What they said. What's true. What they can actually do.
City council · updated 13 Oct 2026
Ward 13 Toronto Centre
Who is running for Toronto City Council in Ward 13 Toronto Centre in the October 26, 2026 municipal election: how the 11 certified candidates differ, what they have committed to, and whether the City could deliver it. Information as of 13 Oct 2026.
11 candidates: Joe Cadeau, Tom Cai, Victoria Davis, Morgan Harris, Walied Khogali Ali, Norman MacLeod, Cleveland Marshall, Chris Moise, Curran Stikuts, Daniel Tate, Nicki Ward. Incumbent: Chris Moise.
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.
The City's main role in affordable housing (Build Canada survey) (Housing)
Build, buy and own much more housing itself: Cai, Moise, Stikuts
No position found: Cadeau, Cai, Davis, Harris, Khogali Ali, MacLeod, Marshall, Stikuts
Little disagreement, or few spoke: City services, Flooding and infrastructure, Parks and waterfront, Environment, Small business, Community services. Transit splits on three TTCriders questions, one 'No' each. See Issue by issue.
The candidates
11 certified, in alphabetical order. Each card counts the commitments on record and how many are firm (pledged, or “will push for”), then shows the 4 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, The Bridge profiles.
Joe Cadeau
Former Konica Minolta vice-president and food-bank volunteer at St. Bartholomew's; says he has lived in the ward for 15 years. Leads on accountability for City spending, community engagement, affordability and safer streets.
“”Self-reported
Top commitments
13 on record, 8 firm.
No open-ended project funding; contractors answer for overruns (∼Vague; Pledges). Sources
University of Toronto economics and mathematics student living in Bay-Cloverhill. Leads on fiscal responsibility and police accountability; his promises list starts with provincial overreach, tenants, condo overdevelopment and distance-based fares.
“”Self-reported
Top commitments
21 on record, 11 firm.
End provincial encroachment on City affairs (∼Vague; Pledges). Sources
Drop-in centre worker and Disability Studies student at Toronto Metropolitan University. Leads on housing as a human right and support for unhoused people, public washrooms, green space and accessibility.
“”Self-reported
Top commitments
15 on record, 1 firm.
More public washrooms (?Not rated; Supports). Sources
Executive director of the Allan Gardens Food Bank; says he was a consultant to Bay Street firms. No campaign website found. Leads on housing and food security.
“”Self-reported: consultant
Top commitments
6 on record, 0 firm.
Explore other managers for City housing (∼Vague; Wants to explore). Sources
Regent Park community organizer and co-chair of its neighbourhood association; says he co-founded TTCriders. Ran in 2018. Leads on housing and unjust evictions, food security, youth jobs and seniors' care.
“”Self-reported: TTCriders
Top commitments
37 on record, 7 firm.
Income-based, co-op and non-profit housing (∼Vague; Would advocate). Sources
No campaign website or platform found. Said yes to all five Cycle Toronto pledges, with a comment about his own cycling, and signed the TTCriders pledge.
No commitments found.
Record
Not on the 2018 or 2022 Ward 13 ballots.
Endorsements
None listed.
Surveys, forums
2 of 6. Took part: TTCriders pledge, Cycle Toronto.
Community advocate who says he has lived at Yonge and Dundas for 28 years. His site has no platform text; it names safety from shootings and fixing old infrastructure faster.
“”Self-reported
Top commitments
1 on record, 0 firm.
Build a safer neighbourhood (∼Vague; Supports). Sources
Ward 13 councillor since 2022 and Board of Health chair; TDSB trustee 2016–2022; says he was a police officer and an addictions counsellor. Leads on community safety, housing and transit.
“”Self-reported: police, counsellor
Top commitments
78 on record, 10 firm.
Harm reduction with treatment; stronger non-police safety tools (✓Already exists; Will push for). Sources
Former director of advocacy at The 519 community centre; says he has worked in Toronto Centre since 2008. Leads on tenant protections, well-kept public spaces, reliable transit, and safety and mental health.
“”Self-reported
Top commitments
104 on record, 73 firm.
Expand MURA; non-profits buy unsold condos (✓Already exists; ◐Possible but hard; Will push for). Sources
Founder of the advocacy group IntegrityTO; says he managed technology projects in the private sector. Leads on ending current drug policies, treatment and recovery, law enforcement, and safe streets, parks and transit.
“”Self-reported: career
Top commitments
19 on record, 5 firm.
City handouts of drug-use supplies (✓Already exists; Opposes). Sources
Former head of City Park Co-op on Church Street and accessibility consultant; lives with a disability. Ran second in 2022. Leads on restoring local quality of life and on accessibility.
“”Self-reported
Top commitments
31 on record, 3 firm.
A 'flying squad' reporting blocked sidewalks and signals (●Realistic; Supports). Sources
Cai: Pledges to raise the Vacant Home Tax (10%, 20% or 25% in different statements); wants rules discouraging mostly studio and one-bedroom condos.. Sources
Stikuts: Will push to expand MURA, raise the Vacant Home Tax, double the Rent Bank and add RentSafeTO inspectors; supports sixplexes citywide.. Sources
Ward: Urges Ottawa to fund 10,000 co-op homes in Toronto; on Build Canada, wants the City to supply land and money to non-profit and private providers.. Sources
Moise: Will push for harm reduction paired with treatment and opposed consumption-site closures; cites the encampment protocol council adopted in 2024.. Sources
Tate: Opposes City harm-reduction supplies; wants more detox and recovery; will push the Province and Ottawa to meet their addiction responsibilities.. Sources
Moise: Pledges to keep upgrading ward bike lanes to full protection; proposed the Church Street pedestrian pilot; supports more school safety zones and would advocate speed cameras.. Sources
Stikuts: Will push for Gerrard–Dundas and Esplanade bike lanes, a year-round pedestrian Church Street and Complete Streets on every road project.. Sources
Stikuts: Will advocate more neighbourhood officers on foot and bike; supports expanding the Crisis Service; says arrests won't solve the drug crisis.. Sources
Transit: Transit splits on three TTCriders questions, one 'No' each: Cadeau on a lower fare cap, Cai on a Fair Pass plan, Davis on streetcar reform. Tate backs police transit patrols.. Sources
City services: Moise wants higher 311 standards and one resident portal; Stikuts pledges a condo help desk; Tate pledges BIAs will do their part for a cleaner city.. Sources
Flooding and infrastructure: Khogali Ali wants faster flood protection and stormwater fixes; Stikuts wants stronger stormwater rules for new development; Ward says infrastructure spending should match the ward's density.. Sources
Parks and waterfront: Davis wants more public washrooms. Moise wants consultation on closing Barbara Hall Park at night; Stikuts opposes fencing it and pledges ten parklets.. Sources
Environment: Cadeau, Cai, Davis, Khogali Ali, Moise, Stikuts and Ward took the Environmental Alliance pledge, including a 26°C limit for rentals. Stikuts will fight to fully fund TransformTO.. Sources
Small business: Khogali Ali pledges low small-business taxes and will fight for a Main Streets Fund; Stikuts pledges BIA cleaning cost-sharing; Tate will advocate lower small-business taxes.. Sources
Community services: Khogali Ali wants Regent Park's Social Development Plan taken citywide and a City youth jobs program; Moise backs a St. James Town food hub; Stikuts wants free community-centre programs.. Sources
Freeze raises for top-paid staff: Cadeau. Decides: City Council.
Distance-based TTC fares: Cai. Decides: TTC Board and City Council.
More supportive and rapid housing: Harris. Decides: City Council, with provincial and federal funding.
New or upgraded protected bike lanes: Harris. Decides: City Council; the Province where a traffic lane would be removed.
Do not sell public land to private developers: Khogali Ali. Decides: City Council.
Raise the Vacant Home Tax: Moise. Decides: City Council.
Non-profits buy unsold condos as affordable homes: Stikuts. Decides: City Council.
Ten parklets: Stikuts. Decides: City Council; Transportation Services.
Specific TTC service changes: Stikuts. Decides: TTC Board, within the subsidy Council approves.
Seating, washrooms and screens for accessibility: Ward. Decides: City Council and TTC Board.
More funding for paramedic services: Ward. Decides: City Council (with provincial cost-sharing).
→Outside City control
Defend bike lanes from provincial removal: Harris. Decides: Province of Ontario.
More police on transit: Tate. Decides: Chief of Police (police); TTC (special constables).
More voluntary addiction treatment: Tate. Decides: Province of Ontario (Ministry of Health).
Federal co-op funding: Ward. Decides: Federal government (CMHC).
✓Already exists
Tighter enforcement against renovictions: Khogali Ali
Stronger protections when rental buildings are demolished: Khogali Ali
More street outreach and crisis-response workers: Moise, Stikuts
More non-market housing on City land: Moise
Fare cap down to 40 rides a month: Moise
Help non-profits and land trusts buy at-risk rental buildings: Stikuts
City harm-reduction supplies: Tate (opposes)
∼Vague
More community gardens and urban farms on City land: Davis
Value for tax dollars (no measure named): Cadeau
Defend local control from the Province: Cai
Stronger tenant protections: Cai, Moise
Housing quality and neighbourhood character (no measure named): Cai
Better parks and public spaces: Davis
Accessibility-first policy (no measure named): Davis
Other managers for City housing: Harris
More affordable housing (no measure named): Harris
More co-op housing (no measure named): Khogali Ali
Catch up on repairs (no measure named): Khogali Ali
Climate and greening goals with no measurable target: Moise
Safer public spaces (no measure named): Cadeau, Marshall, Tate
?Not rated
New washrooms or a user-fee model: Davis
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.
Cadeau: 13 on record, 8 firm. Realistic 4 · Possible but hard 2 · Outside City control 2 · Already exists 1 · Vague 4
Cai: 21 on record, 11 firm. Possible but hard 5 · Outside City control 5 · Vague 8 · Not rated 3
Davis: 15 on record, 1 firm. Realistic 2 · Possible but hard 3 · Outside City control 1 · Already exists 1 · Vague 7 · Not rated 1
Harris: 6 on record, 0 firm. Possible but hard 2 · Outside City control 1 · Vague 3
Khogali Ali: 37 on record, 7 firm. Realistic 2 · Possible but hard 10 · Outside City control 4 · Already exists 5 · Vague 12 · Not rated 4
MacLeod: 0 on record, 0 firm
Marshall: 1 on record, 0 firm. Vague 1
Moise: 78 on record, 10 firm. Realistic 5 · Possible but hard 33 · Outside City control 13 · Already exists 13 · Vague 10 · Not rated 4
Stikuts: 104 on record, 73 firm. Realistic 11 · Possible but hard 51 · Outside City control 6 · Already exists 14 · Vague 10 · Not rated 12
Tate: 19 on record, 5 firm. Possible but hard 5 · Outside City control 3 · Already exists 1 · Vague 7 · Not rated 3
Ward: 31 on record, 3 firm. Realistic 3 · Possible but hard 12 · Outside City control 4 · Already exists 4 · Vague 4 · Not rated 4
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
≈Mostly accurate: Cadeau: says 502–508 Parliament supportive housing is 100% over budget and years late. Reported costs rose about 92%, to $15 million; completion was due in 2021.. Sources
≈Mostly accurate: Davis: cites a ruling that an encampment removal plan breached the Charter. An Ontario judge ruled so for Waterloo Region in 2023 (news report).. Sources
≈Mostly accurate: Khogali Ali: says he helped secure $26.8 million in community benefits. TCHC confirms the Regent Park package; his own role is not recorded.. Sources
≈Mostly accurate: Moise: says he secured funding to clean every Toronto Centre park daily. The City's Downtown East plan sets daily park cleaning in that area.. Sources
✓Accurate: Cadeau: quotes Moise saying heritage buildings are expensive to refurbish. Moise wrote this to The Bridge in August 2025 about that project.. Sources
?Unverifiable: Stikuts: says residents tell him daily that Moise's office has not answered emails. No public record of office response times exists.. Sources
≈Mostly accurate: Stikuts: faults a councillor who opens a street to pedestrians while fencing a park. Moise sought consultation on closing Barbara Hall Park at night; nothing decided.. Sources
≈Mostly accurate: Tate: told council the Integrity Commissioner found Moise violated his oath. The March 2026 report found a Code of Conduct breach, with no penalty.. Sources
≈Mostly accurate: Ward: says the Sankofa renaming was pushed through. Council passed it the day it was introduced; the name came from two years of committee consultation.. Sources
Method: Built from 1,032 sourced rows read 11 October 2026: candidates' own materials, City records, dated news and organizers' surveys. The 11 names match two organizers' lists drawn from the City Clerk's list. 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: Cai's promises list counts as pledges; bare platform items read Supports (Davis, Khogali Ali, Moise, Stikuts); Khogali Ali's "will listen, show up and deliver" counts as a pledge; statements The Bridge attributes to candidates now count; Moise's record reworded; survey comments recorded separately; some ratings 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.