Page 4 - Progress Toronto News Today

The gap between what people can afford versus what it takes to live in Toronto is growing, new data from the City of Toronto's Social Development, Finance and Administration division shows.

Gap growing between what it takes to live in this city and what people can afford

Civic activists and at least one city councillor are calling for a special meeting to discuss provincial legislation that gives the mayor even stronger powers.

Civic activists and at least one city councillor are calling for a special meeting to discuss provincial legislation that gives the mayor even stronger powers.

“We’ve changed the makeup of city council quite significantly. It means there is a mandate now from Torontonians that they want to see change,” Saman Tabasinejad, 29, organizing director at Progress Toronto, said.

Seven candidates were elected for the first time in Monday's municipal election, while another two former councillors were voted in after taking a term off.

Chiara Padovani breaks into a jog. She’s running down the hallway on the seventh floor of an apartment building in west Toronto. The candidate for York South-Weston, Ward 5, is on a very up-tempo canvas with just days to go before Toronto heads to the polls. The team of four, including Padovani, fans out on each floor, knocking on doors simultaneously. 

For the first time in more than 20 years there will be no Ford on the municipal ballot in Etobicoke North. And the open race in the ward has drawn 16 candidates to the fray, including one veteran civic politician hoping to make a comeback to city council.

Open council races are supposed to be among the most competitive because there's no incumbent advantage, but experts say the name recognition and campaign experience that come from previous runs for political office — successful or not — gives certain candidates better odds of winning.

Three high-profile candidates with left-leaning credentials are among 12 council hopefuls battling it out to represent Ward 11, University-Rosedale — one of seven seats where there’s no incumbent running.