Each candidate’s public commitments have been reviewed against TEA’s top platform priorities in our 3 key areas: climate action, climate resilience, and reducing waste. TEA’s 2023 mayoral election priorities can be found in full here.

 

CLIMATE ACTION COMMITMENTS

Have they committed to dedicated climate plan funding, to back up their climate action promises at budget time?

  • No dedicated funding source for climate action
  • Expressed commitment to funding TransformTO, however her commitment to keep taxes at/below inflation will mean increased funding to fully implement TransformTO Net Zero Strategy is unlikely 
  • Wants to upload costs, including DVP and Gardiner, to provincial government, in order to save an estimated $200M/year for housing and other services

Have they committed to green building programs that also create affordable housing?

  • Says “the city should lead by example and by making new municipal buildings carbon neutral”
  • Commits to building affordable housing, including building modular housing, but does not incorporate low carbon or green building in these plans

Have they committed to a transition away from fossil gas?

  • No mention 

What commitments have they made to improving TTC service?

  • “The most effective way to reach our climate goals is to get Torontonians out of their cars and onto public transit’
  • Commits to reversing TTC service cuts
  • Commits to hiring more TTC staff (although does not provide a funding source)
  • Pledged to fund and speed up the design of a bus rapid transit network to replace the Scarborough SRT 

How will they improve pedestrian and cycling infrastructure?

  • On bike lanes: “As a councillor, I have supported bike lanes where they made sense, and didn’t support them where they didn’t”
  • Pledges to speed up Bike Share expansion to east and west of waterfront, Toronto Islands, and in Etobicoke, Scarborough, and North York
CLIMATE RESILIENCE COMMITMENTS

Have they proposed plans to keep Torontonians safe through floods, heatwaves, and other climate change impacts?

  • Promises new funding for food security initiatives, including food banks and community gardens
  • Proposes measures to protect existing affordable and rental housing 

How will they improve and maintain Toronto’s green spaces?

  • Promises to improve and accelerate splash pads in city parks, which will provide enhanced cooling infrastructure

Will they make polluters pay for stormwater reduction and flood-proofing projects?

  • No mention
WASTE AND CIRCULAR ECONOMY COMMITMENTS

How will they support waste reduction and eliminating unnecessary single-use items?

  • No mention
OTHER
  • Proposes moving Ontario Science Centre to Ontario Place

 

Sources:

Candidate website: https://anabailao.ca/platform 

Toronto Star Survey

CBC News Analysis

https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2023/06/06/mayoral-candidates-face-off-in-cbc-debate.html