What they said. What's true. What they can actually do.
City council · updated 13 Oct 2026
Ward 16 Don Valley East
Who is running for Toronto City Council in Ward 16 Don Valley East in the October 26, 2026 municipal election: how the 4 certified candidates differ, what they have committed to, and whether the City could deliver it. Information as of 13 Oct 2026.
4 candidates: Jon Burnside, Sinan Erdemir, Didi Moffat, Stacey Moffatt. Incumbent: Jon Burnside.
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.
Keep TTC fares frozen? (Transit)
Didi Moffat and Stacey Moffatt answered the TTCriders survey; Burnside's position comes from his 2026 budget motion.
Little disagreement, or few spoke: Housing, Homelessness, Roads and cycling, Policing and safety, Taxes and budget, City services, Flooding and infrastructure, Parks and waterfront, Environment, Small business, Community services, Governance. See Issue by issue.
The candidates
4 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.
Jon Burnside
Councillor since 2022, and for Don Valley West from 2014 to 2018; earlier a Toronto police officer for about 10 years. Leads on value for tax dollars, the former Ontario Science Centre site, public safety and the TTC.
Top commitments
6 on record, 1 firm.
Continued transparency and fiscal responsibility (∼Vague; Supports). Sources
Co-owns a consulting firm that helps students, newcomers and refugees settle in Canada; has lived in Don Valley East since 2009 and led Turkish-Canadian community groups. Leads on safer neighbourhoods, lower everyday costs and a cleaner Toronto.
“”Self-reported: career and community roles
Top commitments
7 on record, 7 firm.
Work with residents and police to tackle crime (∼Vague; Will push for). Sources
Studied international affairs and economics, then information science. Leads on three office promises (regular updates, real listening, follow-through), then housing affordability, safer streets and transit.
“”Self-reported: education
Top commitments
17 on record, 3 firm.
Regular plain-language newsletters before council votes (●Realistic; Pledges). Sources
Says she has lived in Don Valley East and West Scarborough for more than 40 years and is running to be residents' voice. Leads on safer neighbourhoods, reliable services and transit, local business, parks, community and responsible spending.
“”Self-reported: 40 years in the area
Top commitments
11 on record, 5 firm.
Safer, more connected neighbourhoods (∼Vague; Supports). Sources
One line per candidate, as firmly as they stated it.
Transit
Burnside: Says the TTC must be safe, reliable and efficient; in 2026 proposed a 10-cent fare rise to fund service (lost); voted against the citywide RapidTO plan in 2024.. Sources
Didi Moffat: Would advocate for reliable buses and better links to rapid transit. TTCriders: Yes to all 18, including a fare freeze and a RapidTO route here.. Sources
Stacey Moffatt: Will fight for affordable transit but cannot commit to a fare freeze; wants more information before a RapidTO route here. TTCriders: Yes to 15 of 18.. Sources
Housing: Didi Moffat supports new housing that brings affordable units, shelters and community benefits. Burnside voted against citywide fourplexes in 2023 and for mid-rise on Avenues in 2024.. Sources
Homelessness: Burnside seconded a 2025 motion starting encampment removals near schools and playgrounds within 24 hours of a report. Didi Moffat and Stacey Moffatt backed more shelters and supportive housing (TTCriders).. Sources
Roads and cycling: Didi Moffat will push to close cycling-network gaps and for protected lanes on wide arterials where it makes sense. Erdemir pledges and Didi Moffat wants safer routes to school.. Sources
Policing and safety: Burnside voted to restore the full 2024 police budget request. Erdemir will push to tackle crime with residents and police; Didi Moffat backs lighting, youth programs and prevention.. Sources
Taxes and budget: Burnside lists continued transparency and fiscal responsibility; Erdemir pledges an efficient City Hall and Stacey Moffatt wants value for tax dollars. No tax-rate proposals found.. Sources
City services: Burnside pledges to keep a 24-hour callback; Didi Moffat pledges newsletters and office hours; Stacey Moffatt pledges to be accessible; Erdemir will push for higher maintenance standards.. Sources
Flooding and infrastructure: Didi Moffat would advocate basic upkeep first, including sewers and drainage, and steady attention to flood resilience.. Sources
Parks and waterfront: Burnside wants the former Science Centre site to serve local education and recreation; Didi Moffat supports investing in parks and community centres.. Sources
Environment: Didi Moffat and Stacey Moffatt signed the Environmental Alliance pledge. Stacey Moffatt will push for policies that reduce litter.. Sources
Community services: Didi Moffat supports helping seniors live independently. Burnside co-created a paid youth academy in policing and firefighting.. Sources
Governance: Didi Moffat wants major ward projects tracked publicly; Stacey Moffatt will work to make City Hall more accountable. Council adopted Burnside's 2026 motion ending foreign flag raisings at City Hall.. 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
Constituency service promises: Didi Moffat
◐Possible but hard
More shelter spaces: Didi Moffat. Decides: City Council, with provincial and federal funding.
→Outside City control
Reuse the former Science Centre site: Burnside. Decides: Province of Ontario, with TRCA and the City.
✓Already exists
Safer crossings, school zones, traffic calming: Didi Moffat
∼Vague
Value for tax dollars (no measure named): Burnside, Erdemir
Timely road maintenance (no measure named): Erdemir
Better snow clearing: Erdemir
Cleaner public spaces (no measure named): Erdemir
More affordable housing (no measure named): Didi Moffat
Protect or improve services (no measure named): Stacey Moffatt
Transit goals with no mechanism named: Stacey Moffatt
Support main streets and local businesses: Stacey Moffatt
Safer public spaces (no measure named): Burnside, Erdemir, Stacey Moffatt
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.
Burnside: 6 on record, 1 firm. Realistic 1 · Outside City control 1 · Vague 4
Erdemir: 7 on record, 7 firm. Possible but hard 1 · Already exists 1 · Vague 5
Didi Moffat: 17 on record, 3 firm. Realistic 3 · Possible but hard 2 · Outside City control 1 · Already exists 2 · Vague 9
Stacey Moffatt: 11 on record, 5 firm. Outside City control 1 · Vague 10
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: Burnside: helped ensure police funding requests were met. He voted for the 2024 amendment restoring the full police increase; the deputy mayor moved it.. Sources
Method: Built from 126 sourced rows read 12 October 2026: candidates' own materials, City records, dated news and organizers' surveys. This ward uses the lighter Tier 3 profile: each candidate's own site and common surveys, not secondary pages or a full news trawl. 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: Erdemir's priority list counts as commitments; a bare "Prioritise" item reads Would advocate (Didi Moffat); some ratings updated.
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.