5 mayoral candidates debate affordability in Toronto
CBC
Five candidates for Toronto mayor talked about affordability in a Monday night debate hosted by the Daily Bread Food Bank.
The candidates were Ana Bailão, Brad Bradford, Olivia Chow, Mitzie Hunter and Josh Matlow. The theme of the debate was "From Surviving to Thriving: Tackling Toronto's Affordability Crisis." The debate, which took about two hours, was held in Etobicoke.
At one point during audience questions, a heckler got on stage and interrupted the debate. As he was led away, he grabbed a back black curtain and nearly pulled it down. Police escorted him out.
Candidates were asked three questions about how they would tackle food insecurity, which municipal tools they would use to build housing and ensure rental housing is affordable, and how they would make the TTC affordable, safe and reliable. The candidates were given the questions in advance.
More than 200 people watched the debate in person.
Six candidates who are highest in the polls were invited to debate but Mark Saunders declined, according to the food bank. A total of 102 candidates are registered to run in the June 26 byelection to replace former mayor John Tory.
Neil Hetherington, the food bank's CEO, said the city is facing an "unprecedented" affordability crisis, with food bank use reaching record levels in March. He said it had nearly 270,000 client visits in March alone.
"Every day I see Torontonians having to rely on food charity," he said.
On food insecurity, all of the candidates said they would support the work of food banks. Chow, Matlow and Hunter, in particular, said they would promote community gardens.
"If you are running for mayor of this city, you have to care about those who are hungry," Hunter told the debate.
On housing, all of the candidates said they have plans to build affordable housing. Matlow said he would push for rent control in all new units that are being built in properties, would go after fraudulent landlords and would increase fines on landlords for property standards violations.
"There's no doubt that we have a housing crisis in this city," Bradford said.
"My plan is to increase the supply of housing of all types, unlock more opportunities for more housing. We need someone to focus on the process and unlock housing. As an urban planner, that is the world I come from. We need to get shovels in the ground."
On the TTC, Bailão, Chow, Hunter and Matlow said they would reverse TTC cuts. Bradford noted that two-thirds of operating costs come from the fare box.
Gulf Island Peat Moss is monitoring a waste pile of shavings on its property in Foxley River after the pile caught fire Monday morning, a company representative says.
Officials from the London, Ont., and several neighbouring counties will push the Ford government for improved passenger rail service in the region when they meet with the Ontario government at a conference in Toronto this month.
A provincial court judge has issued a stern warning to the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary to “rethink their approach” when it comes to dealing with complaints of threats and harassment in intimate partner relationships.
Some provincial funding targeted to struggling rural hospitals in the northeast is a boon but some CEO’s say it falls short of keeping them afloat.
A Ukrainian family in Halifax says the federal government needs to provide answers to the thousands of Ukrainians who are now learning that it could be more than 50 years before their permanent residency applications are processed.
On a cold January morning, the owners of Yassou Souvlaki & Donair in Fredericton are busy heating up the kitchen, slicing vegetables and donair meat to prepare for their lunch-hour crowd.
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada and the CN Police Service are investigating following a train collision overnight in Saint-Alexandre-de-Kamouraska, Que.
Six months after being displaced to a long-term care facility hundreds of kilometres away from his family, Jimmy Spence is holding out hope his days as an evacuee are numbered.
Saskatchewan women ages 43 and older can now sign up for mammogram screening without a doctor’s referral as part of a phased approach to get the eligibility age down to 40 by June.
Some schools, health centres and provincial civil service offices delayed opening or closed for the day on Monday due to weather conditions.
As a seasonal parking ban comes into effect on Edmonton’s residential roads this week, one councillor is concerned about how the city’s failure to fund towing teams will play out on city streets.
Students in B.C.’s biggest districts are missing significantly more school in recent years, with absences having tripled in some places, an exclusive CBC News analysis has found.
An Essex resident has been charged following a dog attack in town.