What they said. What's true. What they can actually do.
City council · updated 13 Oct 2026
Ward 12 Toronto–St. Paul's
Who is running for Toronto City Council in Ward 12 Toronto–St. Paul's in the October 26, 2026 municipal election: how the 6 certified candidates differ, what they have committed to, and whether the City could deliver it. Information as of 13 Oct 2026.
6 candidates: David Cottrell, Jenny Kalimbet, Ahmed Kamal, Josh Matlow, Bob Murphy, Mina Nadimi. Incumbent: Josh Matlow.
The mayor and 25 councillors each have one vote; most decisions need a majority, so one councillor cannot change a by-law or the budget alone.
The mayor proposes the budget, can veto council's budget changes and some by-laws (two-thirds of council overrides), and can pass by-laws on provincial priorities with one-third support.
Council sets property tax, the budget, zoning and by-laws, and runs services such as roads, parks, water, shelters and libraries.
Developers can appeal planning decisions to the Ontario Land Tribunal, a provincial body council cannot overrule; since 2024 most residents cannot appeal.
The Province decides rent control and evictions, new schools, GO trains and the Ontario Line, highway tolls, bike lanes that remove a traffic lane, and election rules.
Council sets the police budget total and the TTC subsidy; the police board and Chief decide how policing works, and the TTC Board runs transit.
Where they differ
Candidates grouped by what they have said.
Should more homes be allowed as-of-right in every ward? (Housing)
Little disagreement, or few spoke: City services, Flooding and infrastructure, Parks and waterfront, Environment, Small business, Community services, Governance. Transit splits only on TTCriders survey answers; homelessness on one Build Canada question. See Issue by issue.
The candidates
6 certified, in alphabetical order. Each card counts the commitments on record and how many are firm (pledged, or “will push for”), then shows the 3 they lead with. Counts reflect how much a candidate has published and how they phrase it; more is not better. Chips show how feasible each is and how firmly it was stated. Surveys and forums counted: Build Canada, TTCriders survey, TTCriders pledge, Environmental Alliance pledge, Cycle Toronto.
David Cottrell
Describes himself as a local entrepreneur, educator and community advocate. Leads on safe, complete communities, better transit, affordable housing, parks and an accountable City Hall.
“”Self-reported
Top commitments
35 on record, 4 firm.
Targeted action to reduce speeding and improve visibility (∼Vague; Pledges). Sources
Says she has a background in community organizing, small-business advocacy and civic engagement. Leads on safe neighbourhoods, responsible spending, a thriving community, collaboration and local accountability.
“”Self-reported
Top commitments
21 on record, 7 firm.
Invest in roads, transit, parks and services (∼Vague; Supports). Sources
Says he grew up in the ward and has worked in construction and business administration. Leads on fixing infrastructure, reliable transit and making City Hall work for the community.
“”Self-reported
Top commitments
37 on record, 1 firm.
Faster pothole and road repairs (∼Vague; Would advocate). Sources
Ward councillor since 2010 and a TTC board member; school trustee for the area from 2003 to 2010; ran for mayor in 2023. Leads on safety, affordability and more reliable City services.
“”Self-reported: trustee years
Top commitments
51 on record, 31 firm.
Address gun-violence causes; prevent car theft; fight hate crimes (∼Vague; Will push for). Sources
Says she has worked in retail, non-profits and economic research; no campaign website. On Build Canada, chose more housing, investment and development as her ward priority.
“”Self-reported
Top commitments
6 on record, 0 firm.
Keep the TTC public with no fare increase (✓Already exists; ◐Possible but hard; Supports). Sources
One line per candidate, as firmly as they stated it.
Housing
Cottrell: Supports gentle density, rentals and incentives for below-market housing while protecting neighbourhoods; wants the City to lead on affordable housing.. Sources
Kamal: Supports gentle density, faster approvals and City-built affordable housing; would advocate development that comes with infrastructure.. Sources
Matlow: Will keep fighting to protect homes and build more, including City-built housing on public land; will push for tougher RentSafe enforcement against neglectful landlords.. Sources
Kalimbet: Supports moving some bike lanes off major roads, an Allen Road redesign with a roundabout and rush-hour parking enforcement; opposes tolls.. Sources
Kamal: Would advocate faster pothole repair; supports finishing approved bike lanes before expanding, and road pricing with revenue for transit.. Sources
Matlow: Will keep pushing for the Yonge–Eglinton scramble, safer Davisville crossings and Vaughan Road bike lanes, and for the Eglinton–Allen redesign.. Sources
Cottrell: Supports more neighbourhood-based officers rather than more enforcers, and crime-prevention partnerships; Build Canada: police budget above inflation.. Sources
Homelessness: On Build Canada, Cottrell, Kalimbet and Kamal said people should leave an encampment once offered indoor space; Nadimi said No. Kalimbet will push for permanent housing with other governments.. Sources
Transit: Matlow answered Yes to all 18 TTCriders questions and will hold the TTC to a 40-ride cap. Cottrell said No to RapidTO and platform doors; Nadimi to three service questions.. Sources
City services: Cottrell pledges replies to residents within two business days; Matlow will keep pushing for better street-bin standards when the City takes them back.. Sources
Small business: Kalimbet will fight to cut City burdens on small businesses; Kamal would advocate fewer barriers; Matlow supports seeking provincial commercial rent control.. Sources
Community services: Matlow will push to keep Old City Hall public, with a Museum of Toronto; Kamal supports arts funding and affordable cultural space.. Sources
Governance: Cottrell pledges to be a responsive advocate and Kamal to publish ward progress; Kalimbet supports an accessible ward office and town halls; Kamal supports publishing major project costs.. Sources
Could the City actually do it? Each proposal is rated once, the same way in every race. A rating is about the proposal, not the candidate.
●Realistic
Regular public ward reports and scorecards: Kamal
◐Possible but hard
Keep TTC fares frozen: Nadimi. Decides: TTC Board and City budget.
Agencies clean up discarded supplies: Kalimbet. Decides: City Council.
✓Already exists
Keep the TTC public: Nadimi
Priority snow clearing at transit stops: Nadimi
∼Vague
Safer streets (no measure named): Cottrell
Transit goals with no mechanism named: Cottrell, Kamal
More housing (no measure): Cottrell
Protect or improve services (no measure named): Kalimbet, Matlow
Support main streets and local businesses: Kalimbet
Timely road maintenance (no measure named): Kamal
Prevention-first approach to crime (no measure named): Matlow
Tackle car theft (no measure named): Matlow
Affordability (no measure named): Matlow, Nadimi
Safer public spaces (no measure named): Kalimbet
Every catalogued commitment, by candidate
Alphabetical. Firm: pledged, or “will push for”. Counts reflect how much each candidate has published and how they phrase it; more commitments is not a better platform. Proposals a candidate opposes are not counted.
Cottrell: 35 on record, 4 firm. Realistic 1 · Possible but hard 12 · Outside City control 3 · Already exists 7 · Vague 12
Kalimbet: 21 on record, 7 firm. Realistic 1 · Possible but hard 6 · Outside City control 3 · Already exists 1 · Vague 9 · Not rated 1
Kamal: 37 on record, 1 firm. Realistic 3 · Possible but hard 6 · Outside City control 4 · Already exists 2 · Vague 18 · Not rated 4
Matlow: 51 on record, 31 firm. Realistic 2 · Possible but hard 11 · Outside City control 12 · Already exists 6 · Vague 16 · Not rated 4
Murphy: 0 on record, 0 firm
Nadimi: 6 on record, 0 firm. Possible but hard 1 · Already exists 2 · Vague 3
Numbers checked
Up to two checked figures per candidate, and every checked claim about a rival, compared with official records or dated news.
Figures candidates cite
?Unverifiable: Cottrell: cites 100,000 conversations with residents, employers and experts. No record of the figure was found.. Sources
≈Mostly accurate: Matlow: a 47-ride fare cap starts this year and the TTC has committed to 40 rides in 2027. TTC plans show it, subject to the 2027 budget.. Sources
Method: Built from 395 sourced rows read 12 October 2026: candidates' own materials, City records, dated news and organizers' surveys. This ward uses the guide's lighter profile: each candidate's own site and common surveys, three commitments per card and at most one checked figure each. Each proposal is rated once, the same way in every race. Positions are recorded only as firmly as stated. An agent that did not draft the page checked it before publication. Labels appear only on facts that are not confirmed. The rubric defines ratings and strength words. Source dates shown without a year are in 2026.
Corrections: 13 October 2026: Cross-ward check: Matlow's record adds his 2023 Integrity Commissioner finding, and his "we are working", "is working to" and "continues to" lines read Will push for; Kalimbet's "I will work with" items read Will push for, and her card shows her next item; Kamal's "prioritize" item reads Would advocate; Nadimi's TTC public-ownership item is rated Already exists; endorsement lines updated; tallies leave out opposed proposals.
Researched and drafted with AI, checked against linked sources. To report an error: corrections@spinfilterto.ca.
This guide is independent and non-partisan. It does not recommend, rank or score candidates.