Compare candidates

Ardeshir Zarezade would expand sewers, roads, parks and school capacity before approving high-density developments.

• Planned Development plank of his Willowdale platform.
• Ensure sewer systems, roads, parks, and school capacities are expanded before high-density developments are approved.

Confidence:High

Hamid Shakeri wants balanced growth respecting single-family neighbourhoods while expanding affordable options.

• He wants balanced growth that respects the fabric of single-family neighbourhoods.
• He wants affordable options expanded for families, young professionals and seniors.

Confidence:High

Nathan Yusifov: new housing must come with proper planning — developers contributing fairly to parks, childcare, roads and services.

• The challenge is not simply building more towers: rapid condo growth along Yonge and Finch has outpaced community infrastructure.
• New housing must come with proper planning — developers contributing fairly toward parks, recreation centres, childcare spaces, road upgrades and community services; protect neighbourhood character while encouraging responsible growth near transit.

Confidence:High

Ardeshir Zarezade would freeze property taxes, review City Hall spending and target operational waste.

• Property Taxes plank of his Willowdale platform.
• Implement a property tax freeze, review City Hall spending, and target operational waste.

Confidence:High

Hamid Shakeri promises line-by-line financial oversight at City Hall, eliminating waste while keeping property taxes predictable.

• He promises line-by-line financial oversight at City Hall to eliminate waste.
• He wants property taxes kept predictable.

Confidence:High

Lily Cheng pledges to keep property tax increases near or below inflation.

• She frames restraint as recognizing the heavy lifting taxpayers already did to stabilize city finances.
• She pairs this with rigorous budget reviews and program-level budget reporting.

Confidence:High

Nathan Yusifov says residents deserve leadership that balances growth with quality of life, protects taxpayers and improves planning.

• Focus on practical solutions instead of political slogans; leadership that balances growth with quality of life.
• Protects taxpayers and improves long-term planning; managing Toronto's nearly $19 billion budget needs analytical, accountable leadership.

Confidence:High

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

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Hamid Shakeri wants investment in well-lit public infrastructure and community-led security networks to keep Ward 18 streets safe.

• He wants well-lit public infrastructure and repaired sidewalks.
• He supports community-led security networks.

Confidence:High

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

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Nathan Yusifov: safety is about prevention too — well-lit streets, active community spaces, responsive services, thoughtful planning.

• Safety is one of the most important concerns for Willowdale residents as the neighbourhood grows denser.
• Safety is not only about enforcement — it is also about prevention: well-lit streets, active community spaces, responsive city services and thoughtful urban planning.
• Safer public spaces through better design: better street lighting, clearer pedestrian crossings, maintained parks, safer transit environments.

Confidence:High

Ardeshir Zarezade would restore traffic lanes and move bike lanes to practical, safe parallel routes.

• Traffic & Congestion plank of his Willowdale platform.
• Re-evaluate bottleneck choke points, restore lanes, and place bike lanes on practical, safe parallel routes.

Confidence:High

Hamid Shakeri wants smarter traffic signal timings and enhanced bus reliability for commuters.

• He wants smarter traffic signal timings along major corridors to cut gridlock.
• He wants enhanced bus reliability for daily commuters.

Confidence:High

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

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Nicole Daneshvar would use evidence-based policy to fix what's broken — from transit to housing to public safety.

• Data-Driven Systems plank of her Willowdale platform.
• 'Modern tools and evidence-based policy to fix what's broken — from transit to housing to public safety. Smart city, smarter decisions.'

Confidence:High

Ardeshir Zarezade: 'Every dollar collected by the City belongs to the public. City Hall must prove its value before asking for more.'

• Fiscal accountability plank of his Willowdale platform.
• 'Every dollar collected by the City belongs to the public. City Hall must prove its value before asking for more.'

Confidence:High

David Magazzinich promises common-sense leadership with fiscal responsibility, transparency and accountability at City Hall.

• He says local government should focus on local issues, not ideological agendas.
• He lists safer neighbourhoods, better value for taxpayers, improved services and practical traffic solutions as priorities.

Confidence:High

Hamid Shakeri pledges to answer residents' phone calls 24/7 and always take public transit to Council meetings.

• He pledges to personally answer residents' phone calls around the clock.
• He also pledges to take public transit to Council meetings.

Confidence:High

Lily Cheng pushes for program-level budget reporting with evaluations so investments can be measured against results.

• She wants proven tools like Lean Six Sigma in divisional reviews to increase efficiency.
• She promises better results for residents' tax dollars.

Confidence:High

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

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Hamid Shakeri says city projects are mismanaged and pavement meant to last decades fails in a couple of years.

• He says city projects are not managed properly and costs run significantly higher than they should.
• He questions whether the best bidder actually wins city contracts.

Confidence:High

Lily Cheng supports developing two new Business Improvement Areas to boost Willowdale's main streets.

• She proposes a localized economic plan supporting the North York Centre Secondary Plan.
• She wants to grow the Willowdale Youth Job Fair and Youth Council for mentorship and careers.

Confidence:High

Lily Cheng wants to increase the tree canopy in partnership with schools, families and businesses.

• Her platform frames this as part of a healthier, greener, more resilient Willowdale.
• She continues the Willowdale Community Climate Action Roundtable.

Confidence:High

Lily Cheng says new housing must come with the infrastructure and investments that prevent harm before it occurs.

• Her responsible-growth plank says managed growth must come with strong services and responsible finances.
• She wants infrastructure and services funded to keep pace with growth.

Confidence:High

Lily Cheng commits to supporting a smooth transition for the new 68 Sheppard shelter for everyone involved.

• The shelter at 68 Sheppard Ave. W. will serve Indigenous women and children.
• She states it will not be a safe-injection site and will not distribute drug paraphernalia.

Confidence:High

Lily Cheng wants to advance bike lanes without removing car lanes.

• She wants bike lanes advanced without removing car lanes, per her staff report request.
• She also pledges to move forward with Transform Yonge 2.0 for safety and public space.

Confidence:High

Lily Cheng wants investment in flood prevention in areas hit by flooding as historic storms grow more frequent.

• She also wants the city to review density impacts on stormwater management.
• Her climate plank includes reducing contamination in public recycling bins.

Confidence:High