Toronto mayoral race heats up with debate over cell service on the TTC

Toronto's mayoral byelection had another busy week but with the summer-like weather, you may have missed some of it.

It was a hectic second week of the campaign, with even more candidates jumping into the race, new policy being debated and new attack ads.

Here's a quick recap of where things stand.

As of Friday afternoon there were a whopping 46 people running for the job left vacant by John Tory's resignation.

The highest profile sign-up this week was long-time councillor Anthony Perruzza. Chloe Brown, who finished third in the fall election, also made her candidacy official.

Who's not in? Olivia Chow, who has told the Toronto Star she's mulling a run, has yet to sign up. Nor has Gil Peñalosa, the second-place finisher in 2022 behind Tory.

Why does that matter? Well, candidates can't officially start fundraising until they sign up – and money matters in a mayoral race.

This week also saw the first third-party advertiser register to participate in the byelection. More Neighbours Toronto, a group that describes itself as a "network of pro-housing voices from across the political spectrum" signed up Friday.

The group says it's working to combat the "anti-housing agenda" in Toronto politics that's caused an affordability crisis.

Also this week, the City of Toronto took the unusual step of asking the creators of several Twitter accounts attacking candidates such as Brad Bradford, Mark Saunders and Ana Bailao to get in touch and explain who they are.

The groups responded on Twitter that they wouldn't be doing that.

Expect this to continue to be a source of tension.

So what ideas did the candidates put out there?

Ana Bailão kicked off the week saying she'd bring 911 and cell phone service to TTC, before Rogers Communications Inc. announced it would expand access to 911 as well as bring 5G to the subway system.