What they said. What's true. What they can actually do.
City council · updated 13 Oct 2026
Ward 14 Toronto–Danforth
Who is running for Toronto City Council in Ward 14 Toronto–Danforth in the October 26, 2026 municipal election: how the 18 certified candidates differ, what they have committed to, and whether the City could deliver it. Information as of 13 Oct 2026.
18 candidates: Maqsood Ahmad, Susan Chapelle, Michael Connor, Dennis Corcoran, Robb Dagenais, Peter De Marco, Sara Ehrhardt, George Fawcett, Mary Fragedakis, John Kladitis, Michael Mitchell, Caryma Sa'd, Dianne Saxe, Devyn Stackhouse, Jason Stevens, Christiane Tetreault, Maria Voutsinas, Denise Walcott. Open seat: Paula Fletcher is not running here (she registered, then announced her retirement two days later).
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.
Where more housing should go (Housing)
Chapelle would put height on main streets first and gentle density elsewhere where services keep up; Walcott opposes blanket as-of-right density; Fragedakis and Voutsinas name transit areas without ruling out neighbourhoods.
An increase if needed to balance the budget: Stackhouse
No position found: Connor, Corcoran, Dagenais, De Marco, Ehrhardt, Fawcett, Fragedakis, Mitchell, Sa'd, Saxe, Tetreault, Voutsinas
Little disagreement, or few spoke: City services, Flooding and infrastructure, Parks and waterfront, Environment, Small business, Community services. Homelessness and governance each split on one Build Canada question. See Issue by issue.
The candidates
18 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.
Maqsood Ahmad
Says he has lived in the ward about 25 years and works in real estate and construction. Leads on street safety, property taxes and utility costs, TTC fares and affordable housing; also has a plan for gig workers.
“”Self-reported
Top commitments
12 on record, 11 firm.
More attention to street safety, lighting and parks (∼Vague; Will push for). Sources
Former two-term councillor in Squamish, B.C.; healthcare clinician and executive, she says. Leads on planning growth with infrastructure, protecting job space and small businesses, and faster constituent service.
“”Self-reported: occupation
Top commitments
50 on record, 15 firm.
Growth matched with sewers, transit, schools and care (∼Vague; Supports). Sources
Toronto–Danforth public school trustee since 2022; public policy professional with an engineering background, she says. Leads on affordable homes near transit, the waterfront and Island airport, and safe roads during Ontario Line construction.
“”Self-reported: occupation
Top commitments
40 on record, 9 firm.
Affordable homes at new transit stations (∼Vague; Supports). Sources
Small business owner; says he worked in banking investigating financial crime. Leads on involving community groups in decisions, political reform including 47 wards, landlord enforcement and safer bike lanes.
“”Self-reported
Top commitments
25 on record, 4 firm.
Involve community groups in local decisions (∼Vague; Pledges). Sources
Councillor for the former Ward 29 Toronto–Danforth from 2010 to 2018; later ran the GreekTown on the Danforth BIA. Leads on safer neighbourhoods, main-street businesses, housing choices and reliable transit.
Top commitments
22 on record, 9 firm.
Safer streets and intersections (∼Vague; Will push for). Sources
Has run for council (2014) and federally (2019) before. Leads on property taxes below inflation, scrutiny of City spending, front-line services and Ontario Line noise walls.
Top commitments
14 on record, 12 firm.
Property tax increases below inflation (◐Possible but hard; Pledges). Sources
Says he has degrees in English and law. Leads on support for small businesses, help for people facing addiction and homelessness, and keeping and adding bike lanes.
“”Self-reported
Top commitments
5 on record, 1 firm.
More support for small business owners (∼Vague; Supports). Sources
Lawyer and citizen journalist who films protests; former head of NORML Canada. Has not yet published a full platform; names public safety, cleanliness, affordability and accountability as themes.
Top commitments
3 on record, 2 firm.
A responsive constituent-service office team (●Realistic; Pledges). Sources
Ward 11 University–Rosedale councillor since 2022; switched to this race at the nomination deadline. Former Environmental Commissioner of Ontario. Leads on Ontario Line disruption, getting around, cycling and affordable housing.
Top commitments
8 on record, 0 firm.
Finish Ontario Line work quickly, limiting disruption (→Outside City control; Supports). Sources
Artist and writer; says they run a small accessibility consultancy and work in University of Toronto services. Leads on four promises: Danforth shade sails, income-based fines, a $15,000 animal-harm fine and building-appearance rules.
“”Self-reported
Top commitments
55 on record, 4 firm.
Shade sails along the Danforth (◐Possible but hard; Pledges). Sources
Lists past roles as an elected CFS director, Canadian Club staff, and with former Ontario solicitor general David Christopherson. Says housing is a right; supports more homes in every neighbourhood and bike lanes.
“”Self-reported
Top commitments
2 on record, 1 firm.
A councillor more responsive to constituents (∼Vague; Pledges). Sources
Has chaired the Leslieville BIA; runs a pop-up market near Queen and Carlaw. Leads on east-end Gardiner access, coordinating construction, transit safety and rental housing.
Top commitments
11 on record, 5 firm.
Faster rebuild of east-end Gardiner ramps (◐Possible but hard; Will push for). Sources
Executive director of the National Ethnic Press and Media Council of Canada, she says. Leads on a responsive ward office, safer streets, Ontario Line construction and affordable housing.
“”Self-reported
Top commitments
29 on record, 25 firm.
A ward office that follows issues to an answer (●Realistic; Pledges). Sources
Business owner and marketing manager; president of a condo board, she says. Fourth here in 2022. Leads on affordability and spending, affordable homes, transit and safer streets, and seniors.
“”Self-reported
Top commitments
37 on record, 3 firm.
Clear budget answers and value for money (∼Vague; Supports). Sources
No position found: Connor, Corcoran, Dagenais, De Marco, Fawcett, Fragedakis, Mitchell, Saxe, Tetreault, Voutsinas.
Other issues
Homelessness: Of three who answered Build Canada, Chapelle and Walcott would require leaving an encampment once suitable indoor space is offered; Stevens would not. Kladitis opposes any supervised consumption site in the ward.. Sources
City services: Most promise better everyday service. Specific targets: inquiries answered within five business days (Chapelle), 48-hour email replies (Walcott), and fix dates for the ward's ten most-reported problems (Kladitis).. Sources
Flooding and infrastructure: Chapelle, Ehrhardt and Walcott call for stronger flood protection; Ehrhardt supports speeding up Ashbridges Bay treatment plant upgrades, and Stackhouse proposes tax breaks for removing pavement.. Sources
Parks and waterfront: Ehrhardt, Fawcett and Stackhouse oppose jets or expansion at the Island airport; no candidate was found supporting them. Fawcett and Stackhouse propose better ferry links to the Islands.. Sources
Environment: Nine took the Toronto Environmental Alliance pledge (Chapelle, Ehrhardt, Fawcett, Fragedakis, Saxe, Stackhouse, Stevens, Voutsinas, Walcott). Other proposals add up rather than conflict, such as climate resilience hubs (Chapelle).. Sources
Small business: Most promise help for main streets hit by Ontario Line and other construction. Specific ideas: job space in new buildings (Chapelle), lower sign fees and permanent patios (Fawcett), a ward construction liaison (Tetreault).. Sources
Community services: Ehrhardt will push to replace child care waitlists, Voutsinas pledges to expand cooling and warming spaces, and Ahmad will push for fair pay rules for gig workers.. Sources
Governance: Chapelle and Walcott say strong-mayor powers should go unused and Fawcett supports removing them; Stevens's Build Canada answer would use them on zoning to get homes built.. Sources
More street outreach and crisis-response workers: Tetreault
Incentives for purpose-built rental housing: Tetreault
Safer crossings, school zones, traffic calming: Voutsinas
Enforce sidewalk bans on e-bikes, e-scooters: Mitchell
∼Vague
Safer streets (no measure named): Ahmad, Fragedakis, Walcott
Better parks and public spaces: Ahmad
Keep taxes or bills down (no target named): Ahmad
Transit goals with no mechanism named: Ahmad, Fragedakis, Saxe, Walcott
More affordable housing (no measure named): Ahmad, Ehrhardt, Fragedakis, Saxe, Walcott
Growth should come with infrastructure and services: Chapelle
Represent residents, work cooperatively and be accessible: Fawcett, Sa'd, Stevens
Support main streets and local businesses: Fragedakis, Mitchell
Value for tax dollars (no measure named): Kladitis, Sa'd, Walcott
Protect or improve services (no measure named): Kladitis
Better cycling network (no measure named): Mitchell, Saxe, Stevens
Community programs or support (no measure named): Mitchell
Stronger tenant protections: Tetreault, Walcott
More co-op housing (no measure named): Voutsinas
?Not rated
Income-geared fines: Stackhouse
Animal harm by-law: Stackhouse
Appearance rules instead of heritage permits: Stackhouse
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.
Ahmad: 12 on record, 11 firm. Realistic 2 · Vague 9 · Not rated 1
Chapelle: 50 on record, 15 firm. Realistic 8 · Possible but hard 17 · Outside City control 3 · Already exists 8 · Vague 12 · Not rated 2
Connor: 0 on record, 0 firm
Corcoran: 0 on record, 0 firm
Dagenais: 0 on record, 0 firm
De Marco: 0 on record, 0 firm
Ehrhardt: 40 on record, 9 firm. Realistic 2 · Possible but hard 10 · Outside City control 7 · Already exists 8 · Vague 12 · Not rated 1
Fawcett: 25 on record, 4 firm. Realistic 2 · Possible but hard 10 · Outside City control 4 · Already exists 4 · Vague 4 · Not rated 1
Fragedakis: 22 on record, 9 firm. Possible but hard 4 · Outside City control 1 · Already exists 4 · Vague 13
Kladitis: 14 on record, 12 firm. Realistic 3 · Possible but hard 1 · Outside City control 1 · Already exists 1 · Vague 8
Saxe: 8 on record, 0 firm. Possible but hard 1 · Outside City control 2 · Vague 5
Stackhouse: 55 on record, 4 firm. Realistic 4 · Possible but hard 19 · Outside City control 9 · Already exists 1 · Vague 4 · Not rated 18
Stevens: 2 on record, 1 firm. Vague 2
Tetreault: 11 on record, 5 firm. Realistic 1 · Possible but hard 3 · Already exists 2 · Vague 5
Voutsinas: 29 on record, 25 firm. Realistic 5 · Possible but hard 2 · Outside City control 2 · Already exists 4 · Vague 15 · Not rated 1
Walcott: 37 on record, 3 firm. Realistic 3 · Possible but hard 8 · Outside City control 4 · Already exists 8 · Vague 14
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: Saxe: calls herself council's cycling champion. She moved Bloor bike-lane safety and winter-maintenance items and voted for the cycling plan.. Sources
≈Mostly accurate: Ehrhardt: the Portlands gas plant is among the city's largest emitters and runs nearly constantly. It is a top emitter; how often it runs was not found.. Sources
?Unverifiable: Chapelle: Squamish transit ridership rose 24% after an overhaul she worked on. BC Transit reported 14.7% for 2013–14; no 24% figure found.. Sources
✓Accurate: Walcott: after cycle tracks went in, cyclist collision rates fell 38%, and 35% nearby. A University of Toronto study reports those figures.. Sources
≈Mostly accurate: Mitchell: the number of small businesses in Canada is shrinking. Statistics Canada shows small monthly declines in 2025, for businesses of all sizes.. Sources
✓Accurate: Tetreault: the Logan Ave Gardiner ramps were removed in 2021 with no replacement. They closed in August 2021; new ramps east of Cherry St are planned.. Sources
≈Mostly accurate: Fragedakis: her campaign takes no corporate or union money. True, but Ontario law bars all municipal candidates from taking it.. Sources
≈Mostly accurate: Ehrhardt: Gardiner repairs near the Exhibition finished 18 months early. That section reopened in October 2025, 18 months ahead of schedule.. Sources
✕Inaccurate: Chapelle: the Danforth bike lanes went in as a pilot with zero business consultation. City records show business engagement began weeks before installation.. Sources
?Unverifiable: Walcott: the revised Logan/Carlaw design would not remove a vehicle lane. The City page does not say; council ordered further review.. Sources
≈Mostly accurate: Stackhouse: cutting the mounted police unit would save about $6 million a year. Police budget notes show about $6.0 to $6.4 million.. Sources
≈Mostly accurate: Tetreault: Queen St East work from November 2026 means no TTC service on Queen. Streetcars divert to Gerrard; replacement buses run nearby.. Sources
≈Mostly accurate: Chapelle: the race offers continuity with the outgoing councillor's chosen candidate. Ehrhardt's site shows Fletcher's support; no endorsement was reported in August.. Sources
Method: Built from 667 sourced rows read 11 October 2026: candidates' own materials, City records, dated news and organizers' surveys. The 18 names match three 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: "I will work with" reads Will push for (Ahmad, Ehrhardt, Fragedakis, Voutsinas) and "committed to working with" reads Pledges (Ehrhardt, Kladitis); Walcott's pledge to keep the TTC public and City-run is now catalogued; tallies leave out opposed proposals; some ratings updated and catalogue entries split.
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.