given to shelters by the city, change zoning policies, and replace the city’s existing Inclusionary Zoning system with one in which “high potential tenants,” like students on professional tracks, receive rent support for one year. Yan also proposes the introduction of performance bonuses for police based on their effectiveness in reducing crime; quota-based incentive programs have been criticized in Canada and the US, but Yan says his plan would be based on overall crime reductions as opposed to specific arrests or ticketing.