Delivering Results

Everyone deserves a safe, stable, and affordable place to call home. Since 2022 I've been hard at work to deliver more housing, protect renters, and make sure no one is left behind.

Here's what my work has delivered:

More Housing Built & Being Constructed

• More than 10,000 new home construction starts.
• Over 1,000 affordable housing units and over 800 new student housing units in Toronto Centre.
• New co-operative housing at 405 Sherbourne.
• 65 supportive housing units at 500 Dundas Street East.
• 600 new affordable housing units in Regent Park Phases 4 and 5.
• New Housing Action Plan to build 285,000 new units, including 41,000 affordable rentals and 65,000 rent-controlled units.
• Expanded housing options city-wide, including rooming house regulations, multiplexes, and expanded zoning allowances on main streets.
• New City of Toronto Public Builder Model to build new housing faster.
• Modernized Toronto's affordable housing criteria to be based on income, not just average market rent.
• George Street Revitalization to break ground this fall, to create a modern, dignified facility for residents.

Protections for Renters That Keep Housing Affordable

• New, expanded RentSafeTO with Colour Coding.
• New renovictions by-law for bad faith evictions.
• Strengthened tenant protections by ensuring repairs are done and charging landlords who refuse.
• Eviction Prevention in the Community (EPIC) program and increased Rent Bank budget.
• $350,000 for additional Tenant Support, $800,000 for Eviction Prevention in the Community, and $1.4 million to create a Rental Renoviction License Program.
• Expanded the Multi-Unit Residential Acquisition (MURA) program, with $165 million awarded since 2022 to preserve the affordability of 1,000 rental homes across the city.
• Increased the Vacant Home Tax and strengthened short-term rental regulations to return more units to the rental market.
• Strengthened rental demolition and replacement policies and closed gaps in the Tenant Assistance and Relocation Plan.
• Expedited a Maximum Temperatures Bylaw to protect renters from unsafe living conditions.
• Advocated to the provincial government to reintroduce rent control.
• Worked directly with tenants in Toronto Community Housing buildings in St. James Town, Moss Park, and Regent Park to get repairs done and improve safety and maintenance.

Supporting People at Every Step of the Housing Journey

• Over 8,000 households housed into rent-geared-to-income (RGI) housing from the centralized waitlist.
• 3,263 people moved from shelters into permanent housing.
• Held 25 Housing Clinics and secured a dedicated St. James Town Housing Worker to connect residents directly to housing resources.
• New Interdivisional Protocol for Encampments in Allan Gardens, Barbara Hall Park, Moss Park, St. James Park, and the Yonge Street Linear Parks.
• 10-Year Homelessness Services Strategy city-wide.
• New Shelter Capital Plan to make shelters safer and more accessible all across the city.
• Opened warming centres sooner and increased the budget for Toronto Shelter and Support Services.
• Casey House improvements to better serve residents living with HIV/AIDS.

Getting around the city should be affordable, reliable, and safe — no matter how you travel. I've invested in the connections that keep Toronto Centre moving.

A More Affordable and Reliable TTC

• Froze TTC fares for three consecutive years.
• Introduced fare capping so the more you ride, the less you pay — after 47 rides a month, you ride free starting September 2026, dropping to 40 rides in 2027.
• Championed TTC and GO fare integration to make transfers between transit systems seamless and more affordable.
• Improved service on all streetcar lines, restoring and exceeding pre-pandemic levels.
• Supported adding transit priority lanes on Dufferin Street and Bathurst Street, and introduced transit signal priority to make TTC service faster and more reliable.
• Expanded cellphone service across the TTC.
• Increased cleaning on the TTC to improve the rider experience.
• Expanded the Toronto Community Crisis Service (TCCS) on the U-section of Line 1 so riders can access the right support when and where they need it.

Safer Streets for Everyone

• Deployed 29 traffic wardens and 881 crossing guards to keep intersections safe.
• Installed 16 new traffic control signals across Toronto Centre, with 8 more approved and on the way.
• Invested in local traffic calming initiatives in collaboration with local residents.
• Introduced new fines for drivers blocking intersections and added traffic agents to keep intersections clear for pedestrians, cyclists, drivers, and transit users.
• Fought back against the province's move to ban speed cameras.
• Improved traffic and parking regulations in partnership with the community and Parking Enforcement Officers.
• Completed the Sumach Street missing sidewalk to close a long-standing gap in the pedestrian network.
• Prioritized expanded sidewalks and cycling infrastructure in street redesigns and new developments.

More Ways to Get Around

• Expanded the cycling network with new Cabbagetown Cycling Connections and broader city-wide infrastructure.
• Expanded Bike Share across Toronto Centre, adding e-bikes and regular bikes and installing over 350 new docks to meet growing demand.
• Tackling congestion through the City's new Congestion Management Plan.
• Supported the regulation of micro-mobility options, including e-scooters, to make shared streets safer for everyone.
• Secured Regent Park Permit Parking to better serve residents' everyday needs.
• Improved the King Street Priority Corridor to keep streetcars and pedestrians moving.

Our parks and public spaces are where community happens — and everyone deserves spaces that are welcoming, well-maintained, and full of life. I've invested in renewing, expanding, and activating the spaces that bring Toronto Centre together.

Renewing and Improving Our Parks and Facilities

• Advanced the Allan Gardens Master Plan, including the Palm House restoration, a new Farmers Market, and Indigenous Placekeeping.
• Initiated the Allan Gardens and Barbara Hall Park off-leash area redesigns in collaboration with the community, with construction beginning in 2027.
• Delivered improvements at Market Lane Park, Oak Street Park Playground, and St. James Park tables and chairs.
• Expedited the revitalization of the Moss Park Arena and invested in the new Dixon Hall Community Hub in Corktown.
• Completed repairs at St. Lawrence Community Centre and improved access to recreation in Regent Park.
• Designated Corktown Commons for tobogganing.
• Championed a city-wide Dog Off-Leash Area Strategy to make parks safe and enjoyable for everyone.
• Initiated plans to transform the underpass between Richmond and Adelaide into a green, safe, and pedestrian-friendly park plaza — envision the “Bentway West”.
• Integrated parks into 311 to make it easier for residents to report issues and request maintenance.
• Expanded park, sidewalk, and laneway cleaning across the ward.

Building Spaces That Reflect Our Communities

• Designated the Church Wellesley Village as a Cultural District.
• Acquired 12,000 sqft of community space to expand The 519 and bring Glad Day, Pride Toronto, and other queer organizations back into the Village.
• Secured 40,000 sqft of new community spaces in Regent Park phases 4 and 5.
• Secured a new community-governed Community Centre (AOCC) in Regent Park.
• Advanced placemaking and placekeeping initiatives in collaboration with the community, including Church Wellesley Neighbourhood Signs, the Clock Tower Trail, Sankofa Square, Dr. Gordon Chong Park, Louis March Park, Henry Box Brown Lane, North Star Way, Old Foundry Road, Thane Murray Way, and TMU Station.
• Delivered improvements to the Trans Memorial to honour and protect a space of significance to the community.
• Invested in public art across the ward, including Bell Box Murals, a mural at Wellesley Station, and laneway murals in Cabbagetown South.
• Funded the installation of heritage lighting at the Yonge People's Theatre.
• Improved governance and operations at Sankofa Square, with more events and a safer space for everyone.
• Secured a new District Library in Moss Park and an expanded library in Regent Park Phases 4 and 5.
• Completed The 519 lobby improvements alongside a 43% increase in City funding to strengthen services for the community.

Activating and Connecting our Neighbourhoods

• Championed pedestrianization on Market Street, Leader Lane, Scott Street, and Church Street to reclaim public space for people.
• Sponsored community festivals including the Moss Park Festival, Allan Gardens Farmers Market, Regent Park Summer Jam, and St. James Town Festival.
• Hosted Games Nights and Movie Nights for families and to combat isolation.
• Hosted Back-to-School Backpack Drives in St. James Town, Regent Park, and Moss Park.
• Hosted Annual Community Environment Days in Regent Park and Allan Gardens.
• Hosted TC Talks and recognized Community Builders across the ward.
• Influenced the City of Toronto's Night Economy Strategy to better support local businesses while ensuring residents can rest.
• Advanced the Ontario Street and Church Street reconstructions to improve safety and accessibility for pedestrians and cyclists.

Safety means more than police and emergency response — it means making sure every resident has access to the right support, at the right time, in the right way. I've worked hard to deliver a safer, more connected, and more compassionate Toronto Centre.

Faster, More Responsive Emergency Services

• Reduced 911 wait times dramatically — the average time to reach an operator is now just 3 seconds, down from a peak of nearly 10 minutes.
• Supported multi-year hiring plans to bring on more firefighters, paramedics, and police officers.
• Expanded 311 and made it more responsive, so residents can track service requests and get faster action.
• Deployed more neighbourhood community police officers on local streets and in TTC stations.
• Renewed the Downtown East Action Plan and ensured every neighbourhood, laneway, and park was included in the Clean Streets initiative.

Community-Based Safety That Meets People Where They Are

• Supported the city-wide expansion of the Toronto Community Crisis Service (TCCS) — in its first year, TCCS received over 25,000 calls, resolved 78% without police involvement, and made over 9,000 referrals to services.
• Expanded the TCCS to the U-section of Line 1 so people can get the support they need while using the TTC.
• Piloted and expanded the Downtown CORE Team, pairing nurses with police officers to do proactive outreach and case management for residents who are unhoused or street-involved.
• Re-established Safety Networks in Moss Park, Church Wellesley, and Regent Park to strengthen connections between residents, community organizations, and services.

Mental Health, Addictions, and Wraparound Support

• Adopted a Municipal Mental Health and Addictions Strategy to guide a coordinated, long-term approach to care across the city.
• Secured the Moss Park iHelp TCHC Community Resource Hub to connect residents to services and support in the heart of the community.
• Advanced plans to build a new Downtown HART Hub — a dedicated mental health and addiction treatment centre to serve residents across the downtown core.

A city that works for everyone means residents have a real voice, families have access to the services they need, and local businesses can thrive. I've worked to make Toronto Centre more connected, more transparent, and more responsive to the people who call it home.

Supporting Local Businesses and Economic Opportunity

• Helped more than 29,600 small businesses with a 20% property tax rate reduction.
• Worked with a developer to bring a grocery store to Corktown, addressing a long-standing food desert in the neighbourhood.
• Created more job opportunities for youth through the City's seasonal hiring program, FIFA World Cup opportunities, expansion of the Diversity Youth Fellowships, community benefits agreements, and local youth employment sessions in Toronto Centre.
• Negotiated Community Benefits Agreements for the John Innes Community Centre reconstruction and 405 Sherbourne to ensure local residents benefit directly from new development.

Investing in Families and Everyday Services

• Secured almost 800 more childcare spaces across Toronto Centre.
• Expanded free school meals so that every school in Toronto has access to a nutritious meal — no child left out.
• Expanded hours in community spaces, including seven-days-a-week library access.
• Opened a Constituency Office to make it easier for residents to connect with me and my team and get the help they need.
• Dedicated Monday’s every week to meet directly with constituents one-on-one to listen to their concerns and help them with city services.

Putting Residents at the Centre of Decision-Making

• Hosted 18 local Neighbourhood Town Halls — six each year — to hear directly from residents and report back on my work at City Hall.
• Launched Toronto Centre Projects, an engagement platform where residents can submit ideas, track capital projects across the ward, participate in surveys, and take part in participatory budgeting.
• Introduced Participatory Budgeting so the community can direct how community benefits funds are spent to improve and beautify our neighbourhoods.
• Developed a Community Benefits Map to ensure full transparency and accountability over how benefits secured from new developments are invested and where.
• Created a Ward Council to connect neighbourhood and resident associations, share information, and discuss pressing issues across the ward and city.
• Reintroduced in-person public development meetings to bring residents back into the room on decisions that shape their neighbourhoods.
• Made public appointments more reflective of Toronto's diversity, with a focus on providing opportunities to women and Indigenous peoples.