A Better York

What Will Your Municipal Candidate Do About Housing, Poverty and Equity?

With the municipal elections just around the corner, non-profits across the Region have worked together to get input from candidates on key issues.

We asked every candidate running for local or Regional council to make a pledge to tackle key issues affecting housing, poverty and equity. Their commitments are below, along with the full text of the pledge commitments. Read on to see what your local candidates think about these issues.

For details on the issues, please feel free to review the background document at the end of this page. For information on the pledge and the non-profits leaders supporting it, please contact info@ontarioforall.ca

York Region Candidate’s Pledge

If elected, I will work toward:

Support the implementation of the Region’s Housing and Homelessness Plan 2026–2035

Including expanding affordable and non-market housing; preventing homelessness through eviction prevention, rent benefits and better use of the by-name list: and advocating for the resources needed to achieve these goals.
Champion Housing Affordability

Including support for policies that maintain and increase the supply of affordable, purpose-built, rental housing by reducing barriers, providing timely approvals, collaborating with housing partners, investing municipal resources, committing municipal land, and advancing York Region's housing affordability objectives.
Advocate for Fair Provincial Funding

Recognizing that York Region doesn’t get funded like comparable regions and advocating for equitable provincial funding for community and human services to ensure municipalities and nonprofit organizations have the resources needed to meet the growing needs of York Region residents.
Continue the Conversation

If elected, I am willing to meet with your coalition following the election to discuss these priorities and opportunities for collaboration.

Candidate Responses

Legend

— Undeclared

Yes

Aurora

Position / Ward Candidate Name #1 #2 #3 #4

Mayor John Gallo

Mayor Shawn Deane — — — —

Mayor Tom Mrakas

Mayor Yafang Shi

Ward 1 Councillor Lauren Hanna — — — —

Ward 1 Councillor Rocco Morsillo — — — —

Ward 2 Councillor Angela Daust

Ward 2 Councillor Brynn Lansdown

Ward 2 Councillor Marco Di Girolamo — — — —

Ward 2 Councillor Phiona Durrant — — — —

Ward 3 Councillor Alexandra Bonham — — — —

Ward 3 Councillor Harold MacDonald — — — —

Ward 3 Councillor Nikki Alber — — — —

Ward 3 Councillor Reza Vaez Ghamsary — — — —

Ward 3 Councillor Robert James Fraser — — — —

Ward 4 Councillor Michael Thompson — — — —

Ward 4 Councillor Shaheen Moledina — — — —

Ward 5 Councillor Charity Dela Cruz-Toupin — — — —

Ward 5 Councillor George Tremtsidis — — — —

Ward 5 Councillor Harbinder (Binda) Thandi — — — —

Ward 5 Councillor Jessie Fraser

Ward 5 Councillor Milton Hart — — — —

Ward 5 Councillor Terrence Zhu

Ward 6 Councillor Harold Kim — — — —

Ward 6 Councillor Jibraan Khan — — — —

Ward 6 Councillor Nicholas Kashef

Ward 6 Councillor Zivka Kicic — — — —

East Gwillimbury

Position / Ward Candidate Name #1 #2 #3 #4

Mayor Brian Johns

Mayor Scott Crone

Ward 1 Councillor Andrew Lenkov — — — —

Ward 1 Councillor David Blyth

Ward 1 Councillor Elena Gontcharova — — — —

Ward 1 Councillor Joel Kearney — — — —

Ward 1 Councillor Loralea Carruthers

Ward 1 Councillor Zafar Ahmed — — — —

Ward 2 Councillor Aida Kostuck — — — —

Ward 2 Councillor Catherine Brindley — — — —

Ward 2 Councillor Danny Mladjenovic — — — —

Ward 2 Councillor Jim Kiely — — — —

Ward 2 Councillor John Petejan — — — —

Ward 2 Councillor Kelly Holiday — — — —

Ward 2 Councillor Raka Paul — — — —

Ward 2 Councillor Ryan Slawson — — — —

Ward 2 Councillor Shahab Aryan — — — —

Ward 3 Councillor Carmen Cipolla — — — —

Ward 3 Councillor Carolyn Butterworth

Ward 3 Councillor Christine Glenn — — — —

Ward 3 Councillor Mitch Mercer — — — —

Georgina

Position / Ward Candidate Name #1 #2 #3 #4

Mayor Dale Kerr Genge

Mayor Frank Sebo

Mayor Margaret Quirk — — — —

Regional Councillor Geoff Fardy

Regional Councillor Naomi Davison

Ward 1 Councillor Charlene Biggerstaff — — — —

Ward 1 Councillor Duncan MacCallum — — — —

Ward 2 Councillor Dan Fellini — — — —

Ward 2 Councillor Mike Gurr — — — —

Ward 2 Councillor Natalie Floyd — — — —

Ward 2 Councillor Stephen Faudemer — — — —

Ward 3 Councillor Andrew Edge — — — —

Ward 3 Councillor Billy Hadden — — — —

Ward 3 Councillor Danielle Cohen — — — —

Ward 3 Councillor Dave Neeson

Ward 3 Councillor Nicholas Watts — — — —

Ward 4 Councillor Casey Sellers — — — —

Ward 4 Councillor Greta Zinck

Ward 4 Councillor Ivy Henriksen

Ward 4 Councillor Mike Anderson — — — —

Ward 5 Councillor Karen Wolfe — — — —

Ward 5 Councillor Lee Dale — — — —

King

Position / Ward Candidate Name #1 #2 #3 #4

Mayor Stephen Ferritto — — — —

Mayor Steve Pellegrini — — — —

Ward 1 Councillor Abrar Mohar — — — —

Ward 1 Councillor Frank Provenzano — — — —

Ward 1 Councillor Jordan Alexander Cescolini

Ward 2 Councillor David Boyd — — — —

Ward 3 Councillor Jennifer Anstey

Ward 4 Councillor Frank Mastromattei — — — —

Ward 4 Councillor Jakob Schneider — — — —

Ward 4 Councillor Mary Asselstine — — — —

Ward 5 Councillor Gregory Peri — — — —

Ward 5 Councillor Ivan Rapa

Ward 5 Councillor Stephen Ongaro — — — —

Ward 6 Councillor Avia Eek — — — —

Markham

Position / Ward Candidate Name #1 #2 #3 #4

Mayor Frank Scarpitti — — — —

Mayor Martin Ross — — — —

Mayor Stephen Edgell

Regional Councillor Alan Ho

Regional Councillor Amanda Yeung Collucci — — — —

Regional Councillor Don Hamilton

Regional Councillor Ivy Lee — — — —

Regional Councillor Jack Heath

Regional Councillor Jim Jones — — — —

Regional Councillor Joe Li — — — —

Regional Councillor Joe Tay — — — —

Regional Councillor Michael Huang — — — —

Regional Councillor Paul Chiang

Regional Councillor Richard Tranquada — — — —

Ward 1 Local Councillor Christina Cadorin — — — —

Ward 1 Local Councillor Keith Irish — — — —

Ward 2 Local Councillor Haohui Yu — — — —

Ward 2 Local Councillor Mark Lin — — — —

Ward 2 Local Councillor Richard Lee — — — —

Ward 2 Local Councillor Ritch Lau

Ward 3 Local Councillor Annie Chan — — — —

Ward 3 Local Councillor Jack Ng — — — —

Ward 3 Local Councillor Kristian Chan

Ward 3 Local Councillor Marina Antonoglou — — — —

Ward 3 Local Councillor Ron Lynn — — — —

Ward 3 Local Councillor Thomas Psarianos — — — —

Ward 4 Local Councillor Karen Rea

Ward 4 Local Councillor Vid Sansanwal — — — —

Ward 5 Local Councillor Andrew Keyes

Ward 5 Local Councillor Laurence Liang — — — —

Ward 5 Local Councillor Thamiraa Ragikaran — — — —

Ward 6 Local Councillor Hanson Shen

Ward 6 Local Councillor Joanna Yu — — — —

Ward 6 Local Councillor Jude Ahiaegbe — — — —

Ward 6 Local Councillor Kenneth Li

Ward 6 Local Councillor Larry Lau — — — —

Ward 6 Local Councillor Patrick Yeung — — — —

Ward 6 Local Councillor Scott Xie — — — —

Ward 7 Local Councillor Killi Chelliah — — — —

Ward 7 Local Councillor Nimisha Patel — — — —

Ward 7 Local Councillor Sameer Qureshi — — — —

Ward 7 Local Councillor Stanley Sam

Ward 8 Local Councillor Isa Lee — — — —

Ward 8 Local Councillor Jenny Chen — — — —

Newmarket

Position / Ward Candidate Name #1 #2 #3 #4

Deputy Mayor and Regional Councillor Mohsen Alavi

Deputy Mayor and Regional Councillor Tom Vegh

Mayor John Taylor

Ward 1 Councillor Chintan Dudakiya — — — —

Ward 1 Councillor Naqi Ahsan — — — —

Ward 1 Councillor Nasim Bahari — — — —

Ward 1 Councillor Nisa Chaudhry

Ward 1 Councillor Sonia Fiorini — — — —

Ward 2 Councillor Brian Andrews — — — —

Ward 2 Councillor Glenn Marais

Ward 2 Councillor Pamela McCarthy — — — —

Ward 3 Councillor Andrey Zavidovskiy — — — —

Ward 3 Councillor Christine Spicer — — — —

Ward 3 Councillor Jane Twinney

Ward 4 Councillor Alireza Izadjoo

Ward 4 Councillor Jairan Jahani

Ward 4 Councillor Krissy Young — — — —

Ward 4 Councillor Trevor Morrison

Ward 5 Councillor Bob Kwapis — — — —

Ward 6 Councillor Kelly Broome — — — —

Ward 6 Councillor Sam Mortazavi — — — —

Ward 7 Councillor Christina Bisanz

Richmond Hill

Position / Ward Candidate Name #1 #2 #3 #4

Mayor David West

Mayor Domenic Bardari — — — —

Mayor Holo Devnani

Regional and Local Councillor Godwin Chan

Regional and Local Councillor Joe DiPaola — — — —

Regional and Local Councillor Marco Coletta

Ward 1 Local Councillor Carol Davidson — — — —

Ward 1 Local Councillor Catherine Dell'Erba — — — —

Ward 1 Local Councillor Giovanni Nardone — — — —

Ward 1 Local Councillor Raymond Dodaro — — — —

Ward 2 Local Councillor Hamidreza Kheirkhah Ghehi — — — —

Ward 2 Local Councillor Muhammad Kermalli — — — —

Ward 2 Local Councillor Scott Thompson — — — —

Ward 2 Local Councillor Sigmund Lee — — — —

Ward 2 Local Councillor Tom Muench

Ward 3 Local Councillor Castro Liu — — — —

Ward 3 Local Councillor Juni Yeung

Ward 4 Local Councillor Ahmad Amanullah

Ward 4 Local Councillor Danny Yoon — — — —

Ward 4 Local Councillor Rose Weinberg — — — —

Ward 4 Local Councillor Sharon Chisholm

Ward 4 Local Councillor Simon Cui — — — —

Ward 5 Local Councillor Alex Jafari — — — —

Ward 5 Local Councillor Ali Mahboub-Shadkhou — — — —

Ward 5 Local Councillor Karen Cilevitz

Ward 5 Local Councillor Marty Paulin

Ward 5 Local Councillor Ray Behroozian

Ward 5 Local Councillor Richard Rupp — — — —

Ward 5 Local Councillor Vera Murano — — — —

Ward 5 Local Councillor Yuliya Benedziktavich — — — —

Ward 6 Local Councillor Andrew Mendonca

Ward 6 Local Councillor Hasti Anasory

Ward 6 Local Councillor Michael Shiu

Vaughan

Position / Ward Candidate Name #1 #2 #3 #4

Local and Regional Councillor Alex Nascimben — — — —

Local and Regional Councillor Alireza Siadatan

Local and Regional Councillor Bob Santos — — — —

Local and Regional Councillor Fitz-Roy Gordon

Local and Regional Councillor Gino Rosati — — — —

Local and Regional Councillor Linda D. Jackson — — — —

Local and Regional Councillor Mandy Rai

Local and Regional Councillor Mario Di Nardo — — — —

Local and Regional Councillor Mario Ferri — — — —

Local and Regional Councillor Mario G. Racco

Mayor Shelly-Ann Starlette Cerrelli — — — —

Mayor Steven Del Duca

Ward 1 Local Councillor Angela Saggese — — — —

Ward 1 Local Councillor Marilyn Iafrate

Ward 1 Local Councillor Nadeem Mahmood — — — —

Ward 1 Local Councillor Vince Scaramuzzo — — — —

Ward 2 Local Councillor Adriano Volpentesta — — — —

Ward 2 Local Councillor Anna DeBartolo — — — —

Ward 2 Local Councillor Pedro Benevides

Ward 3 Local Councillor Asadullah Aminpur — — — —

Ward 3 Local Councillor Rosanna DeFrancesca — — — —

Ward 4 Local Councillor Chris Ainsworth — — — —

Ward 4 Local Councillor Deven Sandhu — — — —

Ward 4 Local Councillor Karim Aziz — — — —

Ward 4 Local Councillor Nirmala Ramlall — — — —

Ward 5 Local Councillor Gila Martow — — — —

Whitchurch-Stouffville

Position / Ward Candidate Name #1 #2 #3 #4

Mayor Iain Lovatt — — — —

Ward 1 Councillor Hugo Kroon

Ward 1 Councillor Michael Cleverdon — — — —

Ward 2 Councillor Adam Hassan — — — —

Ward 2 Councillor George Karpouzis — — — —

Ward 2 Councillor Jared Simpson

Ward 2 Councillor Rocco Priore — — — —

Ward 2 Councillor Terri Drover

Ward 3 Councillor Bryan Stott

Ward 3 Councillor Keith Acton — — — —

Ward 3 Councillor Roger Gingerich — — — —

Ward 4 Councillor Brad Valentini — — — —

Ward 4 Councillor Courtney Taylor — — — —

Ward 4 Councillor David Parmer — — — —

Ward 4 Councillor Erik Gordon — — — —

Ward 4 Councillor James Liaros — — — —

Ward 4 Councillor Rick Upton

Ward 4 Councillor Rob Hargrave — — — —

Ward 5 Councillor Laura Cusack

Ward 5 Councillor Richard Bartley — — — —

Ward 5 Councillor Shawn McGovern — — — —

Ward 6 Councillor Angel Freedman — — — —

Ward 6 Councillor Greg Smith — — — —

Ward 6 Councillor Sue Sherban — — — —

Background

Underfunding

Nonprofit groups have completed new research that shows that community services in York Region get $450 million less from the Government of Ontario than comparable communities. The research shows the issue goes back at least 10 years. It is not a new, or intentional problem, but it affects everyone in York Region. The current council has committed to working collaboratively with York Region’s nonprofits to address this problem. You can read the research here, and watch the presentation to Council here.

Housing

York Region has developed a 10 year housing and homelessness plan that focuses on both building new affordable homes and keeping people housed. The plan sets ambitious but necessary goals. There are many elements to achieving those goals, including, investing municipal resources in new non-market housing, launching eviction prevention programs to keep people housed and prevent growing homelessness, providing rent subsidies to bridge the gap between low incomes and high rents, using the “by-name list” to coordinate services and rehousing for homeless people, and advocating for the resources needed to achieve these goals. The plan provides a strategy to improve affordable housing and reduce homelessness, efforts that would reduce costs in the end, as fewer people rely on costly shelters and hospitals.