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← Councillor - Ward 14 (Toronto-Danforth)

Maria Voutsinas

Candidate for Councillor - Ward 14 (Toronto-Danforth)

In their own words

This candidate hasn’t listed a campaign website or social account with the Town. That says nothing about them as a candidate — it just means less of their material is published online for us to summarise.

Where they stand

Every candidate in this race is shown against the same 16 issues, in the same order, whether or not we’ve found something for each one. Why we do it this way.

Housing

Will I be able to afford to live here?

This candidate has spoken about this issue more than once. Each statement is shown with its own source.

Maria Voutsinas: more housing of all types, priority along major transit corridors; monitor the 5% affordable set-aside from July 2027.

  • More housing of all types, prioritizing major thoroughfares with good transit and services, plus gentle density like laneway housing and multiplexes.
  • Beginning July 1, 2027, new builds along major routes must set aside 5% of units for affordable housing; she would monitor closely whether 5% is sufficient.
“There is no doubt that we need more housing of all types. People just keep wanting to move to Toronto and Toronto Danforth is a popular location. We need to work with developers to identify why they are not building more units. A greater supply of housing will reduce costs and lower house purchase and rental prices. The priority should be along major thoroughfares with good access to public transit and services. At the same time we should support more housing in communities such as laneway housing and multiplexes. While all this is being done we must keep in mind those who require housing that is below market rent and find ways to incentivize builders to invest in subsidized housing. Beginning July 1, 2027, new builds along major routes must set aside 5% of units for affordable housing. We must monitor this closely to ensure that these units are being built and assess whether 5% is sufficient.”

(several paragraphs)

Source: Ward 14 Candidate Voices — questionnaire answers (The Investors Nest) · October 11, 2026

Confidence:High

Maria Voutsinas would push supportive housing with addiction and mental-health programs to get people off the streets long term.

  • One housing change: supportive housing that gets people off the streets and into programs addressing addiction and mental health.
  • Sets them up for long-term housing success and makes streets safer for the whole community.
“Supportive housing that will get people off the streets and into programs that address addiction and mental health concerns will set them up for success and lead to long term housing. That will benefit not only the unhoused but also the greater community will benefit from safer streets.”

(a few sentences)

Source: Ward 14 Candidate Voices — questionnaire answers (The Investors Nest) · October 11, 2026

Confidence:High

Think we’ve got this wrong?

Taxes & spending

What happens to my tax bill, and where does the money go?

Maria Voutsinas says property taxes may have to rise to deal with financial pressures after provincial downloading.

  • Would review the budget to determine if revenue is sufficient.
  • With provincial downloading and climate-crisis costs, the City may have to raise property taxes to deal with financial pressures.
Show their words & source (a few sentences)
“I would have to review the budget to determine if there was sufficient revenue. The province has increasingly downloaded responsibility for costs on the city and there are increased costs to respond to climate change crises. We may have to raise property taxes to deal with financial pressures.”

Source: Ward 14 Candidate Voices — questionnaire answers (The Investors Nest) · October 11, 2026

Confidence:High

Emergency services

When I call for help, will it come fast enough?

Maria Voutsinas: jailing homeless people in crisis is self-defeating; fund supportive housing and add mental-health workers to police.

  • Putting homeless people and those in addiction/mental-health crisis in jail is an expensive, self-defeating solution — supportive housing is the answer.
  • Toronto Police need sufficient, well-trained mental-health workers on staff; consider re-allocating some crime-response funding as crises rise and crime falls.
Show their words & source (several paragraphs)
“Putting homeless and those suffering from addiction and mental health crises in jail is an expensive and self-defeating solution. The only way to keep those who struggle off the street is to provide them with supportive housing that can help them deal with their problems, find solutions and move on to being long term productive members of our community. Organizations like Seeds of Hope, who provide emergency housing and supportive programs can help people find the solutions that they need. Most police have not been trained in how to deal with mental health crises, however they are one of the few front line services who are available 24/7. We need to ensure that the Toronto Police Services have sufficient, well-trained mental health workers as part of their staff. We may need to re-allocate some funding from crime response, given how the crime rate has gone down while mental health crises have increased.”

Source: Ward 14 Candidate Voices — questionnaire answers (The Investors Nest) · October 11, 2026

Confidence:High

Transit

Can I get where I need to go without driving?

This candidate has spoken about this issue more than once. Each statement is shown with its own source.

Maria Voutsinas: adequate funding to address TTC repair backlogs and service standards to keep transit viable and cut congestion.

  • Needs adequate funding to address TTC repair backlogs and ensure service standards.
  • Reliable transit keeps people moving, reduces cars and congestion, and cuts automotive pollution.
“We need adequate funding to address TTC repair backlogs and ensure service standards sufficient to keep people moving and trusting public transit as a viable option for getting around the city, reducing cars and congestion on city streets and automotive pollution.”

(a few sentences)

Source: Ward 14 Candidate Voices — questionnaire answers (The Investors Nest) · October 11, 2026

Confidence:High

Maria Voutsinas: keep transit affordable for low-income residents via the Fair Pass program; fares rise only as a last resort.

  • Maintain the Fair Pass program to keep transit affordable for low-income residents.
  • Work with the province for repair and service funding; fare increases only as a last resort after a full review of budgets and funding sources.
“Transit must remain affordable for low income residents, and that means maintaining the Fair Pass program to provide targeted support to low income residents. We need to work with the provincial government to ensure adequate funds exist for repairs and service improvements. People rely on the TTC but make other plans when TTC breaks down too frequently or there are drops in service levels. As a last resort, if necessary to maintain adequate repairs and service levels we might have to increase fares but I would insist on a thorough review of budgets and potential funding sources before taking that step.”

(several paragraphs)

Source: Ward 14 Candidate Voices — questionnaire answers (The Investors Nest) · October 11, 2026

Confidence:High

Think we’ve got this wrong?

Government

Will decisions be made in the open, and will anyone answer for them?

Not reviewed yet. Know something?

Roads & infrastructure

Will the things I use every day actually get fixed?

Not reviewed yet. Know something?

Economy

Will our main streets and local jobs thrive?

Maria Voutsinas would support Danforth businesses: BIA-backed incentives, tax breaks, and a City Buy Local policy.

  • Support small independent businesses with pop-up locations, incentives for landlords who rent quickly or support new businesses, predictable multi-year tax forecasting.
  • Community policing against vandalism and shoplifting, construction-disruption supports, and a City Buy Local policy for municipal purchasing.
Show their words & source (several paragraphs)
“I have met with BIAs to learn what their concerns are. They have proposed a few measures aimed at promoting small, independent businesses such as pop up locations to allow new business owners to try out a location and business idea, incentives for landlords who rent quickly rather than holding out for a large chain, incentives or tax breaks for landlords who support new businesses, predictable mult-year property tax forecasting that will support their ability to plan, community policing to discourage vandalism and shoplifting, support for businesses forced to deal with disruptions outside their control such as construction and a City Buy Local policy that would prioritize City Hall and local Councillors from accessing suppliers from within the community. I would continue to engage with BIAs to identify how to best support them.”

Source: Ward 14 Candidate Voices — questionnaire answers (The Investors Nest) · October 11, 2026

Confidence:High

Environment

Is the candidate protecting the nature we live in?

Maria Voutsinas: buildings are Toronto's biggest GHG source; push green solutions in new builds and residential green programs.

  • Buildings are the greatest source of GHG emissions in the City of Toronto.
  • Would advocate programs encouraging developers to include green roofs, solar panels, insulation and heat pumps in new builds, plus residential green programs with funding to cut upfront costs.
Show their words & source (a few sentences)
“Buildings are the greatest source of GHG emissions in the City of Toronto. I would advocate for programs to encourage developers to include green solutions (ie green roofs, solar panels, improved insulation, heat pumps etc.) in new builds and programs to encourage more residents to take advantage of the residential green programs including information and funding programs to reduce up front costs.”

Source: Ward 14 Candidate Voices — questionnaire answers (The Investors Nest) · October 11, 2026

Confidence:High

Healthcare

Will there be a doctor and a hospital when we need one?

Not reviewed yet. Know something?

Growth & development

How fast should we grow, and who decides what gets built where?

Not reviewed yet. Know something?

Social & community services

Who looks after the most vulnerable residents?

Not reviewed yet. Know something?

Active transportation

Can I walk and bike safely around town?

Not reviewed yet. Know something?

Arts & culture

Does the candidate value what makes this place feel alive?

Not reviewed yet. Know something?

Data centres

Should energy-hungry data centres be welcomed here?

Not reviewed yet. Know something?

Water & waste

Is our drinking water safe and our waste handled?

Not reviewed yet. Know something?

Bylaw enforcement

Are the rules fair, and are they actually enforced?

Not reviewed yet. Know something?

Think we got something wrong?

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