Candidates debate transit, housing and safety in Scarborough Southwest forum
Four candidates for the Ward 20 council seat discussed public transit, road safety and affordable housing at a community meeting.
TORONTO — Four candidates for the Ward 20 Scarborough Southwest council seat debated public transit, affordable housing and community safety at a community meeting on Monday night.
The Sept. 28 meeting at the West Scarborough Neighbourhood Community Centre featured candidates Parthi Kandavel, Ariel-Rachel Karokis, Sharmina Nasrin and Kevin Rupasinghe.
Incumbent councillor Kandavel said his priorities included ensuring Scarborough gets its fair share of funding and services, protecting neighbourhoods and addressing public safety concerns.
READ MORE: Surrey mayoral candidate seeks new tax on empty homes to fund affordable housing
READ MORE: Windsor breaks ground on $32.5-million transit garage expansion
"We’ve seen serious investments in our communities. We’ve protected vulnerable tenants and communities with illegal rooming houses," he said.
Karokis said she was running because she cares about the ward where she lives and is raising her family.
"They made me realize that when you want to see change, you have to become part of the change that you want to see. And that’s my main core for running," she said.
Nasrin highlighted dealing with unfair rental housing practices, protecting student nutrition programs and transparency in leadership.
"This is my home and I will fight better for this community," she said.
Rupasinghe said he is offering a "better" vision for residents.
"Our families deserve better, We deserve better. We deserve someone with vision, someone who can put our families first and who we can count on for a change," he said.
On public transit and road safety, Kandavel said he opposed expanding bike lanes on Danforth Avenue and red bus lanes on Kingston Road.
"Try taking your kids to soccer and trying to get the groceries on a bike lane or a bus. It’s impractical. It’s the reality so many families face," he said.
He said he had pushed for more speed bumps on residential streets than any other councillor.
Karokis said increased transit funding is a critical need.
"I believe we need more funding into the transit. We’re a major city and our transit system in general lacks way too much compared to all these other big cities," she said.
She said poor snow removal hampers bus service and sidewalk access.
"We’re behind on snow removal in the winter. Buses can’t event make it through for families who need them," Karokis said.
Nasrin said investments in public transit are needed, but funding must go where it has the most impact.
"We have to find out what are the reasons for these TTC delays," she said, noting construction is a major cause heard from residents.
She said the TTC should put more trained crisis responders on the network to address safety concerns and keep the city moving.
Nasrin also stressed the need for reliable transit for residents who work nights and off-peak hours.
Rupasinghe stressed his commitment to service and prioritizing issues like road safety and ensuring the ward gets its fair share of services.
The meeting was organized by Scarborough United Neighbourhoods, Access Alliance Multicultural Health and Community Services, West Scarborough Neighbourhood Community Centre, and South Asian Women’s Rights Organization.
The other four candidates running are Malik Ahmad, Laikul Choudhury, Luigi Lisciandro and Mohammad Ali Reza.
The municipal election is this fall.
With files from Beach Metro Community News