Nicki Ward

Nicki Ward chose 'Permit more apartments and multiplexes in nearly every neighbourhood'; Not just nearly every neighbourhood

• Answer: Permit more apartments and multiplexes in nearly every neighbourhood.
• Not just nearly every neighbourhood; every single neighbourhood. The status quo drives severe over-intensification in a few areas while leaving others untouched. We must enable gentle density across all 25 wards so Toronto Centre and its strained infrastructure can catch its breath.

“Not just nearly every neighbourhood; every single neighbourhood. The status quo drives severe over-intensification in a few areas while leaving others untouched. We must enable gentle density across all 25 wards so Toronto Centre and its strained infrastructure can catch its breath.”

(a few sentences)

Source: Build Canada Toronto Election Hub — Ward 13 questionnaire · October 18, 2026

Confidence:High

PRE-WINDOW: Ward: gentle density in every single neighbourhood, not just nearly

• Answer: Permit more apartments and multiplexes in nearly every neighbourhood.
• Ward: not just nearly every neighbourhood; every single neighbourhood.

“Not just nearly every neighbourhood; every single neighbourhood. The status quo drives severe over-intensification in a few areas while leaving others untouched. We must enable gentle density across all 25 wards so Toronto Centre and its strained infrastructure can catch its breath.”

(a few sentences)

Source: PRE-WINDOW: Build Canada Toronto Election Hub — Ward 13 questionnaire · October 18, 2026

Confidence:High

Nicki Ward chose 'Expand apprenticeships, training and recognition of international credentials'

• Answer: Expand apprenticeships, training and recognition of international credentials.
• We cannot build homes without the people to build them. Expand apprenticeships, recognize foreign credentials immediately, and prioritize local hiring. Training and employing Toronto workers directly solves the labour bottleneck while building wealth inside our own communities.

“We cannot build homes without the people to build them. Expand apprenticeships, recognize foreign credentials immediately, and prioritize local hiring. Training and employing Toronto workers directly solves the labour bottleneck while building wealth inside our own communities.”

(a few sentences)

Source: Build Canada Toronto Election Hub — Ward 13 questionnaire · October 18, 2026

Confidence:High

Nicki Ward chose 'Yes'; Encampments were understandable in a crisis like COVID. But parks belong to everyone: kids playing, seniors, d

• Answer: Yes.
• Encampments were understandable in a crisis like COVID. But parks belong to everyone: kids playing, seniors, dogs, and everyday community life. Parks cannot become shelter overflow or ways to jump housing waitlists. When safe, accessible indoor space is provided, our shared parks must be protected.

“Encampments were understandable in a crisis like COVID. But parks belong to everyone: kids playing, seniors, dogs, and everyday community life. Parks cannot become shelter overflow or ways to jump housing waitlists. When safe, accessible indoor space is provided, our shared parks must be protected.”

(a few sentences)

Source: Build Canada Toronto Election Hub — Ward 13 questionnaire · October 18, 2026

Confidence:High

Nicki Ward chose 'Supply land, funding and incentives to non-profit and private providers'

• Answer: Supply land, funding and incentives to non-profit and private providers.
• The City cannot build or maintain everything alone, nor will the market build deeply affordable units. Supplying public land, funding, and low-cost financing to co-ops and non-profits delivers permanent affordability while keeping public leverage where it counts.

“The City cannot build or maintain everything alone, nor will the market build deeply affordable units. Supplying public land, funding, and low-cost financing to co-ops and non-profits delivers permanent affordability while keeping public leverage where it counts.”

(a few sentences)

Source: Build Canada Toronto Election Hub — Ward 13 questionnaire · October 18, 2026

Confidence:High

Nicki Ward chose 'Yes'; Toronto Centre has few detached homes, but policy must apply uniformly across the entire city. Without consist

• Answer: Yes.
• Toronto Centre has few detached homes, but policy must apply uniformly across the entire city. Without consistent, citywide as-of-right rules, growth concentrates unfairly in a handful of neighbourhoods while others avoid change entirely. Every ward must share in delivering missing-middle housing.

“Toronto Centre has few detached homes, but policy must apply uniformly across the entire city. Without consistent, citywide as-of-right rules, growth concentrates unfairly in a handful of neighbourhoods while others avoid change entirely. Every ward must share in delivering missing-middle housing.”

(a few sentences)

Source: Build Canada Toronto Election Hub — Ward 13 questionnaire · October 18, 2026

Confidence:High

Nicki Ward chose 'Expand as-of-right zoning and automate routine permits'; Speed matters less than predictability and uniform standards

• Answer: Expand as-of-right zoning and automate routine permits.
• Speed matters less than predictability and uniform standards across all 25 wards. Without clear rules applied everywhere, we get chaotic bottlenecks and over-intensification in Toronto Centre. Builders need common-sense certainty, and communities need consistent citywide planning.

“Speed matters less than predictability and uniform standards across all 25 wards. Without clear rules applied everywhere, we get chaotic bottlenecks and over-intensification in Toronto Centre. Builders need common-sense certainty, and communities need consistent citywide planning.”

(a few sentences)

Source: Build Canada Toronto Election Hub — Ward 13 questionnaire · October 18, 2026

Confidence:High

Nicki Ward chose 'Yes'; Toronto Centre has a density over 20,000 people per square kilometre and absorbs intense wear. We are vastly u

• Answer: Yes.
• Toronto Centre has a density over 20,000 people per square kilometre and absorbs intense wear. We are vastly underfunded relative to our usage. Waiting for other levels of government while streets and pipes fail is irresponsible; we must raise local revenue to protect our core assets.

“Toronto Centre has a density over 20,000 people per square kilometre and absorbs intense wear. We are vastly underfunded relative to our usage. Waiting for other levels of government while streets and pipes fail is irresponsible; we must raise local revenue to protect our core assets.”

(a few sentences)

Source: Build Canada Toronto Election Hub — Ward 13 questionnaire · October 18, 2026

Confidence:High

PRE-WINDOW: Ward: audit programs and sunset mandates before raising taxes

• Budget gap first step: reduce internal administration, staffing or contract costs.

“Triage is not cutting core services. Before raising taxes or slicing front-line workers, the City must audit program outcomes and sunset outdated mandates. We need to fund critical community services properly by dropping vanity projects and administrative duplication that do not serve residents.”

(a few sentences)

Source: PRE-WINDOW: Build Canada Toronto Election Hub — Ward 13 questionnaire · October 18, 2026

Confidence:High

Nicki Ward chose 'Grow approximately with inflation and population'; Recent above-inflation tax increases stem from poor collection and

• Answer: Grow approximately with inflation and population.
• Recent above-inflation tax increases stem from poor collection and weak fiscal management. It is unfair to ask residents to pay more when the City leaves existing revenue uncollected. Peg increases to inflation and population growth while forcing City Hall to provide social service with value.

“Recent above-inflation tax increases stem from poor collection and weak fiscal management. It is unfair to ask residents to pay more when the City leaves existing revenue uncollected. Peg increases to inflation and population growth while forcing City Hall to provide social service with value.”

(a few sentences)

Source: Build Canada Toronto Election Hub — Ward 13 questionnaire · October 18, 2026

Confidence:High

Nicki Ward chose 'Property taxes or new municipal income or sales taxes, if authorized'

• Answer: Property taxes or new municipal income or sales taxes, if authorized.
• Residents already pay their share through property taxes and service fees. Downtown absorbs massive wear from millions of regional commuters and visitors. We must unlock untapped revenues from tourists and non-resident road users rather than piling more costs onto local residents.

“Residents already pay their share through property taxes and service fees. Downtown absorbs massive wear from millions of regional commuters and visitors. We must unlock untapped revenues from tourists and non-resident road users rather than piling more costs onto local residents.”

(a few sentences)

Source: Build Canada Toronto Election Hub — Ward 13 questionnaire · October 18, 2026

Confidence:High

Nicki Ward chose 'Police, bylaw enforcement and a more visible official presence'; Public safety is not an either/or trilemma.

• Answer: Police, bylaw enforcement and a more visible official presence.
• Public safety is not an either/or trilemma. Visible enforcement restores immediate community confidence and order, but it fails if police remain the default responder for untreated mental health and addiction. Real safety demands active park maintenance, prevention, and enforcement working together.

“Public safety is not an either/or trilemma. Visible enforcement restores immediate community confidence and order, but it fails if police remain the default responder for untreated mental health and addiction. Real safety demands active park maintenance, prevention, and enforcement working together.”

(a few sentences)

Source: Build Canada Toronto Election Hub — Ward 13 questionnaire · October 18, 2026

Confidence:High

Nicki Ward chose 'Yes'; Toronto Centre is the densest ward in Canada, carrying heavy daily traffic and severe wear. If we price road a

• Answer: Yes.
• Toronto Centre is the densest ward in Canada, carrying heavy daily traffic and severe wear. If we price road access, that revenue must directly fund local transit reliability and street repairs. It cannot disappear into general reserves while our core infrastructure continues to decay.

“Toronto Centre is the densest ward in Canada, carrying heavy daily traffic and severe wear. If we price road access, that revenue must directly fund local transit reliability and street repairs. It cannot disappear into general reserves while our core infrastructure continues to decay.”

(a few sentences)

Source: Build Canada Toronto Election Hub — Ward 13 questionnaire · October 18, 2026

Confidence:High

Nicki Ward chose 'Vehicles, stations, signals and other state-of-good-repair work'; Current delays, reduced speeds

• Answer: Vehicles, stations, signals and other state-of-good-repair work.
• Current delays, reduced speeds, and poor reliability stem directly from neglected maintenance and broken infrastructure. In Toronto Centre, we must fix our existing foundation before pouring money into expansion.

“Current delays, reduced speeds, and poor reliability stem directly from neglected maintenance and broken infrastructure. In Toronto Centre, we must fix our existing foundation before pouring money into expansion.”

(a few sentences)

Source: Build Canada Toronto Election Hub — Ward 13 questionnaire · October 18, 2026

Confidence:High

Nicki Ward chose 'Transit, walking and cycling'; Moving people safely must always come first

• Answer: Transit, walking and cycling.
• Moving people safely must always come first, but downtown streets cannot function without dedicated access for emergency vehicles, trades, and basic deliveries. We need to prioritize pedestrians and transit without strangling local businesses and essential services.

“Moving people safely must always come first, but downtown streets cannot function without dedicated access for emergency vehicles, trades, and basic deliveries. We need to prioritize pedestrians and transit without strangling local businesses and essential services.”

(a few sentences)

Source: Build Canada Toronto Election Hub — Ward 13 questionnaire · October 18, 2026

Confidence:High

Nicki Ward chose 'Accessibility, geographic coverage and minimum service standards'; Start small where the need is greatest.

• Answer: Accessibility, geographic coverage and minimum service standards.
• Start small where the need is greatest. Low-volume accessibility routes are often left behind. By piloting autonomous transit directly with Wheel-Trans, we can test the technology safely while delivering reliable, essential service to an underserved population from day one.

“Start small where the need is greatest. Low-volume accessibility routes are often left behind. By piloting autonomous transit directly with Wheel-Trans, we can test the technology safely while delivering reliable, essential service to an underserved population from day one.”

(a few sentences)

Source: Build Canada Toronto Election Hub — Ward 13 questionnaire · October 18, 2026

Confidence:High

PRE-WINDOW: Ward: road-pricing revenue must fund local transit, not general reserves

• Answer: Yes.
• If we price road access, that revenue must directly fund local transit reliability and street repairs.

“Toronto Centre is the densest ward in Canada, carrying heavy daily traffic and severe wear. If we price road access, that revenue must directly fund local transit reliability and street repairs. It cannot disappear into general reserves while our core infrastructure continues to decay.”

(a few sentences)

Source: PRE-WINDOW: Build Canada Toronto Election Hub — Ward 13 questionnaire · October 18, 2026

Confidence:High

PRE-WINDOW: Ward: fix existing transit foundation before funding expansion

• Greatest share of next transit funding: vehicles, stations, signals and state-of-good-repair work.

“Current delays, reduced speeds, and poor reliability stem directly from neglected maintenance and broken infrastructure. In Toronto Centre, we must fix our existing foundation before pouring money into expansion.”

(a few sentences)

Source: PRE-WINDOW: Build Canada Toronto Election Hub — Ward 13 questionnaire · October 18, 2026

Confidence:High

PRE-WINDOW: Ward: every major project needs published milestones, variance reports

• Answer: Yes.
• S.M.A.R.T. management requires verifiable delivery.

“S.M.A.R.T. management requires verifiable delivery. Every major project needs clear, published milestones: baseline budgets, firm completion dates, and variance reports. If costs drift or timelines slip, council and the public must see it immediately, not years later in an audit.”

(a few sentences)

Source: PRE-WINDOW: Build Canada Toronto Election Hub — Ward 13 questionnaire · October 18, 2026

Confidence:High

Nicki Ward chose 'Public data and systems that measure outcomes and hold departments accountable'

• Answer: Public data and systems that measure outcomes and hold departments accountable.
• Public trust requires verifiable results. You cannot manage what you do not measure, and City Hall too often operates in an informational vacuum. Investing in open performance tracking holds departments accountable to clear delivery targets and gives voters honest proof of progress.

“Public trust requires verifiable results. You cannot manage what you do not measure, and City Hall too often operates in an informational vacuum. Investing in open performance tracking holds departments accountable to clear delivery targets and gives voters honest proof of progress.”

(a few sentences)

Source: Build Canada Toronto Election Hub — Ward 13 questionnaire · October 18, 2026

Confidence:High

Nicki Ward chose 'Align with provincial priorities where doing so secures funding or approvals'

• Answer: Align with provincial priorities where doing so secures funding or approvals.
• Toronto Centre is caught in the crossfire of proxy battles, ideology and partisan warfare. Disagreement is natural, but performative conflict solves nothing. We need pragmatic collaboration: work with Queen’s Park where funding aligns, and protect local interests where they do not.

“Toronto Centre is caught in the crossfire of proxy battles, ideology and partisan warfare. Disagreement is natural, but performative conflict solves nothing. We need pragmatic collaboration: work with Queen’s Park where funding aligns, and protect local interests where they do not.”

(a few sentences)

Source: Build Canada Toronto Election Hub — Ward 13 questionnaire · October 18, 2026

Confidence:High

Nicki Ward chose 'Use competitive contracts and outside providers where they can deliver better value'

• Answer: Use competitive contracts and outside providers where they can deliver better value.
• Internal delivery usually works best for core services. But external contracts can deliver value for specialized work. So called arm's-length agencies, seem to deliver the worst of both worlds with zero public accountability. Every model must meet clear, measurable performance targets.

“Internal delivery usually works best for core services. But external contracts can deliver value for specialized work. So called arm's-length agencies, seem to deliver the worst of both worlds with zero public accountability. Every model must meet clear, measurable performance targets.”

(a few sentences)

Source: Build Canada Toronto Election Hub — Ward 13 questionnaire · October 18, 2026

Confidence:High

Nicki Ward chose 'Strengthen professional project management, procurement and contracting'; Quality control is an elected duty.

• Answer: Strengthen professional project management, procurement and contracting.
• Quality control is an elected duty. Political interference is unacceptable, but legitimate democratic oversight must remain. Bureaucrats make mistakes; that is why we have an elected council. Accountability means holding delivery teams to their budgets, not rubber-stamping errors.

“Quality control is an elected duty. Political interference is unacceptable, but legitimate democratic oversight must remain. Bureaucrats make mistakes; that is why we have an elected council. Accountability means holding delivery teams to their budgets, not rubber-stamping errors.”

(a few sentences)

Source: Build Canada Toronto Election Hub — Ward 13 questionnaire · October 18, 2026

Confidence:High

Nicki Ward chose 'Accept significant disruption unless there is an immediate safety threat'

• Answer: Accept significant disruption unless there is an immediate safety threat.
• Free assembly is a Charter right that City Hall cannot rewrite. Disruption is part of democratic expression, not an automatic civil breach. However, the line sits firmly at actual safety threats and blocking critical emergency corridors.

“Free assembly is a Charter right that City Hall cannot rewrite. Disruption is part of democratic expression, not an automatic civil breach. However, the line sits firmly at actual safety threats and blocking critical emergency corridors.”

(a few sentences)

Source: Build Canada Toronto Election Hub — Ward 13 questionnaire · October 18, 2026

Confidence:High

Nicki Ward chose 'Yes'; S.M.A.R.T. management requires verifiable delivery. Every major project needs clear, published milestones: bas

• Answer: Yes.
• S.M.A.R.T. management requires verifiable delivery. Every major project needs clear, published milestones: baseline budgets, firm completion dates, and variance reports. If costs drift or timelines slip, council and the public must see it immediately, not years later in an audit.

“S.M.A.R.T. management requires verifiable delivery. Every major project needs clear, published milestones: baseline budgets, firm completion dates, and variance reports. If costs drift or timelines slip, council and the public must see it immediately, not years later in an audit.”

(a few sentences)

Source: Build Canada Toronto Election Hub — Ward 13 questionnaire · October 18, 2026

Confidence:High

Nicki Ward chose 'the powers should sit unused regardless of who holds them'; Smart mayors build consensus.

• Answer: the powers should sit unused regardless of who holds them.
• Smart mayors build consensus. As the next councillor I will represent over 100,000 voters. Toronto Centre is effectively a major city in its own right. Strong Mayor powers bypass local accountability. Real municipal leadership builds durable majorities instead of ruling by decree.

“Smart mayors build consensus. As the next councillor I will represent over 100,000 voters. Toronto Centre is effectively a major city in its own right. Strong Mayor powers bypass local accountability. Real municipal leadership builds durable majorities instead of ruling by decree.”

(a few sentences)

Source: Build Canada Toronto Election Hub — Ward 13 questionnaire · October 18, 2026

Confidence:High

Nicki Ward chose 'Cleanliness, roads, sidewalks, snow clearing, washrooms and routine park care'; Civic dignity starts with the basics.

• Answer: Cleanliness, roads, sidewalks, snow clearing, washrooms and routine park care.
• Civic dignity starts with the basics. Clean streets, clear sidewalks, functioning washrooms, and maintained parks are non-negotiable core services. Toronto does not need glossy vanity ribbon-cuttings while routine maintenance is left to rot. Fix the basics first.

“Civic dignity starts with the basics. Clean streets, clear sidewalks, functioning washrooms, and maintained parks are non-negotiable core services. Toronto does not need glossy vanity ribbon-cuttings while routine maintenance is left to rot. Fix the basics first.”

(a few sentences)

Source: Build Canada Toronto Election Hub — Ward 13 questionnaire · October 18, 2026

Confidence:High

Nicki Ward chose 'Sell, consolidate or close facilities the city cannot sustainably maintain'

• Answer: Sell, consolidate or close facilities the city cannot sustainably maintain.
• There is a fourth choice: disciplined triage. Before selling public assets or imposing new levies, we must rank repairs strictly by risk and public impact. Fund critical water, road, and transit repairs that keep the city functioning first. Stop cosmetic spending and fix the core foundation.

“There is a fourth choice: disciplined triage. Before selling public assets or imposing new levies, we must rank repairs strictly by risk and public impact. Fund critical water, road, and transit repairs that keep the city functioning first. Stop cosmetic spending and fix the core foundation.”

(a few sentences)

Source: Build Canada Toronto Election Hub — Ward 13 questionnaire · October 18, 2026

Confidence:High

Nicki Ward chose 'Expand housing, transportation, public safety and infrastructure'

• Answer: Expand housing, transportation, public safety and infrastructure.
• Small businesses cannot thrive if workers cannot afford rent, transit breaks down, or streets feel unsafe. Incentives help, but we have to fix fundamentals. Deliver reliable transit, clean public space, and affordable housing so local retail and service shops can survive.

“Small businesses cannot thrive if workers cannot afford rent, transit breaks down, or streets feel unsafe. Incentives help, but we have to fix fundamentals. Deliver reliable transit, clean public space, and affordable housing so local retail and service shops can survive.”

(a few sentences)

Source: Build Canada Toronto Election Hub — Ward 13 questionnaire · October 18, 2026

Confidence:High

PRE-WINDOW: Ward: fix transit, clean streets, affordable housing so shops survive

• Business climate: expand housing, transportation, public safety and infrastructure.

“Small businesses cannot thrive if workers cannot afford rent, transit breaks down, or streets feel unsafe. Incentives help, but we have to fix fundamentals. Deliver reliable transit, clean public space, and affordable housing so local retail and service shops can survive.”

(a few sentences)

Source: PRE-WINDOW: Build Canada Toronto Election Hub — Ward 13 questionnaire · October 18, 2026

Confidence:High

Nicki Ward chose 'Simpler permits, flexible operating rules and later hours'; Culture dies under red tape.

• Answer: Simpler permits, flexible operating rules and later hours.
• Culture dies under red tape. Artists and organizers spend more energy fighting licensing hurdles, noise bylaws, and permit delays than creating work. We need simpler rules, flexible operating hours, and faster approvals to let grassroots culture and nightlife actually breathe.

“Culture dies under red tape. Artists and organizers spend more energy fighting licensing hurdles, noise bylaws, and permit delays than creating work. We need simpler rules, flexible operating hours, and faster approvals to let grassroots culture and nightlife actually breathe.”

(a few sentences)

Source: Build Canada Toronto Election Hub — Ward 13 questionnaire · October 18, 2026

Confidence:High