Here are some of the top issues in Toronto's upcoming election, according to voters
CBC
Toronto's municipal election is just over a month away. That means it's time for voters to start thinking about what issues matter most to them.
With 31 candidates vying for the mayor's chair and 164 candidates running for a seat on council, this election will shape the city for years to come.
Last week, CBC Toronto asked you to tell us about the concerns that are top of mind heading into the Oct. 24 vote.
From nearly 100 responses to date, clear threads have emerged — most of them connected to seemingly perennial frustrations of many who call Toronto home.
Two topics in particular come up over and over again: safety (or lack thereof) on city streets and the housing crisis.
There were also issues that intersect with other elements of daily life in Toronto like public transit, construction and policing.
Here's a sampling of some of what you told us so far. We'll keep this story updated as the campaign unfolds.
The question of roads and who they should be for is a near-constant point of political tension in the city. It's clear from responses that making safer streets for cyclists and pedestrians is a key issue for many voters.
"Prioritize cycling and pedestrians over cars in every area of the city, but especially downtown," one respondent who lives on the Danforth wrote. "Build separated bike lanes on every street. Make it easy to walk and cycle."
Similar sentiments were echoed by others.
"Toronto needs to … reduce speed limits to 30 km/h on all residential streets and 40 km/h on all arterials (unless higher speed limits can be reasonably justified), and complete the Bloor-Danforth-Kingston and Yonge bikeways to the city boundaries by 2026. A considerably faster pace of bike lane installations is needed," a downtown respondent wrote.
Several people who filled out the informal survey also said they would support making right turns on red lights illegal in the city.
Of course, bike lanes and pedestrian infrastructure aren't supported by everyone, particularly drivers who feel they contribute to Toronto's infamous traffic congestion.
"Remove bike lanes. Main streets like Bloor and Yonge are gridlock at one lane. Emergency vehicles can't even get by. CafeTO is a pandemic thing of the past and unnecessary and always empty when I pass by. Also gets torn down way too late in November clogging up more traffic unnecessarily," wrote one respondent from midtown.
