What they said. What's true. What they can actually do.
City council · updated 13 Oct 2026
Ward 19 Beaches–East York
Who is running for Toronto City Council in Ward 19 Beaches–East York in the October 26, 2026 municipal election: how the 13 certified candidates differ, what they have committed to, and whether the City could deliver it. Information as of 13 Oct 2026.
13 candidates: Syeda Jaana Ali, James Dann, Nate Erskine-Smith, Fatima Ibrahimi, Natalie Johnson, Kevin Morrison, Karsten Riedel, Mohammad Shabani, Adam Smith, Austin Vieira, Jeff Wahl, Devin Wilkins, Jennie Worden. Open seat: Brad Bradford is not running here (running for mayor).
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.
Little disagreement, or few spoke: City services, Flooding and infrastructure, Parks and waterfront, Environment, Small business, Community services. Governance splits on one Build Canada question. See Issue by issue.
The candidates
13 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: Beach Metro Q&A, Oct 5 meet-and-greet, Build Canada, TTCriders survey, TTCriders pledge, Environmental Alliance pledge, Cycle Toronto.
Syeda Jaana Ali
Business-development professional for more than 15 years, she says. Leads on housing that families can afford, safer streets and cheaper transit for seniors.
“”Self-reported
Top commitments
20 on record, 11 firm.
Public “Housing Delivery Clock” on approvals (●Realistic; Will push for). Sources
Former City of Toronto waterfront parks manager; says he spent 25 years at the City. Leads on parks, everyday City services, and infrastructure before new growth.
“”Self-reported: 25 years
Top commitments
33 on record, 15 firm.
No new growth zones without funded infrastructure (◐Possible but hard; Would advocate). Sources
Lawyer; Liberal MP for Beaches–East York 2015–2026 and federal housing minister from December 2024 to May 2025. Leads on City services, more homes in every ward and transit reliability.
Top commitments
28 on record, 9 firm.
Non-market housing at scale on City land (✓Already exists; Supports). Sources
Describes herself as an internationally educated nurse and educator. Leads on safer crossings and school zones, sidewalk-first snow clearing and a 72-hour City service standard.
“”Self-reported
Top commitments
11 on record, 2 firm.
72-hour response standard for service requests (◐Possible but hard; Would advocate). Sources
CTV News journalist for 19 years; CTV took her off air until after the election. Leads on an east-end Gardiner ramp, the 143 express bus and police presence.
Top commitments
29 on record, 1 firm.
East-end Gardiner ramp at Cherry St, firm timeline (◐Possible but hard; Will push for). Sources
Toronto Catholic school board trustee, elected in 2022; the board has been under provincial supervision since June 2025. Leads on stopping island-airport jets, snow clearing, more frequent transit and a new school near Main and Danforth.
Top commitments
26 on record, 19 firm.
Stop the Billy Bishop jets expansion (→Outside City control; Will push for). Sources
Says he has lived in the ward 40 years, holds commerce and law degrees, and ran a Queen St shop and a building firm. Leads on development charges and infrastructure first.
“”Self-reported
Top commitments
7 on record, 1 firm.
Cut development charges sharply (◐Possible but hard; Supports). Sources
Business management consultant, he says; community representative on the East Toronto Health Partners leadership team until 2025. Leads on a City-owned bank, City-built rental housing and a new way of electing councillors.
“”Self-reported: occupation
Top commitments
37 on record, 28 firm.
A City-owned community bank (?Not rated; Pledges). Sources
Works in film and TV visual effects; runs a food-bank garden. Third run for this seat. Opposes added density; leads on public housing and a ward transportation plan.
“”Self-reported
Top commitments
90 on record, 7 firm.
No added density near Main and Danforth (→Outside City control; Pledges). Sources
Montessori early-childhood educator for about 20 years; says he is president of CUPE Local 5213. Leads on licensed child care, infrastructure checks before rezoning, non-market housing and laneway-suite permits.
“”Self-reported
Top commitments
39 on record, 24 firm.
Rapid expansion of licensed child care (◐Possible but hard; Will push for). Sources
Retail manager with about 20 years in retail, he says; rents in East York. Leads on tenant protections, co-op housing, safer streets and protecting public services.
“”Self-reported
Top commitments
19 on record, 7 firm.
Tenant protections and an end to renovictions (✓Already exists; ∼Vague; Will push for). Sources
Event organizer for local festivals such as the Beaches Jazz Festival, he says. Leads on medium-density housing, rent control and a Danforth GO transit hub.
“”Self-reported
Top commitments
18 on record, 8 firm.
Wider multiplex and medium-density zoning (◐Possible but hard; Will push for). Sources
Communications manager at the Canadian Journalism Foundation, she says; former Orchestra Toronto director. Second here in 2022. Leads on public housing, a lower fare cap and safer streets.
“”Self-reported: occupation
Top commitments
40 on record, 15 firm.
Two community-led City-land projects by Dec 2029 (◐Possible but hard; Supports). Sources
City services: Twelve candidates promise better everyday service. Specific ideas: a 72-hour response standard (Ibrahimi), quarterly ward scorecards (Johnson), caseworkers in the councillor's office (Worden).. Sources
Flooding and infrastructure: Nine candidates call for sewer, drainage or other work to keep up with growth or reduce flooding; none opposes it. Shabani adds $500 grants after major floods.. Sources
Parks and waterfront: Six oppose jets at Billy Bishop airport (Dann, Erskine-Smith, Johnson, Morrison, Smith, Worden); none supports them. Other proposals concern specific parks.. Sources
Environment: Proposals add up rather than conflict: trees, ravines, cleaner buildings. Five took the Toronto Environmental Alliance pledge (Ali, Dann, Erskine-Smith, Smith, Worden).. Sources
Small business: Dann, Smith and Vieira back a vacant-storefront tax; Worden would ask the Province about one. Morrison would propose a tax cut for independent grocers; Dann backs a Bangla Town designation.. Sources
Community services: Morrison, Smith, Wahl and Worden support City-run grocery stores; Erskine-Smith, Smith, Wahl and Worden back wider school food programs; Morrison, Smith, Vieira, Wahl and Worden want more child care spaces.. Sources
Governance: Of five who answered Build Canada, four say strong-mayor powers should go unused; Dann would use them to appoint senior staff. Shabani and Smith propose changes to how council is elected.. 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
Advance notice and clearer timelines for road construction: Ibrahimi
Winter trail clearing and park clean-ups: Dann
Public tracking of approvals and growth: Ali
Regular public ward reports and scorecards: Johnson
◐Possible but hard
48-hour elevator-repair by-law: Shabani. Decides: City Council.
72-hour response standard for service requests: Ibrahimi. Decides: City Council and City divisions.
A 37-point ward transportation plan: Smith. Decides: City Council and community council; TTC and the Province for some items.
A City-run grocery store in the ward this term: Worden. Decides: City Council.
Bring back the 143 Beach express bus: Johnson. Decides: TTC Board, within the subsidy Council approves.
Changes to specific TTC routes: Dann. Decides: TTC Board and staff.
City builds, owns and runs housing itself: Shabani, Smith. Decides: City Council, with CreateTO.
Cut development charges: Riedel. Decides: City Council, within the provincial Development Charges Act.
East-end Gardiner ramp sooner: Erskine-Smith, Johnson. Decides: City Council for now; the Province once it takes over the highway.
Faster streetcars and buses (signals, priority lanes): Erskine-Smith. Decides: City Council and Transportation Services (signals, lanes); TTC (operations).
Fee-free, fast permits for laneway and garden suites: Vieira. Decides: City Council (its own fees); permit and variance rules are partly provincial.
Free TTC for seniors, students or under-26s: Ali, Riedel. Decides: TTC Board and City budget.
Infrastructure before approvals or occupancy: Dann, Riedel, Vieira. Decides: City Council; refusals and delays can be appealed to the Ontario Land Tribunal.
Joint study to rebuild Secord school and centre: Worden. Decides: City Council for the centre; the school board and the Province for the school.
More licensed child care spaces: Vieira. Decides: City Council allocates; the Province and federal government fund and cap growth.
New or upgraded protected bike lanes: Wilkins. Decides: City Council; the Province where a traffic lane would be removed.
Specific City-land or community-led housing projects: Vieira, Worden. Decides: City Council, with CreateTO.
Specific TTC service changes: Erskine-Smith, Morrison. Decides: TTC Board, within the subsidy Council approves.
City buys rental buildings and becomes landlord: Smith. Decides: City Council.
Ward-wide street redesigns and crosswalks: Worden. Decides: City Council and Transportation Services (capital budget); community council.
Wider multiplex and medium-density zoning: Wilkins. Decides: City Council.
→Outside City control
A new school near Main and Danforth: Dann, Morrison. Decides: The school board proposes; the Province decides and funds.
Changes to election rules: Shabani. Decides: Province of Ontario.
More affordable units, parkland or space from developers: Wahl. Decides: Province of Ontario sets the limits.
More police on transit: Johnson. Decides: Chief of Police (police); TTC (special constables).
More neighbourhood officers or local police units: Erskine-Smith, Johnson. Decides: Police Service Board and Chief of Police.
New entrances or hub at Danforth GO station: Wilkins. Decides: Metrolinx (provincial agency); City Council for City-side works.
Refuse or resist development applications: Riedel, Smith. Decides: Ontario Land Tribunal (provincial) on appeal.
Broader rent control: Smith, Wilkins. Decides: Province of Ontario.
No jets or expansion at Billy Bishop: Morrison. Decides: Federal government and the port authority; the Province under its 2026 law.
✓Already exists
More non-market housing on City land: Erskine-Smith
Multiplexes, laneway suites and gentle density: Ali
Safer crossings, school zones, traffic calming: Ali, Ibrahimi
Tighter enforcement against renovictions: Wahl
∼Vague
Better snow clearing: Ibrahimi, Morrison
Protect or improve services (no measure named): Wahl
Safer streets (no measure named): Wahl
Stronger tenant protections: Wahl
Value for tax dollars (no measure named): Riedel
?Not rated
A City-owned bank or credit union: Shabani
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.
Ali: 20 on record, 11 firm. Realistic 2 · Possible but hard 1 · Already exists 5 · Vague 12
Dann: 33 on record, 15 firm. Realistic 6 · Possible but hard 5 · Outside City control 5 · Already exists 7 · Vague 9 · Not rated 1
Erskine-Smith: 28 on record, 9 firm. Realistic 4 · Possible but hard 10 · Outside City control 1 · Already exists 7 · Vague 5 · Not rated 1
Ibrahimi: 11 on record, 2 firm. Realistic 2 · Possible but hard 3 · Already exists 2 · Vague 4
Johnson: 29 on record, 1 firm. Realistic 5 · Possible but hard 7 · Outside City control 2 · Already exists 9 · Vague 6
Morrison: 26 on record, 19 firm. Realistic 2 · Possible but hard 8 · Outside City control 4 · Already exists 2 · Vague 8 · Not rated 2
Riedel: 7 on record, 1 firm. Realistic 1 · Possible but hard 3 · Outside City control 1 · Vague 2
Shabani: 37 on record, 28 firm. Realistic 2 · Possible but hard 14 · Outside City control 6 · Already exists 3 · Vague 4 · Not rated 8
Smith: 90 on record, 7 firm. Realistic 8 · Possible but hard 31 · Outside City control 20 · Already exists 9 · Vague 7 · Not rated 15
Vieira: 39 on record, 24 firm. Realistic 3 · Possible but hard 16 · Outside City control 7 · Already exists 10 · Vague 1 · Not rated 2
Wahl: 19 on record, 7 firm. Possible but hard 3 · Outside City control 3 · Already exists 5 · Vague 8
Wilkins: 18 on record, 8 firm. Realistic 1 · Possible but hard 4 · Outside City control 4 · Already exists 2 · Vague 6 · Not rated 1
Worden: 40 on record, 15 firm. Realistic 4 · Possible but hard 19 · Outside City control 1 · Already exists 10 · Vague 5 · Not rated 1
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
✓Accurate: Ali: council funded a $250,000 study of a walkway from Stephenson Ave to Danforth GO in 2026. Approved in June.. Sources
!Misleading: Dann: says he delivered Toronto's first new ferry fleet in 60 years. The first of two electric ferries is due after the election.. Sources
?Unverifiable: Johnson: covered City Hall for 16 years. CTV's statement confirms 19 years at the network, not the length of her City Hall beat.. Sources
?Unverifiable: Morrison: almost 20,000 people are coming to Main and Danforth. No official projection found; about 6,800 units are in the pipeline.. Sources
≈Mostly accurate: Johnson: Erskine-Smith returns after two failed attempts at Queen's Park. Both were party contests (2023 leadership, 2026 nomination), not elections.. Sources
?Unverifiable: Smith: the only candidate with a detailed plan to complete the ward's bike network. A judgment; two others list specific cycling links.. Sources
?Unverifiable: Smith: Bradford promised no new street-parking permits for the Queen St E project. No record of the promise; Council excluded the site from permits on 26 March 2026.. Sources
Method: Built from 1,431 sourced rows read 9 October 2026: candidates' own materials, City records, dated news and organizers' surveys. 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: firmness recoded under guide-wide rules (Dann, Erskine-Smith, Ibrahimi, Shabani, Vieira, Worden); tallies leave out opposed proposals; 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.