Toronto voters want action on affordability, housing ahead of municipal election

As Toronto's leading mayoral candidates criss-cross the city, pitching their vision ahead of this month's municipal elections, voters say affordability, housing, public safety and transit are the top issues they want to see addressed.

More than 50 people are vying to lead Canada's largest city for the next four years, but polls suggest it will be a tight race between incumbent Olivia Chow and councillor Brad Bradford in the Oct.

26 vote.

Chow's key promises include measures to help lower grocery prices in the city, free lunches in schools and building more affordable housing units, while Bradford has pledged to freeze property tax rates in his first year as mayor and scrap the land transfer tax for homes under $1.1 million.

Ilham Saydna, who has lived in Toronto for 30 years, said many in the city are struggling financially and she will vote for anyone whose top priority is to make life more affordable.

“I am looking to see who is going to be having a good platform for food security because a lot of people are hungry right now, and people are going to food banks and they cannot afford to pay rent," the North York resident said.

Saydna, who is a tenant, also said the city needs to do more to support renters, including redefining what affordable housing means.

While some voters have expressed public safety concerns, Saydna said she feels safe in the city because the crime rate is trending downward.

Toronto police data show homicides, shootings and robberies have decreased this year.

Saydna believes homelessness is a far greater issue.

“If we tackle poverty and people's needs, crime will go down,” she said.

“If people are not properly housed and they live on the streets, you can't blame them for trying to survive.” Terry Chamberlain, who lives in the Don Mills area, said the city should do more to encourage building new housing.

“As long as the development is done in a reasonable manner and it fits into the area, I'm all for it,” he said.

Chamberlain said his neighbourhood is in need of a community centre and more facilities for children.