What they said. What's true. What they can actually do.
City council · updated 13 Oct 2026
Ward 21 Scarborough Centre
Who is running for Toronto City Council in Ward 21 Scarborough 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.
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 on residential streets? (Housing)
Thompson voted for fourplexes citywide in 2023 and against sixplexes in 2025. On Build Canada, Ahmed chose more as-of-right housing in every ward.
No: cancel MURA and leave housing to the private sector: Kargiannakis
No position found: Evbagharu, Ganesh, Lalla, Nisha Kumari, Shanmugaratnam
What should happen to red bus lanes in Ward 21? (Transit)
The Scarborough busway opened on 30 September 2026. Council asked staff in 2023 to report on keeping the Kennedy and Midland lanes; no removal decision was found.
Remove the Kennedy Rd lane; carpool use for the rest: Ganesh
Kennedy and Midland lanes to go now the busway is open: Thompson
City should stay out of the grocery business: Kargiannakis
No position found: Barahmand, Evbagharu, Ganesh, Lalla, Nisha Kumari, Shanmugaratnam, Thompson
Little disagreement, or few spoke: Homelessness, Roads and cycling, Policing and safety, City services, Flooding and infrastructure, Parks and waterfront, Environment, Small business, Governance. 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.
Taiba Ahmed
Political science student at the University of Toronto Scarborough; says she has worked with tenant, newcomer and youth groups. Leads on affordable housing, transit that works, youth crime prevention, and local grocers and food banks.
“”Self-reported
Top commitments
48 on record, 35 firm.
Raise TCHC's budget for repairs and new homes (◐Possible but hard; ✓Already exists; Will push for). Sources
Says she is a long-time Ward 21 advocate for seniors and people with disabilities. Leads on affordable property taxes, transit, safety and accessibility, and supportive housing.
High-school teacher who grew up in Toronto Community Housing in the ward. Leads on homes for all, jobs in Scarborough, bringing back the Kennedy Road traffic lane, and safe streets.
“”Self-reported
Top commitments
22 on record, 10 firm.
Required rent-to-own share in every new development (→Outside City control; Will push for). Sources
Retired, Toronto-born; ran for council in three other wards since 2014 and says she takes no donations. Leads on lower taxes and utility charges, public safety, evidence-based decisions and infrastructure upkeep.
“”Self-reported: retired, no donations
Top commitments
38 on record, 9 firm.
Public safety, security and order (∼Vague; Will push for). Sources
Real estate broker and Filipino-Canadian community volunteer; ran for mayor in 2023. Leads on affordable starter homes, lower fees, safer streets and dependable transit.
“”Self-reported: broker, volunteer
Top commitments
21 on record, 0 firm.
Rent-to-own starter homes for front-line workers (◐Possible but hard; Supports). Sources
Parent and community advocate who says she has lived in Scarborough for over 20 years. Leads on reliable transit, safer roads, City services for families and responsible spending.
Ward councillor since 2003, now in his sixth term; former deputy mayor. Leads on housing, community safety, jobs and the economy, and transit and congestion.
Top commitments
37 on record, 29 firm.
Affordable-housing targets in new mid- and high-rises (→Outside City control; Will push for). Sources
Runs repair cafés and swaps through the Scarborough Environmental Association, which he co-founded; former TTCriders board co-chair. Leads on making life more affordable, local businesses, isolation and transit.
“”Self-reported
Top commitments
48 on record, 38 firm.
Keep expanding his free repair and swap programs (●Realistic; Pledges). Sources
One line per candidate, as firmly as they stated it.
Housing
Ahmed: Will push to grow TCHC's budget and speed affordable approvals; pledges a co-op stream on City land; opposes six- and eight-plexes on side streets.. Sources
Barahmand: Supports affordable, supportive housing for seniors and people with disabilities, and protecting St. Andrews Road heritage from developers.. Sources
Ganesh: Will push for a rent-to-own share in every development and to revisit the sunlight standard; supports refusing projects without community benefits.. Sources
Reodica: Supports rent-to-own starter homes on City land, down-payment loans, non-profit life-lease housing and easier garden and laneway suites.. Sources
Thompson: Will push for affordable-housing targets in new mid- and high-rises; supports faster co-op approvals and 'missing middle' homes in appropriate areas.. Sources
Veerasingam: Pledges co-op and non-market homes on City sites and a higher Vacant Home Tax; supports gentle density; will press the Province for rent control.. Sources
Ganesh: Supports removing the Kennedy Rd red lane; pledges other lanes become rush-hour carpool lanes; will fight for service like the old RT.. Sources
Thompson: Will keep fighting for better transit; pledges practical fixes for delays; says the Kennedy and Midland red lanes will go now the busway is open.. Sources
No position found: Evbagharu, Lalla, Nisha Kumari.
Taxes and budget
Ahmed: Build Canada: property-tax revenue should grow with inflation and population, with a levy for repairs; supports publishing project budgets.. Sources
Kargiannakis: Will push to cut City grants and about $2 billion for non-profits; supports freezing property taxes and ending the land transfer tax.. Sources
Veerasingam: Pledges City-backed grocery pilots, bulk buying for small grocers and more of his repair and swap programs; supports food rescue.. Sources
No position found: Evbagharu, Lalla, Nisha Kumari, Shanmugaratnam.
Other issues
Homelessness: On Build Canada, Ahmed chose requiring people in park encampments to leave once indoor space is offered. Thompson pledges more shelter space and supports permanent supportive housing.. Sources
Roads and cycling: Ahmed, Reodica and Veerasingam took all six Cycle Toronto pledges, including protected Eglinton East lanes. Ahmed opposes road pricing; Kargiannakis wants arterial roads widened; Reodica wants cyclists licensed and insured.. Sources
Policing and safety: Ahmed pledges and Ganesh will push to expand Neighbourhood Community Officers, a police decision. Kargiannakis proposes treatment or jail for addiction; Reodica, school mentors instead of police. Thompson and Veerasingam pledge youth prevention.. Sources
City services: Kargiannakis and Reodica want better snow clearing of sidewalks and driveway windrows; Thompson will push for free walkway snow clearing for seniors and cleaner streets; Veerasingam will push to bring snow removal in-house.. Sources
Flooding and infrastructure: Kargiannakis supports cleaning every catch basin every year and opposed a stormwater charge; no other flooding proposal was found.. Sources
Parks and waterfront: Ganesh supports cricket and soccer pitches; Kargiannakis and Reodica propose farms on hydro corridor land; Veerasingam wants to explore a park on the old Scarborough RT route.. Sources
Environment: Ahmed, Barahmand and Veerasingam took the Environmental Alliance pledge. Ahmed pledges to move a one-year pause on new data centres if no other councillor does.. Sources
Small business: Barahmand supports a tourism zone on Lawrence Ave; Ganesh and Veerasingam will push to protect employment lands; Thompson pledges a business advisory committee and less red tape.. Sources
Governance: On Build Canada, Ahmed said strong-mayor powers should go unused; Reodica supports resident advisory panels and office hours. Thompson voted in 2022 against asking mayors not to use minority-vote powers, then in 2023 for restoring majority rule.. Sources
More money for TCHC repairs: Ahmed. Decides: City Council (budget).
Build Scarborough East LRT: Ahmed. Decides: City Council and TTC, with provincial and federal funding.
Grants and loans for local grocers: Ahmed. Decides: City Council, through a community improvement plan.
City-funded youth jobs or a job guarantee: Ganesh. Decides: City Council.
Keep races off the roads: Kargiannakis. Decides: City Council.
Rent-to-own homes on City land: Reodica. Decides: City Council.
Mixed-use zoning: shops and services in residential areas: Reodica. Decides: City Council.
→Outside City control
Finish provincial rapid-transit projects on time: Ahmed. Decides: Province of Ontario / Metrolinx.
More affordable units, parkland or space from developers: Ganesh, Thompson. Decides: Province of Ontario sets the limits.
More neighbourhood officers or local police units: Ganesh. Decides: Police Service Board and Chief of Police.
Lower CMHC premiums: Reodica. Decides: CMHC / Government of Canada.
✓Already exists
More non-market housing on City land: Ahmed
Safer crossings, school zones, traffic calming: Reodica
∼Vague
Prevention-first approach to crime (no measure named): Ahmed
Keep taxes or bills down (no target named): Barahmand
Transit goals with no mechanism named: Barahmand, Shanmugaratnam, Thompson, Veerasingam
Faster emergency response (no target named): Barahmand
Community programs or support (no measure named): Barahmand, Veerasingam
Accessibility-first policy (no measure named): Barahmand
More affordable housing (no measure named): Barahmand
More accountability and transparency: Kargiannakis
Catch up on repairs (no measure named): Kargiannakis
Safer streets (no measure named): Shanmugaratnam, Veerasingam
Protect or improve services (no measure named): Shanmugaratnam
Value for tax dollars (no measure named): Shanmugaratnam
More job training (no program named): Thompson
Support main streets and local businesses: Veerasingam
Safer public spaces (no measure named): Kargiannakis
?Not rated
A safety committee of residents and agencies: Thompson
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.
Ahmed: 48 on record, 35 firm. Realistic 4 · Possible but hard 19 · Outside City control 7 · Already exists 8 · Vague 8 · Not rated 2
Barahmand: 11 on record, 0 firm. Realistic 2 · Vague 7 · Not rated 2
Evbagharu: 0 on record, 0 firm
Ganesh: 22 on record, 10 firm. Realistic 6 · Possible but hard 6 · Outside City control 3 · Already exists 1 · Vague 3 · Not rated 3
Kargiannakis: 38 on record, 9 firm. Realistic 2 · Possible but hard 13 · Outside City control 5 · Vague 8 · Not rated 10
Lalla: 0 on record, 0 firm
Nisha Kumari: 0 on record, 0 firm
Reodica: 21 on record, 0 firm. Realistic 2 · Possible but hard 4 · Outside City control 4 · Already exists 3 · Vague 2 · Not rated 6
Shanmugaratnam: 5 on record, 4 firm. Vague 5
Thompson: 37 on record, 29 firm. Realistic 1 · Possible but hard 6 · Outside City control 2 · Already exists 6 · Vague 17 · Not rated 5
Veerasingam: 48 on record, 38 firm. Realistic 2 · Possible but hard 18 · Outside City control 5 · Already exists 6 · Vague 11 · Not rated 6
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
!Misleading: Ahmed: Toronto's transit reliability was just 58% in 2025. The 58% figure comes from 2022 data.. Sources
✕Inaccurate: Ahmed: Toronto's parking levy would raise about 2 cents a day per space. That is roughly the downtown rate per square metre; per space it is 25–49 cents.. Sources
?Unverifiable: Barahmand: seniors and people with disabilities make up 27% of the ward. No ward figure combining the two was found; 16.7% of residents are 65 or older.. Sources
≈Mostly accurate: Thompson: the Kennedy and Midland red lanes will go now the busway runs. Removal is planned, but Council has not decided it.. Sources
Method: Built from 654 sourced rows read 12 October 2026: candidates' own materials, City records, dated news and organizers' surveys. Evbagharu's campaign site could not be read, and no positions were found elsewhere. 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: commitment lists count as pledges (Ahmed, Thompson, Veerasingam); the method line names an unread site; 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.