Welcome
Vote Paul Nash for City Council - Ward 10
Help me get Ward 10 back on track. We need affordable housing, better public transit, community engagement and safety.
my Platform
Vote for a better Community
Paul Nash has lived in Ward 10 for more than 26 years. He's committed to advocating for affordable housing, public safety, accessible public transit, and essential services like childcare and schools. His focus includes supporting youth and ensuring safer streets for pedestrians, cyclists and motorists. On October 26, help him to make Spadina-Fort York a stronger, safer and more affordable place to live.
This is My Promise to Ward 10:
- I’ll always be there for you.
- I’ll always be ready to listen and willing to act.
- I’ll build our relationship on trust, transparency, regular consultation and ongoing dialogue.
- I'll never put the interests of one group ahead of another or compromise the common good.
WARD 10, Spadina-Fort York
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Imagine a City Built on Community
I believe that community is more than just a group of people living in the same area. True community creates a sense of identity and belonging. It's essential for well-being because it provides emotional support and purpose. Join me in building a stronger community in Ward 10. Together we can do this!
About ward 10 and ME
Ward 10, Spadina-Fort York
Welcome! Whether you’re a long-time resident of Ward 10, like me, whose roots run deep in our community, or you've just recently arrived in this incredible part of Toronto, I’m thrilled to connect with you. My name is Paul Nash and I’m your Ward 10 candidate for City Councillor, Spadina - Fort York.
Our ward is the economic, cultural, and creative heart of Toronto. Geographically, we encompass some of the most dynamic and rapidly transforming neighborhoods in the entire country. We have the historic brick-and-beam architecture and creative energy of King West and Liberty Village, the bustling streets of Chinatown, the vertical communities of CityPlace, and the heritage grounds of Old Fort York Fort. Our Ward is diverse, vibrant, and entirely unique. We’re a true microcosm of the future of urban living.
As our community grows at an unprecedented rate, so do the complex challenges we face every day. The infrastructure that supports us is feeling the strain of rapid expansion. We see it and feel it every day—on the crowded sidewalks where pedestrians spill into the roads; on the packed streetcars we watch pass us by in the rain; or, in the soaring, often unreachable cost of housing; and in the heavy wear and tear on our beautiful parks.
Why I'm running for City Council:
I’m running for Toronto City Council because I believe our Ward needs proactive, community-focused leadership. Leadership that doesn't just react to problems after they boil over. Leadership that anticipates problems with strategic planning. We need a Councillor who listens intently to the people in the Ward—all people—and one who acts decisively at City Hall, delivering tangible, meaningful results for everyone who lives, works and plays in this wonderful district.
Preserving Our Waterfront:
- I’ll protect our revitalized waterfront neighborhood as a place to live, work and play.
- I’ll protect our beloved public spaces from ever-present environmental threats.
- I'll establish a new standard for community-controlled development that puts our community first.
Respecting Our Neighborhoods:
- I’ll work with developers to ensure they respect our neighborhoods and make a positive contribution to our community.
- I’ll see that developers provide for appropriate new uses and activities, traffic, parking and servicing impacts.
Imagine Better Public Transit:
- I’ll prioritize regular, reliable service that people can depend on.
- I’ll ensure the TTC is clean and safe.
- I’ll keep transit fares down for riders.
- I'll advocate for sustainable investment in public transit.
- I'll work to protect the TTC as a public service that is accessible to everyone.
Imagine Road Safety and Efficiency:
- I'll lower the speed limits on high-risk residential streets.
- I'll prioritize the safety of our most vulnerable road users by adding more community and senior safety zones.
- I'll speed up improvements to traffic infrastructure.
- I'll improve lane design for better traffic flow.
- I'll reduce road and lane closures.
Imagine A Greener City:
- I’ll endorse stronger climate policies and greener building standards that integrate sustainable design and green practices.
- I’ll advocate for more investment in climate-resilient infrastructure to protect communities from floods and other weather events.
- I'll vote to add funding to plant more trees.
Imagine A Cleaner City:
- I'll ensure the City cleans up the overflowing litter bins that make our streets less livable.
- I'll see that the City no longer forces residents to pay the cost of cleaning up illegal vandalism like graffiti on their property because taxpayers should not have to pay for crimes repeatedly committed by others.
Imagine A Safer City:
- I’ll pursue evidence-based strategies to reduce crime. Strategies that work because they're backed by empirical data.
- I’ll advocate for the thoughtful integration of essential services into vulnerable neighborhoods in ways proven to reduce crime.
the key issues
Here are answers to some of the questions I'm frequently asked:
Frequently Asked Questions on the key issues
Please reach out to me at nashp1071@gmail.com if you can't find an answer to your question here.
I was born and raised in Toronto. My mother and her family immigrated to Toronto from Ireland in the 1950s, and my father's grandparents came to Toronto from England in the 1890s. I grew up in the Beaches area of Toronto and completed my B.A. and M.A. degrees at the University of Toronto. I earned my PhD degree in the U.K., where I taught for several years. I have lived with my wife in Ward 10 close to Toronto's Waterfront and the heritage grounds of Old Fort York for over 26 years.
I believe that together we can make Spadina-Fort York a better place to live by building a stronger sense of Community. That means we have to better address our city's most pressing issues together. These include affordable housing, public safety, public transit, safe roads, schools, youth violence, and local business vitality.
To me, community is more than just a word describing a group of people living together in one area. To me, community means having shared values, tolerance, respect, and a common desire to move forward together toward a better future. Above all, it means a shared desire to help each other, which fosters a sense of belonging and well-being.
It takes financial experience to effectively oversee a large municipal budget.
In 2023, the City had a whopping budget deficit of $1.8 billion. The City's 2024 budget saw a 9.5 percent property tax increase, which was the highest in 25 years. The budget saw another 6.9 percent increase in 2025. Still, the City is projecting an unfavourable net financial operating variance of $97.4 million for December 31, 2026. Another 2.2 percent property tax increase has been proposed for 2026. When will it end?
I have more than 13 years of experience as a financial analyst with a top investment firm on Bay Street, assessing the performance of billions of dollars of investment. I was later a financial journalist. I understand the importance of financial discipline in optimizing taxpayer dollars to ensure long-term economic stability and to promote lower costs. By voting for me, you're voting to safeguard our city's finances through financial performance and accountability.
I'm also committed to working with the provincial and federal governments on shared economic development priorities.
By voting for me, you're sending a clear message to City Hall that you don't want to see your property taxes keep rising. I'll ensure that our tax dollars go farther by improving government efficiency, maximizing revenue, and shifting our focus more towards long-term investment rather than short-term spending.
Chinatown is one of Toronto's treasures. With a rich history, it's emblematic of our city's cultural diversity. I'll safeguard the area’s heritage and work to revitalize it, making it once again one of North America's largest and most vibrant tourist attractions offering an immersive cultural experience, bustling markets and authentic dining. To accomplish this, I’ll create a more pedestrian-friendly environment with wider sidewalks, benches, improved lighting, planters, and public art. I’ll look at financial incentives such as grants and tax breaks that could help to fill vacant storefronts with unique, local businesses. I’ll also accelerate the approval process for renovations and new business openings to reduce costs and cut red tape for developers in the area. I'll ensure that the City of Toronto quickly investigates and addresses complaints received from renters in the area. And I'll see that landlords comply with their responsibilities to tenants.
By voting for me, you're voting to revitalize Chinatown.
s Transit fares keep rising, while service keeps declining. Service hasn’t even recovered from the pandemic years, and yet TTC fares are now at historic all-time highs. Reported assaults on Toronto-area transit have risen by 160 per cent since 2015. Building new, expensive lines to accommodate a new luxury condo on the eastern waterfront or a Taylor Swift concert 5 years ago isn’t the answer. We need more affordable fares. We need a transit system that operates on a regular schedule. We need a stronger security presence on our public transit to help restore safety.
A Liaison Strategies Toronto Pulse Survey conducted in September 2026 looked at TTC ridership behaviour. It found that 29% of respondents say they take the TTC less often than they did before the pandemic, while only 15% say they take it more often. "The biggest reason for taking the TTC less often is changed routines, at 26%. But safety is next at 17%, followed by travel time or inconvenience at 13% and unreliable service at 12%.“
That means "the TTC's challenge is partly post-pandemic work patterns, but also the basics of service and confidence,” the firm said. "The public is also very clear on what would get more people onto transit,” it added. That is: “More frequent and reliable service is first at 29%, followed by improved personal safety at 19%.
By voting for me, you're voting to:
- ensure the TTC runs on schedule without frequent delays.
- make the TTC clean, safe and free from dangerous or anti-social behavior.
- keep transit costs down for riders, and to make public transit more accessible.
- advocate for platform edge doors on the TTC to prevent things and people from entering the tracks, keeping the subway safer and protecting the system from delays.
“Something happens and the city grieves or grumbles for a news cycle. City Hall offers sympathy, perhaps deflects to other levels of government and moves on. No plan. No urgency. No one held to account. The message to parents is unmistakable: your safety is not a priority.”
- Kelly Aizicowitz, in The National Post
Since 2023, Toronto has seen an alarming rise in hate crimes, particularly against Jewish, black and 2SLGBTQI+ communities. Anti-Jewish incidents accounted for more than 80 per cent of religion-motivated hate crimes in 2025. Last year, there were 12,000 carjackings in the city. That’s 34 a day, or one every 40 minutes. And it's not getting any better. A new Liaison Strategies poll shows that 51 per cent of Torontonians believe Toronto is less safe than a year ago. It's outrageous! And it's happening as corruption scandals are eroding public trust in our police. Clearly, we have a serious problem with law and order in this city that demands immediate action.
I'm a former volunteer director and crew member of a Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary Search and Rescue Unit operating in the Toronto Harbour, working alongside the Toronto Police and Fire Marine Units. As such, I share a deep commitment to public safety. I'm a strong supporter of First Responders, including the police, and the critical services they provide to our community.
I'll work collaboratively across sectors, communities and governments to bring about a safe Toronto that promotes and celebrates the well-being and resilience of ALL residents.
People in crisis
The higher number of people in crisis on Toronto’s streets and public transport makes us all feel increasingly unsafe and points to a broader mental health crisis that the city needs to address. We need to expand access to mental health services and invest more in mental health crisis workers. This would allow police to focus on areas they are needed the most.
I'll expand low-cost municipal mental health crisis services that promote healing and recovery, including more mobile crisis teams and telephone hotlines.
By voting for me, you're voting to make our community safer. And you're voting for accountability.
“Victim rushed to hospital after Thursday night stabbing”
"Man seriously injured in Queen West stabbing"
“Shooting in Toronto’s King West neighbourhood leaves 1 man seriously injured”
“Drug overdoses in Toronto up nearly 50 per cent since last January, new city data shows”
"Three injured, five arrested after shooting near Toronto’s waterfront"
"3 shot dead, 11 injured as weekend wave of gun violence hits Toronto"
"Toronto has seen 57 shootings so far this year: police"
Residents of Ward 10 and Toronto more broadly are worried about rising crime and increasingly concerned for their safety. I’ll pursue evidence-based strategies to reduce crime. Strategies that work because they're backed by empirical data, rather than mere short-term political posturing aimed at appearing tough on crime.
For example, rather than mindlessly closing down overdose prevention sites (OPS), as the provincial government has done, simply to appear tough on illicit drug use, I’ll look at ways to better integrate supervised consumption sites into those communities where they are needed most because rigorous research shows that they do reduce crime. Evidence from robust studies tells us what our frontline harm-reduction professionals and police officers have long witnessed: that such sites do positively impact those areas where they are needed, resulting in a decline over time in most crimes, including bicycle thefts, assaults, break-and-enters, robberies and thefts from motor vehicles. Closing down such sites has only increased crime and visible drug use across our community. Do we really want our children getting on streetcars and buses in our community and having to see people shooting up in the back seats? Instead of dismantling overdose prevention sites for short-term political optics, our priority should be the thoughtful integration of these essential services into vulnerable neighborhoods.
If we're going to reduce crime, let’s get to work pursuing evidence-based strategies that actually do reduce crime.
By voting for me, you're voting to implement crime-reduction strategies backed by empirical data. Strategies that work.
I’ll advocate for stronger climate policies, improved public transit service and greener building standards that integrate sustainable design and green practices. I’ll also advocate for more investment in climate-resilient infrastructure to help protect communities and keep residents, especially the city's most vulnerable, safe from floods and other weather or climate-driven events such as wildfire smoke and extreme heat .
I’ll support more tree planting and neighbourhood climate adaptation programs. I'll also support the creation of more environmental education centres focused on nature, culture and community.
More access to shade and green spaces:
Trees are some of the most cost-effective tools we have to cool our streets and homes, especially in dense cities where large patches of pavement can make temperatures soar. But local data shows that many low-income neighbourhoods are measurably hotter with less access to shade. Toronto is aiming to increase its tree canopy to 40% by 2050, but every year we fight for funding to make sure trees are planted and cared for - and that these trees don’t just end up crammed into neighbourhoods that already have more access to shade and green spaces.
I'll vote to add funding to plant trees in hot neighbourhoods with less access to shade.
By voting for me, you're voting for a greener city for all.
Environmental Impacts
We need to take a cautious approach to approving large AI data centres, which require enormous amounts of electricity and specialized infrastructure.
Before moving forward with new data centres in Toronto, we need to gather and study critical information on the potential impacts of such projects on local infrastructure, the environment and nearby residents. We need to fully understand how the increased electricity demand, water consumption and noise of these projects will impact surrounding neighbourhoods.
Privacy Risks
I also believe that AI data centers pose an enormous risk to people's personal data privacy. They dramatically increase privacy risks by combining massive computational power with large streams of personal data to enable rapid tracking, profiling, data sharing and mass surveillance. This only incentivizes large corporations, such as the big banks, to conduct unlawful mass layoffs by making it easier to scan large HR databases to flag employees for termination based on age, disability, ethnic background, political beliefs, sexual orientation or job function. Such scanning also allows smaller employers and insurance companies to aggressively pursue discriminatory practices for the sake of profit. In addition, AI data centers enable the unlawful sharing of personal data and personal health information across provincial and international borders.
I would support passing an interim control by-law, like Oakville and Mississauga have already done, to help put a pause on AI data centre development.
By voting for me, you're voting to take a cautious approach to large AI data centres.
Committed to diversity
I value equity, diversity and inclusion because every person has a right to equal treatment. We, as a community, are strengthened by diverse backgrounds, perspectives and experiences.
I believe in fostering a culture that embraces the uniqueness of individuals, and one that is representative of the city’s vibrant ethnic, racial and cultural diversity.
“Paul Nash talks affectionately of his Pakistani neighbors. He revels in learning Urdu from his friends and through videos on YouTube. Practicing his Urdu, Dr. Nash says ‘Allah Hafiz’ and waves with a smiling face as his friend boards the train in Toronto."
- C. Naseer Ahmad, ‘Allah Hafiz in Toronto,’ in Pakistan Community Link, August 2018
Committed to human rights
I’m committed to ensuring that all City of Toronto employees, volunteers, Accountability Officers and their staff, elected officials and their staff, the Toronto Police Service (TPS), and all organizations operating in Toronto strictly abide by the Ontario Human Rights Code. I’ll also make certain they fully respect the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Full compliance will ensure equal treatment and a harassment-free environment for all individuals living, visiting or conducting business in our City.
Committed to accessibility
I’ll also ensure that our City provides a barrier-free environment for all residents of, and visitors to Toronto. I believe that the City of Toronto and all organizations operating in our City must respect and uphold the requirements set forth under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (2005), and its associated standards and regulations.
Committed to life
I believe that every human life has inherent dignity and worth, and that every life matters, regardless of gender, disability, sexual orientation, race or ethnic background. I’ll advocate for the legal protection of every human being, from conception to natural death.
Committed to privacy and the rule of law
I’ll also ensure that all corporations and organizations operating in Toronto, both big and small, rigorously comply with all Canadian privacy laws.
By voting for me, you're endorsing diversity and the rule of law in our city.
As a long-time youth mentor, I understand that today's young people are the key to our community's future. I'll invest in youth violence prevention programs and other programs that support young people in meaningful ways. I'll also create more free mentorship and recreation opportunities for young people. By voting for me, you're voting for a long-term investment in the future of our community's youth.
“Toronto traffic fatalities have increased 44 per cent since 2024.”
- Toronto Life
I'll improve road safety
Traffic-related fatalities and serious injuries continue to rise on Toronto’s streets.
A City of Toronto study recently found a significant increase in speeding in school and community zones where automated speed enforcement (ASE) cameras were previously located before the province ordered their removal in November 2025.
I'll reduce the speed limits on high-risk residential streets. I'll also prioritize the safety of our most vulnerable road users by increasing the number of community and senior safety zones with altered cross-walk signal timing to make crossing the street safer in these areas.
Most importantly, I'll make sure traffic laws are properly enforced.
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"It’s the Wild West out there: the drive this morning continues to be an absolute mess.”
- CP24 Traffic Specialist
“Multiple road closures to make for a weekend of nightmare traffic in Toronto.”
- blog TO
I'll reduce traffic congestion.
The City of Toronto's road network was designed for the 1970s. Today, ongoing roadwork and more people on the road mean we face bumper-to-bumper traffic every day.
Toronto’s traffic congestion is now the second highest in Canada, next to Vancouver, and one of the highest on the continent. It's worse than both New York and Mexico Cities. In recent years, Toronto has even ranked third on a list of the most congested cities in the world. And it’s only getting worse. Traffic congestion is estimated to cost the city billions of dollars annually in social and economic costs.
We lose hours of valuable time every day slowed down or stuck in traffic. It’s become a drag on our quality of life and our economy. International companies are choosing to downsize their Toronto footprint or relocate to less-congested cities.
Public transit is supposed to be a viable alternative to driving, but it isn’t because it’s become just too expensive and too unreliable. Also, better fare and service integration is needed to encourage more people to choose public transit.
I'll advocate for targeted transportation infrastructure investments, improved public transit, and effective and innovative congestion management strategies to mitigate both the economic and social impacts of congestion.
I'll find ways to reduce the need for road and lane closures that affect everyone traveling on our roads. And I'll ensure the proper scheduling and timely notification of road and lane closures for critical repairs and maintenance work on our busiest roads and highways. And I'll optimize major thoroughfares to help speed movement across the city.
By voting for me, you're voting to make our roads safer and more efficient.
Located on the Toronto Islands, Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport has a unique governance structure. The airport is owned and operated by the Toronto Port Authority, a Canada Port Authority. The land on which the airport operates is owned by the Toronto Port Authority (78.5% of the land), the City of Toronto (20%) and Transport Canada (1.5%). The ownership structure and the airport operations are governed by a Tripartite Agreement signed in 1983 between the three landowners.
In March 2026, Ontario's Premier publicly stated support for expanding Billy Bishop Airport to allow jets. The Toronto Port Authority said it supports that direction, subject to changes in the governing agreement. The provincial government later tabled a bill to take control of a portion of the airport from the City and gain expropriation powers over large areas of the island and waterfront to facilitate the airport's expansion. It has also indicated that it plans to use new powers to designate the area a Special Economic Zone, empowering the Province to exempt the project from various municipal approvals. These announcements have been made only by way of press conferences and media interviews. The City has not yet formally received any specific plans or details regarding the proposed expansion.
In June 2026, the federal Government of Canada, through Transport Canada, opened up public consultations on the Airport's future. From June 8 to July 24, 2026, the Federal Government is seeking feedback on key priorities, such as noise mitigation, environmental measures and community infrastructure (e.g., parks and housing). Transport Canada will publish a report summarizing what it hears from the public.
A new Report from the City’s Chief Planner, however, already warns that any expansion of Billy Bishop Airport could negatively affect neighborhood livability, causing more air pollution, noise, traffic congestion, and broader waterfront planning conflicts.
I'll establish a new standard for community-controlled development that puts our community first and truly gives us a say in our own city's future. I'll ensure that local residents and businesses have a strong voice in expansion and redevelopment proposals.
Do we really want to give up our beloved waterfront parks to build infrastructure that would allow massive jets to fly in and out, despite serious concerns over noise, health and environmental impacts? Increased fuel emissions and toxins pose a direct threat to the fragile ecosystem of Lake Ontario and the surrounding parklands.
In June 2024, University of Toronto researchers released the final Report of an Air Quality Study they conducted in conjunction with the Bathurst Quay Neighborhood Association (BQNA). This study showed the relationship between highway traffic and airport activity on the Ward 10 Bathurst Quay waterfront neighborhood. One of the key findings of the Study was that Billy Bishop Airport is a major source of hazardous ultrafine particles (UFP) in the neighborhood. Such particles are known to contribute to severe cardiovascular, respiratory and neurological diseases. Moreover, an extension of the airport's runway would reduce the flow of water through the harbour’s western channel by about 50 percent, keeping water and pollutants like sewage in the harbour twice as long.
In addition to degrading the local air and water quality, expanding the Airport could also lead to the increased risk of air traffic-related injuries and fatalities. It will certainly worsen downtown traffic gridlock and transit congestion.
The potential economic benefits of expanding the Airport are likely overblown. Taxpayers are already paying billions to expand Pearson Airport, so why do we have to pay billions more to expand the island airport? Doing so will only undermine the multi-billion-dollar investment already made by the City, Province and Federal Government to revitalize the waterfront, massively wasting taxpayer money. In May 2026, the Toronto Port Authority CEO indicated that the cost of the expansion would be around $4 to $5 billion.
It’s likely another situation like the FIFA World Cup, where Toronto taxpayers bear the financial burden of paying for something that brings no lasting economic benefit to the city despite false claims from government officials of long-lasting benefits. The only benefits are those that accrue to the political elites in power. According to the CBC, “as Toronto's official FIFA World Cup hosting duties come to an end, data shows that the city saw little economic gain.” We need to ask ourselves, “what else could that money have been spent on that would have provided a lasting benefit to the city and its taxpayers?”
On July 24, 2026, the Federal government announced that, after receiving more than 87,000 responses to its consultation on the Billy Bishop Airport, it would not support the Ontario government’s plan to expand the Airport to allow jets. Federal Transportation Minister Steve McKinnon said the Federal government will focus exclusively on "approved safety enhancements" for the Airport.
Despite this announcement, much work still needs to be done to protect our waterfront and its beloved public spaces like Little Norway Park and Hanlan's Point Beach, from ever-present environmental threats. Future generations are relying on us to safeguard our vibrant waterfront.
By voting for me, you're voting to protect our revitalized waterfront neighborhood as a place to live, work and play.
Declining population growth and challenging economic conditions mean that many Toronto-area rental units are sitting empty. While a high vacancy rate is good for renters, creating more choice and flexibility, rents across the city are still sky high. I'll work to create a more affordable and stable rental housing market in our community that benefits both tenants and landlords alike.
I'm committed to protecting renters from unreasonable rent increases or evictions. I'm also committed to ensuring that our city's Apartment Building Standards bylaws are properly enforced. I'll make sure that building owners and operators comply with maintenance standards. I’ll also support proposals to expand the powers of bylaw officers to help stop bad landlords by identifying illegal activity.
By voting for me, you're voting for a more affordable and resilient rental housing market.
I'll also protect renters from heat emergencies
Climate change is bringing hotter temperatures to Toronto every summer, with heat waves escalating in severity and length. Tenants in high-rise buildings are particularly vulnerable, and have been calling for a bylaw to set a maximum temperature in rental units of 26 degrees to help them stay safe. Council has requested a draft bylaw before summer 2027.
I'll vote for a maximum temperature bylaw of 26 degrees to protect renters from heat emergencies.
From Liberty Village to Chinatown and Harbourfront, unique local stores and restaurants give our neighbourhoods their charm and character. They also help to hold our community together. As such, I'm committed to supporting local businesses by simplifying regulations and fostering investment in local business areas. I'll introduce programs to help small businesses navigate permitting, licensing, zoning, and development processes. I'm also committed to attracting tourism investment and improving coordination with municipal partners on shared economic development priorities.
By voting for me, you're voting to support local businesses.
The current crisis in Toronto’s schools demands strong leadership. As a former educator, I can be counted on to address the chronic under-funding that has led to overcrowded classrooms, rising youth violence and the ongoing struggle to recruit and retain education workers.
Ongoing provincial cuts to education will have detrimental effects on students. They threaten essential programs like:
- Outdoor education sites.
- Community engagement for families.
- Staff for student crisis intervention & behaviour support.
- Library and equity programs.
I'll put resources back into the classroom. I'll be a steadfast advocate for the conditions and supports that students, teachers, and education workers desperately need. I'm committed to calling on the municipal and provincial governments to make the essential investments required to protect and improve our public education system. Children and adolescents should not have to "pay to play." I believe it's important for our children and adolescents learn the right habits from from educators who truly care and are valued for the work they do.
By voting for me, you're voting for stronger support for our schools.
It’s never been harder to find an affordable place to live. And it’s because Toronto isn’t building enough homes to meet demand. In order for Toronto to be a place where young people can actually afford to live, we need to build more kinds of affordable, family-friendly housing in our existing communities.
I’ll speed up the approvals process for constructing more mid-rise buildings and purpose-built rental homes for mixed incomes, and multiplexes. I'll speed up the construction of affordable and community housing for low-income households. And I'll encourage partnerships with private market developers to build affordable homes for middle-income households.
I’ll make fees and taxes on new mid-rise and multiplex homes in existing neighbourhoods much lower. I'll also expand and accelerate partnerships with the provincial and federal governments to increase affordable housing development.
For marginalized residents experiencing housing instability, I'll explore new strategies, in collaboration with all three levels of government, to create more affordable and supportive long-term housing solutions, alongside access to meals, healthcare support, counseling resources and professional development services, to help rebuild their lives with dignity.
I'll commit to a time-bound plan to address chronic homelessness
I'll commit to a public, time-bound homelessness plan with annual reporting and data disaggregated by population, including race and Indigenous status. A sustainable solution requires more affordable housing, better access to shelter and services, and basic infrastructure for people who remain outside.
By voting for me, you're voting for more affordable housing and a time-bound plan to address chronic homelessness.
With rising economic uncertainty and high inflation, too many of us are having trouble making ends meet. Everything seems more expensive than ever. We’re often struggling to meet everyday expenses such as groceries and gas, and we’re able to put less into savings each month. Wage increases just aren’t high enough to match the increased cost of living. It's becoming an uphill battle to stay on top of the bills.
The Bank of Canada, in a recent Financial Stability Report, has warned that rising mortgage payments could create financial strain over the next year. This is when five‑year, fixed‑payment mortgages, taken out during the pandemic at very low interest rates, will renew at higher rates. This may cause some households in the Toronto area, especially “highly indebted households,” to struggle with the rising cost of living, as inflation and other economic factors drive up the price of food, fuel and other essentials.
I’ll advocate for new affordability measures in the municipal spending plan that deliver results.
I’ll advocate to freeze property tax increases. Torontonians have seen their property taxes increase by a staggering 56% over the past decade. That's about two times the rate of inflation over the same period. It makes life less affordable for us all.
I‘ll work hard to ensure that City Hall doesn't increase property taxes above the annual rate of inflation. We can do this by making renewed and smart efforts to cut government spending and root out waste. I believe we can find new savings and efficiencies in our municipal budget by eliminating administration duplication and freezing non-essential hiring.
By voting for me, you're voting to ensure that City Hall works tirelessly to reduce spending and increase efficiency.
A Plan for Police funding reform and Prosperity
The Fiscal Crisis: The Hidden “Policing Tax”
Toronto is currently trapped in an unsustainable fiscal model that treats local property taxpayers as limitless ATM machines for services that are actually provincial in scale. For the 2025 taxation year, the City anticipates generating approximately $6.06 billion in municipal property tax funding. However, we’re paying roughly $2 billion annually for the Toronto Police Service (TPS) when you include operating budgets, specialized units, pensions, benefits, and the massive capital costs of maintaining aging facilities and a specialized fleet of vehicles.
- The Household Burden: For a typical family of four living in a condo in Ward 10, this translates into a $2,664 annual burden. In Toronto's current cost-of-living crisis, that’s a heavy, “choice-killing” tax. Imagine what that money—or at least a portion of it—could mean if left in your pockets: it covers nearly five months of premium groceries, an entire year of TTC passes for two students, or the total cost of quality extracurricular activities for a child. Instead, this money is being grabbed from you to pay for a service that is increasingly tasked with managing provincial and global crowds rather than working on improving local neighborhood safety.
- The Inter-generational Debt: Approximately 471,615 residents in Toronto are under the age of 18. These children, who have no income and no vote, are effectively carrying $314 million of the annual policing debt. That's more than a fiscal error; it’s a moral mistake. We’re actually taxing the future of our youth to pay for the security of a tourism industry that provides them with nothing in return, allowing our community centers, libraries, and youth programs to crumble under the weight of constant “budget shortfalls” and “reduced hours.”
Policing for 31 Million people, Paid for by 3 Million
The legal and moral justification for uploading policing to the Province lies in the massive “Service Mismatch” caused by Toronto's status as the economic heart of Canada.
- Record-Breaking Volume: In 2025, Toronto welcomed a record 28.2 million visitors. Of these, 25 million were domestic visitors from other parts of Canada. Most (93.5%) were from Ontario. These were our neighbors from Oakville, London, and Ottawa, who use our roads, our sewers, and our police services every weekend.
- The Provincial Gems: Approximately 17.5% of all Ontario visitors to the GTA come to see the 'Provincial Gems' located in Ward 10: the Rogers Centre, the CN Tower, the Scotiabank Arena, the Royal Ontario Museum, and Exhibition Place. When 50,000 people flood into Toronto’s core for a Taylor Swift concert, a Leafs’ playoff game, or a FIFA World Cup match, the policing bill—including massive overtime and specialized crowd control—is handed to the local resident in Ward 10.
- The Fiscal Leakage: While these visitors pour billions into the provincial and federal coffers via the Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) and provincial income taxes, 90% of the people benefiting from Toronto's safety infrastructure contribute zero to the municipal property taxes in Ward 10, which fund the TPS. Policing these millions of visitors ought to be a provincial service, but it’s being paid for by you—the residents of Spadina—Fort York. It just isn’t fair. We must also benefit.
The “Ford Precedent:” Control for Capital
The Provincial government already treats Toronto like it’s owned by Queen’s Park. My proposal simply demands that the taxes we pay entitle us to an equal say in decisions made at Queen’s Park.
- The 2018 Ward Reduction: By unilaterally slashing the number of city wards from 47 to 25 mid-election, the Provincial government proved they think Toronto’s democratic structure is their own to reshape at their will, and to their own benefit.
- The logic is simple: If the Province wants to control how we are represented, they must pay for how we are protected. If they demand the power to shrink our local voice to 25 Councillors for 3 million people, they must assume the cost of our most expensive local service—the TPS.
- The Infrastructure Precedent: The Province has already recognized this logic by taking over the Gardiner Expressway and the Don Valley Parkway. They have also moved to take full control of Ontario Place and the Billy Bishop Airport lands through the Rebuilding Ontario Place Act, designating them as zones of “provincial significance.”
- The “New Deal” Trade: I’m offering a clear, strategic trade. Let the Province have the command and control they clearly desire over the "Provincial Core." In return, let Toronto keep its $2 billion. By removing the policing burden, we stop the endless jurisdictional bickering and move toward a model where the Province funds the infrastructure and services it already manages from a distance.
The Structural Solution: The “Triple-level” Strategy
I propose the Toronto Policing Transition and Fiscal Recovery Act, a landmark piece of legislation designed to bring about a synchronized transition to the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) and the RCMP.
- Urban Excellence & “Vertical Commands:” We won’t accept “rural policing” for a global metropolis. The Act will set clear “Urban Excellence Standards,” requiring the OPP to maintain specialized “Vertical Commands.” These units will be specifically trained for the unique challenges of high-density vertical communities like CityPlace, Liberty Village, and the Financial District. This includes:
- High-Rise Emergency Response: Specialized protocols for clearing vertical corridors and managing mass-evacuations for emergency scenarios in skyscrapers.
- Condo-Corridor Patrols: Integrated foot patrols that treat the interior corridors of high-rises with the same priority as city streets.
- Urban De-escalation: Advanced techniques that prioritize neighborhood-level foot patrols and community engagement over cruiser-based enforcement. Let’s see some friendly cops walking the beat again, watching over our children and helping the elderly cross the street.
- Seniority Dovetail:” To protect our frontline officers, I’ll establish a “Labour Integration Board” under the Labour Relations Act. This board will merge the Toronto Police Association into the Ontario Provincial Police Association (OPPA) through “seniority dovetailing.” This will ensure that a 20-year veteran of the TPS carries their full status, salary, and benefits over to the provincial force, preventing an “experience drain” and ensuring that the officers who know our streets stay on our streets.
- The Pension Bridge: We’ll enact “Mirroring Legislation” to guarantee that the billions in pension assets moving from OMERS to the Ontario Pension Board (OPB) remain protected, solvent, and inflation-indexed. No officer will lose a penny of retirement security in this transition.
- The RCMP Role: One Rule of Law: A new federal-provincial treaty will focus the RCMP on federal interests—like white-collar crime in the Financial District, port security, and counter-terrorism—creating a seamless, data-synchronized “One Rule of Law” that prevents criminals from exploiting municipal borders and jurisdictional gaps between Toronto, Peel, and York Region.
The Economic Benefit
The “One Billion for One Billion” deal nets the City an immediate $1 billion annual surplus (after paying a $1 billion annual service fee to the Province to maintain the new integrated model). This surplus will create a revolutionary path to future prosperity. This path ensues that the wealth generated by the city's economic engine actually benefits the people who live here.
"police have seen an increase in collisions involving e-scooters and e-bikes as their use has become more widespread across the city in recent years."
"Complaints about e-bikes on sidewalks are growing,"
"e-bikes 'flying down the sidewalk' has struck a nerve in Toronto, with pedestrians sharing stories of near-misses and collisions."
Improved oversight of bike lanes
Bike lanes are intended to make riding much safer for Torontonians. But the tension between traditional bicycles and powerful e-bikes as fast as cars sharing the same narrow lane or using pedestrian sidewalks is causing real safety concerns. These concerns ought to be addressed with new regulations, such as rigorous licensing standards and safer travel speeds, rather than wholesale infrastructure changes like the removal of all bike lanes. There is currently a lack of evidence that the removal of bike lanes would significantly alleviate traffic congestion or reduce risks to cyclist and pedestrian safety. Removal may not have a meaningful impact on traffic congestion and could increase collisions for everyone who uses roads. We need to make evidence-based decisions.
Improved oversight of e-scooter and e-bike riding
I’ll also launch more public education and enforcement campaigns aimed at increasing awareness of the regulations around e-bikes and e-scooters because safety is a shared responsibility. Riders who make safe and lawful choices help to protect everyone on Toronto’s roads. Regulation and safety enforcement campaigns must address sidewalk riding, wrong-way riding in cycle tracks. Enforcement must take place on roadways, bike lanes, cycle tracks, sidewalks, crosswalks, and other areas where micromobility vehicle activity is common.
Enforcement campaigns
Enforcement campaigns, like the ones conducted this summer, last summer and in November 2024, must continue to place a strong emphasis on education and awareness. As awareness of the rules increases, enforcement must then turn to riders who operate illegally or engage in behaviour that puts pedestrians, cyclists and other road users at risk. Such behaviour includes illegal sidewalk riding, wrong-way riding in cycle tracks, illegal e-moped use in cycle tracks and cars illegally parking in bike lanes.
Improved oversight of lithium‑ion batteries
"Toronto Fire crews knock down four fires involving lithium‑ion batteries in just 24 hours."
So far this year, the number of fires involving lithium-ion batteries has reached 97, which represents a more than 200 percent increase compared to four years ago, when Toronto Fire Services began tracking them.
Regulation and enforcement must also target lithium‑ion batteries used in micromobility devices like e-bikes, e-mopeds, e-scooters and other such devices, which pose a growing fire hazard in the city. Since 2022, Toronto has seen a more than 200 percent increase in the number of fires involving lithium-ion batteries.
The fires caused by lithium-ion batteries are intense, toxic and pose the greatest public fire safety risk in Toronto today. Lithium‑ion battery fires accelerate quickly due to a chemical chain reaction, making them unpredictable and challenging to put out.
It’s predominantly batteries that are not regulated and do not meet a proper standard that pose the greatest risk. Anybody can buy them on any internet site and bring them into Canada. The City must work with both the federal and the provincial governments to move forward with regulatory changes to improve importing regulations and the oversight of unregulated and uncertified batteries.
We need to strike a balance between the economic well-being of our communities, which can be fostered by supporting thriving music and tourism industries, and local residents’ right to peace and enjoyment of their home. I believe the City of Toronto can work effectively with area residents to find mutually acceptable solutions to any noise issues with local businesses.
Possible solutions may include noise barriers, noise curfews and seasonal noise monitoring. Solutions are possible if we work together with the common good in mind.
I’ll fix the 311 system. The 311 system is a toll-free number used to provide residents, businesses and visitors with easy access to non-emergency municipal services. It helps to coordinate different work order systems to bring improved service delivery to residents, visitors and businesses in Toronto. It also helps with reporting issues like noise complaints, missed garbage pick-up, garbage dumping, graffiti, substandard property maintenance, storm drain blockage, sidewalk and road damage (potholes), and bylaw infractions. The system is currently plagued by problems.
I’ll Put an end to long hold times, difficult-to-navigate automated phone menus, and unresponsive bylaw enforcement. You'll no longer have to deal with bureaucratic gridlock, pass-the-buck customer service, or administrative delaying tactics.
Toronto is facing a crisis. We see wealth being created all around us but people living in increasing poverty. We see new housing being built while more and more people struggle to find a home they can afford. The increasing cost of groceries and other essentials is making life harder for everyone. Weak labour protections and living wages are driving working people into poverty and precarious work. Lack of access to childcare, healthcare and other social programs is depriving people of the support they need to thrive.
Public Services are our safety net. They make life more affordable and equitable. When life gets harder, Public Services become even more important. Too often, governments cut and weaken them as part of a deliberate strategy to promote privatization. The price for these cuts is paid by the public, with the most vulnerable falling through the cracks, and by workers trying to do more with less leading to exhaustion and deteriorating mental health.
I’ll advocate for the City to properly fund and staff our Public Services to meet the needs of the people of Toronto. We need to look at all aspects of creating healthy and safe communities and invest accordingly.
Incremental changes aren’t enough to solve this crisis. Deeper changes are needed to transform Toronto into a city that works for everyone who lives and works here.
The Key Election Dates in 2026 are as follows:
Tuesday, September 1
- First day to request to vote by mail.
- First day to check, update or add your information on the voters’ list online by using MyVote, emailing VoterRegistration@toronto.ca or calling 311. You can make updates from September 1 to October 11 at 7 p.m. for your name to appear on the final election day voters’ list.
- First day to request a proxy voting form. You can request a proxy form by emailing Toronto Elections at VoterRegistration@toronto.ca or calling 311.
Sunday, September 20
- To be mailed a voter information card, you will need to be on the voters’ list before 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, September 20.
Thursday, September 24
- The deadline to request to vote by mail is September 24 at 4:30 p.m.
Monday, September 28
- Voter information cards start being mailed out to eligible voters whose names were on the voters’ list as of September 20 at 11:59 p.m. All eligible voters can access their digital voter information card online by using MyVote if they are on the voters’ list before 7 p.m. on October 11.
Wednesday, October 14
- Toronto Elections must receive completed Mail-in Voting packages by noon (12 p.m.).
Tuesday, October 6 to Sunday, October 11, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- Advance voting days.
Saturday, October 10 to Sunday, October 11, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- Kids vote weekend, at all advance voting places.
Monday, October 26, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
* * * ELECTION DAY * * *
Your assigned polling station will appear on your Voter Information Card and on: toronto.ca/elections.
Find out if you are on the voters’ list for the next municipal election. In a few simple steps, you can check, update or add your information for both municipal and provincial elections all in one place. Get started now with Elections Ontario’s Register to Vote service.
paul nash In the news
Interviews:
May 1, 2026 - CP24, Live at Five on May 1, 2026
May 1, 2026 -Met Radio,Kinza Zafar and Mia Johnson, Toronto Election Underway as Candidate Nominations Open
May 23, 2026 - The Toronto Sun, Justin Holmes, Signs, 'shadow campaigns' give Toronto council's incumbents a leg up.
July 26, 2026 - with Santha Tsang, at the Downtown Toronto Chinatown Festival, Revitalizing Chinatown to create a stronger, more close-knit community.
Contact paul
Better yet, talk to me in person!
Feel free to reach out to me during normal business hours about topics such as affordable housing, public safety, public transit, or any inquiries related to the upcoming Toronto election. I'm here for you.
Paul Nash For City Council - Ward 10
Fort York, Old Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
Hours
Open today | 12:00 p.m. – 05:00 p.m. |
What People are Saying:
"Paul knows how to fight for affordability, schools, youth, and community engagement."-A.E.
"Paul can be trusted to improve public safety and public transit." -J.Z.
"I'm voting for Paul because he's a true community leader." -B.D.
"I feel that Paul Nash has the potential to be a very effective Councillor for Ward 10." -Barry Shainbaum, host of talk radio program Perspectives with Barry Shainbaum
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