5 Toronto mayoral candidates clash over transit plans at 2nd major debate

Toronto's five mayoral candidates sparred over transit as the second of two major debates of the campaign began on Monday.

Gil Penalosa trumpeted his "Fastlane" plan to create bus rapid transit lines, while also vowing to improve the commutes of streetcar riders by giving those vehicles signal priority. He also said he'd work on improving conditions for cyclists and pedestrians. You can watch the debate in this story via TVO's YouTube account.

Tory, for his part, said he's focused on getting the transit projects that are planned built. "We have to get people back on transit and build more," he said, adding ridership will increase hand-in-hand with people getting back to the office.

"We have to get people back to their place of work," he said.

Chloe Brown, once again emerging as a sharp critic of Tory on the debate stage, chided the mayor for failing to get his SmartTrack program built. "It's time to take politics out of transit planning," she said.

Sarah Climenhaga called for improvements that could be made "right now," including dropping fares for many riders. Stephen Punwasi, meanwhile, called for some TTC land to be sold off to raise money to improve the system.

On housing, Tory defended his record, noting 19,000 affordable housing units are in development and that 3,800 supportive housing units have been built that people are living in now.

Tory said the key going forward will be to change the rules to allow more types of housing in more neighbourhoods — think: allowing more triplexes in neighbourhoods currently zoned only for single family homes. 

Tory said that style of housing was once popular in the city, then "all of a sudden they became a bad thing." 

He said he's seeking a mandate to change that.

Punwasi, sarcastically, replied "John, that sounds like a great plan. You should have done it."

Penalosa, meanwhile, pitched his plan of a "renovation revolution," which would see the city provide serious help to seniors hoping to age in place. Those seniors, who presumably own large homes, will be helped to divide their home — as a right — to include multiple units. 

Penalosa said he believes thousands of people will take advantage of this plan. 

Brown, for her part, slammed the city for operating an antiquated permit system. "I really feel for developers," she said.