All wards/Ward 25

City Council · Ward 25

Scarborough-Rouge Park

10
Candidates registered
29
Days until polls open
Mon, Oct 26
Election day

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Five decisions facing the next council

Should Toronto permit substantially more housing as-of-right in every ward, including areas currently dominated by detached and semi-detached homes?

3 of 10 candidates responded

  • Shawn Allen    No

    There needs to be communication consultation as I walk my community and speak with my neighbours I can tell which property is a rental due to the lack of upkeep. If housing is the necessity we need to ensure it doesn’t impact the neighbourhood and its characteristics.

  • Dharshan Casinathen    No

    I need to understand this topic more before committing to a yes.

  • Ashan Fernando    Yes

    No High Rise Condo Development In Ward 25, However Affordable Low Rise Housing With 3 Levels Max.

When a person living in a park has been offered an available indoor space that meets their accessibility, safety and household needs, should the city require them to leave the encampment?

3 of 10 candidates responded

  • Shawn Allen    Yes
  • Dharshan Casinathen    Yes
  • Ashan Fernando    Yes

Should Toronto introduce road-pricing measures, such as congestion charges or tolls, if the revenue is dedicated to transportation improvements?

3 of 10 candidates responded

  • Shawn Allen    No

    People are already hurting and this is another tax

  • Dharshan Casinathen    No

    Unsure, as citizens already are taxed, but there should be tolls for people to come into the city.

  • Ashan Fernando    No

Should Toronto raise additional local revenue to address its infrastructure repair backlog rather than defer maintenance while seeking funding from other governments?

3 of 10 candidates responded

  • Shawn Allen    Yes

    The city needs to find ways to generate more revenue however I oppose increasing property taxes. As I want my neighbourhood I’m seeing an increase in bank repossessions. Seniors on pension and working families are stressed

  • Dharshan Casinathen    Yes

    But it can not be through raising property taxes

  • Ashan Fernando    No

Should Toronto publish project-level budgets, schedules and performance updates for all major capital projects?

3 of 10 candidates responded

  • Shawn Allen    Yes

    I spoke with the city a few days ago about the cost of a dog park going up in my community. I was shocked to hear it cost $500k to put up a fence people need to see where there tax dollars are going on this and other things. Nearly 20% of this cost was consultants and mobilization fees.

  • Dharshan Casinathen    Yes

    Transparency is critical

  • Ashan Fernando    Yes

Public safety and public space

Which approach should receive the greatest additional investment to improve public safety?

3 of 10 candidates responded

  • Shawn Allen    Police, bylaw enforcement and a more visible official presence
  • Dharshan Casinathen    Lighting, maintenance, sanitation and active use of streets and parks
  • Ashan Fernando    Mental-health response, addiction treatment and youth intervention

Over the next council term, the Toronto Police Service budget should:

3 of 10 candidates responded

  • Shawn Allen    Remain approximately constant after inflation
  • Dharshan Casinathen    Remain approximately constant after inflation

    We need to find room for neighborhood patrols. This does not mean increasing the budget, instead, looking at the line items and finding a solution. Policing and all other services and spending in the city needs to be reviewed by line item to understand where are can become more efficient.

  • Ashan Fernando    Remain approximately constant after inflation

How should Toronto govern automated licence-plate readers and similar surveillance technology used on public streets?

3 of 10 candidates responded

  • Shawn Allen    Establish citywide limits on access, retention, auditing and data sharing
  • Dharshan Casinathen    Establish citywide limits on access, retention, auditing and data sharing
  • Ashan Fernando    Allow police and approved organizations to deploy them under existing privacy law

Transit and transportation

What should receive the greatest share of the next available transit funding?

3 of 10 candidates responded

  • Shawn Allen    New rapid-transit lines and extensions
  • Dharshan Casinathen    New rapid-transit lines and extensions

    Scarborough has had enough. Subway extension is not enough for the amount of commuters we have. The East Eg extension needs to get done.

  • Ashan Fernando    New rapid-transit lines and extensions

When there is not enough street space for every use, which should generally receive priority?

3 of 10 candidates responded

  • Shawn Allen    Deliveries, trades, emergency vehicles and accessibility
  • Dharshan Casinathen    Deliveries, trades, emergency vehicles and accessibility
  • Ashan Fernando    Deliveries, trades, emergency vehicles and accessibility

Housing and growth

If Toronto could make one major housing intervention this term, which should receive the greatest emphasis?

3 of 10 candidates responded

  • Shawn Allen    Reduce approval times, development charges and other city-imposed costs
  • Dharshan Casinathen    Reduce approval times, development charges and other city-imposed costs
  • Ashan Fernando    Reduce approval times, development charges and other city-imposed costs

What should be Toronto's primary role in delivering affordable and supportive housing?

3 of 10 candidates responded

  • Shawn Allen    Focus primarily on permitting enough housing and reducing barriers to construction
  • Dharshan Casinathen    Supply land, funding and incentives to non-profit and private providers
  • Ashan Fernando    Build, acquire and own significantly more housing

Where should Toronto permit the greatest increase in housing density?

3 of 10 candidates responded

  • Shawn Allen    Concentrate growth on major streets and near rapid transit
  • Dharshan Casinathen    Concentrate growth on major streets and near rapid transit
  • Ashan Fernando    Concentrate growth on major streets and near rapid transit

City government and service delivery

Which change would you implement to reduce the cost of building housing in Toronto?

3 of 10 candidates responded

  • Shawn Allen    Expand as-of-right zoning and automate routine permits
  • Dharshan Casinathen    Expand as-of-right zoning and automate routine permits
  • Ashan Fernando    Reduce development charges, parkland payments and related levies

What is the most important change Toronto should make to reduce capital-project delays and cost overruns?

3 of 10 candidates responded

  • Shawn Allen    Prevent councillors from altering scope after approval without identifying funding
  • Dharshan Casinathen    Prevent councillors from altering scope after approval without identifying funding

    Also, keep vendors accountable for delays.

  • Ashan Fernando    Strengthen professional project management, procurement and contracting

Which service-delivery model should Toronto use more often?

3 of 10 candidates responded

  • Shawn Allen    Move major functions to arm's-length organizations with clear performance mandates
  • Dharshan Casinathen    Expand permanent city staff and internal operational capacity

    This question is not fair, I don’t understand why I need to do any of these options.

  • Ashan Fernando    Use competitive contracts and outside providers where they can deliver better value

Taxes, spending and fiscal sustainability

Over the next council term, residential property-tax revenues should generally:

3 of 10 candidates responded

  • Shawn Allen    Grow more slowly than inflation, requiring service restraint or alternative revenues
  • Dharshan Casinathen    Grow approximately with inflation and population
  • Ashan Fernando    Grow more slowly than inflation, requiring service restraint or alternative revenues

Which type of additional revenue should Toronto rely on most heavily?

3 of 10 candidates responded

  • Shawn Allen    Property taxes or new municipal income or sales taxes, if authorized
  • Dharshan Casinathen    Property taxes or new municipal income or sales taxes, if authorized
  • Ashan Fernando    Land-transfer taxes, development charges and taxes on real-estate activity

What should Toronto do first to address its infrastructure repair backlog?

3 of 10 candidates responded

  • Shawn Allen    Introduce a levy or other recurring source reserved for maintenance
  • Dharshan Casinathen    Introduce a levy or other recurring source reserved for maintenance
  • Ashan Fernando    Introduce a levy or other recurring source reserved for maintenance

Governance and representation

What should be Toronto's primary approach to the provincial government?

3 of 10 candidates responded

  • Shawn Allen    Plan budgets and services on the assumption that substantial new provincial support will not arrive
  • Dharshan Casinathen    Plan budgets and services on the assumption that substantial new provincial support will not arrive

    There also needs to be alignment and advocacy, but we need to keep our city growing whether those two strategy’s work or not.

  • Ashan Fernando    Publicly press for greater authority, revenue and a different fiscal arrangement

Strong mayor powers should be used mainly for:

3 of 10 candidates responded

  • Shawn Allen    appointing and removing senior staff, restructuring departments
  • Dharshan Casinathen    the powers should sit unused regardless of who holds them
  • Ashan Fernando    the powers should sit unused regardless of who holds them

Your ward and your record

Which objective should receive the greatest attention in your ward during the next council term?

3 of 10 candidates responded

  • Shawn Allen    Transit, roads, parks, waste collection and local infrastructure
  • Dharshan Casinathen    Transit, roads, parks, waste collection and local infrastructure
  • Ashan Fernando    Transit, roads, parks, waste collection and local infrastructure

Which single result should voters use to assess your performance at the end of the term?

3 of 10 candidates responded

  • Shawn Allen    A specific measurable result identified by the candidate
    If you selected “Ward commitment,” state one numerical target and a deadlineExpand youth entrepreneurship program 50% by 2029
  • Dharshan Casinathen    Safer, cleaner and better-maintained streets and public spaces
  • Ashan Fernando    A specific measurable result identified by the candidate
    If you selected “Ward commitment,” state one numerical target and a deadlineCommunity Consultations 6 Times A Year, Every 2 Months Each Year For The Duration Of The Councillor Term.

Priorities and trade-offs

When demonstrations substantially block transportation or access to essential institutions, the city should prioritize:

2 of 10 candidates responded

  • Dharshan Casinathen    Protect protest subject to clear rules for locations, access routes and duration
  • Ashan Fernando    Protect protest subject to clear rules for locations, access routes and duration

Did not answer Shawn Allen

Where should Toronto direct its next major technology investment?

2 of 10 candidates responded

  • Dharshan Casinathen    Procurement, finance, staffing and administrative efficiency
  • Ashan Fernando    Permits, licences, payments and service requests

Did not answer Shawn Allen

When Toronto faces a structural operating-budget gap, what should it do first?

2 of 10 candidates responded

  • Dharshan Casinathen    Reduce internal administration, staffing or contract costs
  • Ashan Fernando    Reduce internal administration, staffing or contract costs

Did not answer Shawn Allen

What is the most important municipal intervention for improving Toronto's business climate?

2 of 10 candidates responded

  • Dharshan Casinathen    Accelerate permits, inspections and approvals
  • Ashan Fernando    Expand housing, transportation, public safety and infrastructure

Did not answer Shawn Allen

How should Toronto attract major employers, investment and events?

2 of 10 candidates responded

  • Dharshan Casinathen    Concentrate resources on a small number of industries where Toronto has an existing advantage
  • Ashan Fernando    Housing affordability, transportation, safety and quality of life

Did not answer Shawn Allen

What should Toronto prioritize to increase construction capacity?

2 of 10 candidates responded

  • Dharshan Casinathen    Expand apprenticeships, training and recognition of international credentials
  • Ashan Fernando    Encourage modular construction, prefabrication and more efficient building methods

Did not answer Shawn Allen

What should receive the greatest priority in Toronto's public-realm budget?

2 of 10 candidates responded

  • Dharshan Casinathen    Cleanliness, roads, sidewalks, snow clearing, washrooms and routine park care
  • Ashan Fernando    Cleanliness, roads, sidewalks, snow clearing, washrooms and routine park care

Did not answer Shawn Allen

What should be Toronto's primary tool for supporting arts, culture and nightlife?

2 of 10 candidates responded

  • Dharshan Casinathen    Planning and property measures that preserve existing venues and workspaces
  • Ashan Fernando    Grants, city facilities and affordable cultural space

Did not answer Shawn Allen

If autonomous taxi services operate in Toronto, which condition should the city prioritize?

2 of 10 candidates responded

  • Dharshan Casinathen    Mandatory reporting on trips, collisions, congestion and curb use
  • Ashan Fernando    Accessibility, geographic coverage and minimum service standards

Did not answer Shawn Allen

Over the next council term, Toronto should:

1 of 10 candidates responded

  • Ashan Fernando    Finish approved projects but undertake few additional road reallocations

Did not answer Shawn Allen · Dharshan Casinathen

Candidates are grouped by the answer they gave. Options nobody in this ward picked are not shown, and a candidate who answered in their own words sits on no option. Notes are the candidates’ own words. Candidates who have not returned the questionnaire are named at the top of this section.

How the whole city answered

Registered candidates from the City Clerk’s list, less anyone who has withdrawn. The field is not final until nominations close on Aug 21, 2026.

About this ward

IncumbentNeethan ShanSeeking re-election

Toronto's eastern edge and its largest ward by land area, taking in West Hill, West Rouge, Highland Creek, Centennial Scarborough, Morningside Heights and Malvern East, along with much of Rouge National Urban Park. It is the least dense ward in the city, at under 1,900 residents per square kilometre. It also has the highest median household income, the largest share of single-detached houses, the smallest share of tower housing and the lowest rate of low income — and its population did not grow at all between the 2016 and 2021 Censuses.

101,485
Population

No change since 2016 · 2,761,285 citywide

1,877
Residents per km²

54.1 km² of land

$105,000
Median household income

$84,000 citywide

20.6%
Renter households

$1,362 average monthly rent · 48.1% citywide

32.7%
Renters spending 30%+ of income on housing

40.0% citywide

12.5%
Homes in buildings of five storeys or more

54.7% single-detached · 46.7% citywide

51.9%
Residents born outside Canada

46.6% citywide

7.8%
Residents in low income

Low-income measure, after tax · 13.2% citywide

Figures from the 2021 Census of Population, via the City of Toronto’s ward profiles.

Ward 24
Scarborough-Guildwood
Ward 01
Etobicoke North