Written by Denise Walcott in answer to our questionnaire, and published as given. Not our description of them.
Denise Walcott is a candidate for Toronto City Councillor in Toronto–Danforth, Ward 14. She grew up around Greenwood and the Danforth, where her parents operated a local business for 30 years. This community helped shape who she is, and serving the people who call it home would be an honour.
Denise brings professional experience in communications, strategic planning, budgeting and organizational leadership. She also serves on two condominium boards, one as president and the other as secretary. Through these roles, she has gained practical experience listening to residents, managing resources responsibly, finding creative financial solutions and working collaboratively to address community concerns.
Her commitment to public service began in student government, where she represented students, reviewed budgets and helped strengthen campus life. Over the past seven years, she has intentionally taken on greater community responsibility and prepared herself to serve residents at a higher level.
Denise is running to bring transparent, accountable and responsive leadership to City Hall. Her priorities include affordability, helping seniors age safely at home, safer streets, reliable transit and City services, attainable homeownership, protecting the waterfront and strengthening community outreach.
Above all, Denise believes residents should have a meaningful role in shaping Toronto–Danforth’s future. She is committed to listening, working with people across the ward and following through with practical solutions.
Our questionnaire
Denise Walcott’s own answers to the questions we put to every candidate, published as given — including, where they wrote one, their reasoning in their own words.
I support more housing, including missing-middle and family-sized homes, but not blanket as-of-right density. Growth should protect affordability and consider infrastructure, trees, community services and neighbourhood impacts.
Only when the indoor space is genuinely safe, suitable and stable. People may avoid shelters because of theft, violence or inadequate privacy. The City must listen to unhoused people, address their individual needs and provide lasting support before requiring them to leave.
Support investing in reliable public transit, but I would not begin by adding another cost for working residents. Toronto should prioritize fair, progressive revenue sources and stronger provincial and federal transit funding
Deferring maintenance only increases costs and risks service reliability. New revenue should be fair and progressive, while Toronto continues pursuing its fair share of infrastructure funding from provincial and federal governments.
Yes. Residents deserve clear information on project budgets, timelines, delays and results. Regular public reporting improves accountability, identifies problems earlier and helps ensure public dollars are being used effectively.
Public safety requires prevention as well as enforcement. I would invest in mental-health response, addiction treatment and youth intervention, while ensuring police and emergency services have the resources needed to respond to serious threats.
Police need the resources to respond effectively, but increased spending should be tied to demonstrated needs and results. We should also invest in prevention, mental-health supports and community services that can reduce pressure on police
Technology can improve safety and enforcement, but it must come with strong privacy protections. I support clear limits on access, data retention, auditing and sharing, with transparent oversight and accountability.
Residents need transit they can rely on every day. I would prioritize frequent, reliable service, stronger safety measures and effective tools such as automated street safety cameras, while maintaining the system and pursuing responsible expansion.
Street planning should protect essential access, including emergency services, accessibility, deliveries and trades, while continuing to improve transit, walking and cycling wherever possible.
Toronto’s greatest need is housing people can actually afford. The City should expand affordable and supportive housing while working with non-profits, co-ops and other levels of government to increase supply.
Toronto should use City land, funding and partnerships to accelerate affordable housing, while leveraging provincial and federal funding so the full burden does not fall on Toronto taxpayers.
Growth should be concentrated where transit, infrastructure and services can support it. Major streets and transit corridors can accommodate more housing while allowing neighbourhood growth to be planned carefully.
Support simplifying outdated or unnecessary requirements where appropriate, but not at the expense of safety, accessibility, environmental protections, employment lands or neighbourhood planning. Cost savings should come from smarter standards, not weaker ones
Toronto needs stronger project management, procurement and oversight so problems are identified earlier. Clear budgets, timelines and accountability can reduce delays and cost overruns while protecting the quality of public infrastructure.
Toronto should strengthen its internal workforce and retain expertise within the City. Contracting out should not be the default when permanent staff can provide reliable, accountable public services and better long-term value.
Property-tax increases should be responsible and predictable. Revenues should keep pace with inflation and population growth while the City looks for fairer revenue sources and protects essential services.
Toronto should rely more on growth and real-estate activity than continually increasing the burden on residential taxpayers. Development should contribute fairly to the infrastructure and services needed to support growth.
Toronto should rely more on growth and real-estate activity than continually increasing the burden on residential taxpayers. Development should contribute fairly to the infrastructure and services needed to support growth.
Toronto needs a stronger, more sustainable fiscal relationship with the Province. I would advocate for the funding and authority needed to deliver reliable services while working constructively with other governments wherever possible.
Major decisions should be made through transparent debate and a democratic Council process. No mayor should be able to bypass elected councillors on decisions that significantly affect communities, services and public spending.
Residents should see results in the services they use every day. I will focus on reliable transit, safer roads, flood prevention, parks and infrastructure, while listening to frontline workers and residents to identify problems and improve how City services are delivered.
Judge my performance by whether residents, workers and businesses see better, more reliable City services, safer and better-maintained neighbourhoods, stronger flood and infrastructure planning, and responsible use of public dollars while keeping costs as affordable as possible.
Toronto should complete approved cycling projects and assess results before major new road reallocations. Future changes should be based on safety, usage, congestion, accessibility and the needs of residents and local businesses.
The right to peaceful protest must be protected, while hospitals, transit, emergency routes and essential services remain accessible. Clear, consistent rules should protect both democratic expression and public access.
Technology should make City work more efficient while supporting, not replacing, frontline workers. I would prioritize tools that reduce administrative burden, improve procurement and service delivery, with worker input, training and strong privacy protections.
Residential tax increases should not be the first or only solution and should remain reasonable. Toronto should pursue other-government funding and fairer revenues before cutting frontline services or staffing to levels that put workers’ safety and service quality at risk.
Businesses need strong fundamentals to succeed. Instead of relying mainly on short-term grants or tax breaks, Toronto should focus on reliable transit, safe streets, affordable housing, strong infrastructure and efficient City services that help businesses operate and grow.
Toronto should compete by being a city where people and businesses want to stay: affordable housing, reliable transportation, safety, strong infrastructure and a high quality of life create lasting economic advantages.
Toronto should expand apprenticeships and skilled-trades training, improve pathways for internationally trained workers and work with labour and industry to build the workforce needed for housing and infrastructure projects.
Residents should not have to choose between impressive new projects and basic maintenance. Clean streets, safe sidewalks, road repairs, snow clearing, washrooms and well-maintained parks should come first.
Arts and culture strengthen neighbourhoods and Toronto’s economy. The City should support affordable cultural spaces, community programming and grants while making it easier for local artists and organizations to participate.
If autonomous taxis operate in Toronto, they should meet clear accessibility, geographic coverage and service standards. New technology should improve mobility for everyone, not create service gaps or leave some communities behind.
Each card is one question, with Denise Walcott filed under the answer they gave and their own words underneath it. The other options offered are not shown, nor how the rest of the field answered.
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