Tom Cai is one of 11 candidates running for city council in Toronto Centre (Ward 13) in Toronto’s upcoming municipal election.
A part-time physics researcher and student at the University of Toronto, Cai says Toronto Centre is overburdened with development and is focused on bringing rents down. He wants to raise the municipal tax on residential properties to 25 per cent, Toronto’s current vacant home tax is at three per cent. When asked about still mounting complaints at Barbara Hall Park regarding encampments, drug use, public disruption and vandalism in the area, Cai said he would redirect private security spending toward shelter services and homeless support networks.
Chris Moise, who is vying for a second term, made a clean sweep last election with 10,452 votes, earning nearly half the vote. Toronto Centre has added 17,512 new voters since the 2023 mayoral by-election, according to national public opinion research firm Liaison Strategies’ latest voter count. While every ward has more electors, looking at the neighbouring Spadina Fort-York voters’ list, the two downtown wards account for more than 20 per cent of the city’s net increase.
Election day is Oct. 26 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
This piece was produced by host of CJTM’s The Final Word, Claire Van De Weghe. Additional reporting by Mia Johnson.