Ward Profile: In Ward 16 — Don Valley East, Who Speaks for the Renters?
The majority of residents in Don Valley East rent. But in a city dominated by the politics of property owners, who will represent them?
Pulled Off Wheel-Trans and Forced onto the Subway
Cost-cutting measures will push thousands of paratransit users onto the TTC, with disabled and elderly riders forced into gruelling bus and subway trips.
Ward Profile: The Next Councillor of Ward 9 — Davenport Will Need to Bridge Divides
In a ward spanning the inner suburbs and the inner city, a new crop of candidates try to go beyond the right-left political narrative.
The Gaping Holes in Our Election Accountability System
Who keeps Toronto’s elections honest? Just the motley collection of activists, weirdos, partisans, and nerds who use the compliance audit system.
How Toronto’s Councillors Became Nearly Unbeatable
The numbers don’t lie: this city’s incumbency advantage is the worst in North America.
Candidate Tracker
Toronto election candidates—in every ward, all in one place—starting with fact-checked biographies of council and mayoral candidates. Future updates will include school trustee information and head-to-head comparisons of where candidates stand on major issues.
Gearing Up for October’s Election
Help us reach our $25,000 goal!
The Great (Surprisingly Expensive) Outdoors
Introducing kids to nature is how you build the next generation of environmentalists. But how do you make outdoor education in Toronto affordable and accessible?
The Weight of Childbirth During a Climate Crisis
I enrolled in midwifery school in search of hope and purpose. But what does it mean to bring new life into a world that's becoming less liveable?
A Brine Against Nature
Winter road salt finds its way into Toronto’s waterways all year long, harming wildlife, decreasing biodiversity, and damaging infrastructure.
The Line Between ‘Invasive’ and ‘Native’ Blurs
Not all invasive plant species are damaging to Toronto’s ecosystems. Treating them like they are could do more harm than good.
The Drive to Reduce Car Pollution Hits Gridlock
Pollution from major roads causes premature death and illness, disproportionately affecting the low-income people who live next to them. Solutions are available, but the political will is not.
Carving Out a Brand New Island
With Villier’s Island, the city aims to combat climate change, create a new mouth to the Don River, and add needed housing. But constructing a climate positive neighbourhood from scratch is no small task.
We’re in a Climate Emergency—It’s Time We Started Acting Like It
There is still time to mitigate the harms of climate change and build resilient communities in this city. But we need to start now.
As Toronto Temperatures Rise, Inequalities Widen
Climate change causes heat waves, but the city’s politics, policies, and design determine who suffers most.
How a Downtown Landfill Became an Accidental Bird Sanctuary
The Leslie Street Spit was a wasteland of rebar and construction materials. Now it’s an avian paradise and a crucial place for preserving biodiversity in the centre of Canada’s largest city.
We’re Hiring an Editorial Assistant
Join us for a 20-week newsroom internship, supported by Journalists for Human Rights’ Enhanced Access to Opportunity for BIPOC Youth in Canadian Media program.
Meet the 2022 Fellows
Now in its third year, our fellowship program has become central to The Local’s mission and identity.
The Local Wins Two National Magazine Awards
The honour includes the prestigious Editor Grand Prix for senior editor Nicholas Hune-Brown.
The Local Wins Two Digital Publishing Awards
We took home the prize for Best News Coverage and, for the second year in a row, General Excellence