Ward 16 — Don Valley East

Biography: Jon Burnside has represented Ward 16 — Don Valley East since 2022, and represented Ward 26 — Don Valley West from 2014-2018, under the city’s 44-ward model. Before entering politics, he was a Toronto police officer for 10 years, then ran a meal-delivery business. He also worked in the office of the Deputy City Manager on issues including the city’s encampment response.

This past term, he unsuccessfully tried to delay making the ActiveTO Yonge St. Cycling Network Expansion permanent, and voted against the RapidTO Surface Network Transit Plan. In the 2024 budget, he moved to ask the TTC to consider saving money by increasing fares, which failed, and crack down on fare evasion, which passed. This year, he voted against asking the province to allow the unhoused to receive and accumulate the shelter portion of their benefits to be used to cover housing costs, like rent deposits.

Burnside also unsuccessfully tried to exempt townhouses and low-rise apartments from being permitted on Sloane Avenue. In response to a 2024 incident where a construction bin illegally blocked a bike lane and led to a cyclist being killed by a dump truck driver, Burnside passed a motion asking the City to look into the ability to set and lay maximum fines for offences.

Other successful motions include trying to crack down on speed racing on expressways, supporting Mayor Chow’s youth community service initiative, prioritizing removing encampments near schools, daycares and playgrounds, and banning foreign flag raisings at City Hall in response to the Palestinian flag-raising in November 2025.

Platform: Burnside’s platform includes revitalizing the Ontario Science Centre site and prioritizing “road maintenance, parks and emergency services” rather than taking on “provincial/federal duties,” by which he may mean social services. He pledges to improve safety on the TTC and says that while the TPS is well funded, “our City’s police leadership must do better” at ensuring public safety.

Biography: Sinan Erdemir is the co-founder of an immigration consultancy firm, he says on his website. He says he’s been recognized as a supportive community member by the Toronto police and has served in executive roles at the Federation of Canadian Turkish Associations and Turkish Culture and Folklore Society of Canada. Having lived in Sweden, he wants to bring “pratical Scandinavian approaches” to the ward.

Platform: Erdemir says he’ll focus on basics like making neighbourhoods safer by working with police to address crime and disorder, maintaining sidewalks, and decreasing dangerous speeding on roads. He wants to lower the cost of living by better managing city spending, which he says will pass on fewer costs to residents. He also wants to create a “cleaner Toronto” by pushing the city to provide faster road repairs, better snow removal, and well-cared-for green spaces.

Biography: Didi Moffat is a vlogger and livestreamer who discusses her experiences with Christianity.

Platform: Moffat prioritizes clear communication with constituents in her platform. She additionally says she will build more affordable housing while ensuring that growth benefits existing residents, support shelter housing, use traffic calming measures to make streets safer, and advocate for better TTC service. She wants to improve tenant services and invest in community spaces for seniors, youth, and Indigenous people. She also says she’ll take a “broad approach to safety,” using responsive policing, safer streets, better lighting, and more support for people experiencing withdrawal from drugs and alcohol.

Biography: Stacey Moffatt is an office manager in North York, according to her LinkedIn.

Platform: On her website, Moffatt mentions safer and more connected neighbourhoods, improved city services and infrastructure, and support for small businesses.