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← Councillor - Ward 19 (Beaches-East York)

Adam Smith

Candidate for Councillor - Ward 19 (Beaches-East York)

In their own words

adamsmithward19.ca — Adam Smith’s campaign website, opens in a new tab

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.

Adam Smith: we don't need more units — the supply myth was a self-serving lie told by developers.

  • Answer: Build or finance substantially more affordable and supportive housing.
  • We don't need more units, the supply myth was a self-serving lie told by developers to justify more building. Toronto has a glut in the condo market with over 10K units unsold, and house prices keep dropping because the demand isn't there. We need rent controls back and more publicly-owned housing.
“We don't need more units, the supply myth was a self-serving lie told by developers to justify more building. Toronto has a glut in the condo market with over 10K units unsold, and house prices keep dropping because the demand isn't there. We need rent controls back and more publicly-owned housing.”

(a few sentences)

Source: Build Canada Toronto Election Hub — Ward 19 questionnaire · October 14, 2026

Confidence:High

Adam Smith chose 'No'; Toronto must balance new density with the infrastructure needed to support it.

  • Answer: No.
  • Toronto needs to carefully balance any addition of density with the underlying infrastructure necessary to support it, and to take into consideration the viability of growth policies weighed against ecological limits and future uncertainty due to climate change.
“Toronto needs to carefully balance any addition of density with the underlying infrastructure necessary to support it, and to take into consideration the viability of growth policies weighed against ecological limits and future uncertainty due to climate change.”

(a few sentences)

Source: Build Canada Toronto Election Hub — Ward 19 questionnaire · October 14, 2026

Confidence:High

Adam Smith chose 'No'; forcing someone indoors is no different than jail.

  • Answer: No.
  • Forcing someone indoors is no different than jail. Encampments need serious cooperation with the city to organize them better, and strict enforcement to ensure residents have fair access to public spaces.
“Forcing someone indoors is no different than jail. Encampments need serious cooperation with the city to organize them better, and strict enforcement to ensure residents have fair access to public spaces.”

(a few sentences)

Source: Build Canada Toronto Election Hub — Ward 19 questionnaire · October 14, 2026

Confidence:High

Smith says affordable housing must be provided equitably and responsibly in an era of accelerating climate change.

  • Says affordable housing must be provided equitably and responsibly.
  • Links housing policy to accelerating climate change and pushes back on developer-driven overdevelopment.
“It is essential that affordable housing be provided equitably and responsibly in an era of accelerating climate change.”

(several paragraphs)

Source: Housing — Adam Smith for Ward 19

Confidence:High

Think we’ve got this wrong?

Taxes & spending

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

Adam Smith chose 'Raise taxes, fees or other revenue'.

  • Answer: Raise taxes, fees or other revenue.
  • Specifically we should be going to the feds and the province and telling them that as the economic engine and tax revenue cash cow of the nation they had best start stepping up to give us the funding we need.
Show their words & source (a few sentences)
“Specifically we should be going to the feds and the province and telling them that as the economic engine and tax revenue cash cow of the nation they had best start stepping up to give us the funding we need.”

Source: Build Canada Toronto Election Hub — Ward 19 questionnaire · October 14, 2026

Confidence:High

Emergency services

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

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

Adam Smith chose 'Mental-health response, addiction treatment and youth intervention'.

  • Answer: Mental-health response, addiction treatment and youth intervention.
  • There is no improving public safety without improving poverty, mental health, and addiction.
“There is no improving public safety without improving poverty, mental health, and addiction.”

(a few sentences)

Source: Build Canada Toronto Election Hub — Ward 19 questionnaire · October 14, 2026

Confidence:High

Adam Smith chose 'Remain approximately constant after inflation'; there is only one police service to be cut: the mounted unit.

  • Answer: Remain approximately constant after inflation.
  • There is only one police service to be cut: the mounted unit. They serve no purpose and are dangerous for animals and riders. But that money should go into increased training, especially for mental health crisis management.
“There is only one police service to be cut: the mounted unit. They serve no purpose and are dangerous for animals and riders. But that money should go into increased training, especially for mental health crisis management.”

(a few sentences)

Source: Build Canada Toronto Election Hub — Ward 19 questionnaire · October 14, 2026

Confidence:High

Think we’ve got this wrong?

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.

Smith proposes a comprehensive plan to get all forms of transportation moving more safely and efficiently through the ward.

  • Proposes a comprehensive transportation plan for the ward.
  • Aims to get all forms of transportation moving more safely and efficiently.
“… a comprehensive plan to get all forms of transportation moving more safely and efficiently through the ward.”

(a few sentences)

Source: Adam Smith for Ward 19

Confidence:High

Adam Smith chose 'More frequent and reliable service on existing routes'.

  • Answer: More frequent and reliable service on existing routes.
  • We need better accountability and oversight of drivers to have more reliable routes.
“We need better accountability and oversight of drivers to have more reliable routes.”

(a few sentences)

Source: Build Canada Toronto Election Hub — Ward 19 questionnaire · October 14, 2026

Confidence:High

Adam Smith chose 'Yes'; this should have already happened under Tory but Wynne killed it to appease 905 voters.

  • Answer: Yes.
  • This should have already happened under Tory but Wynne killed it to appease 905 voters. There should be a catch: no tolls for Toronto residents, only out-of-towners.
“This should have already happened under Tory but Wynne killed it to appease 905 voters. There should be a catch: no tolls for Toronto residents, only out-of-towners.”

(a few sentences)

Source: Build Canada Toronto Election Hub — Ward 19 questionnaire · October 14, 2026

Confidence:High

Think we’ve got this wrong?

Government

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

Adam Smith chose 'The powers should sit unused regardless of who holds them'; These powers should never have existed.

  • Answer: The powers should sit unused regardless of who holds them.
  • These powers should never have existed, the mayor is not a king/queen.
Show their words & source (a few sentences)
“These powers should never have existed, the mayor is not a king/queen.”

Source: Build Canada Toronto Election Hub — Ward 19 questionnaire · October 14, 2026

Confidence:High

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?

Smith wants a resilient localized economy able to withstand the external shocks of an increasingly volatile world.

  • Aims to build a resilient localized economy.
  • Frames it as protection against shocks in an increasingly volatile world.
Show their words & source (a few sentences)
“… building a resilient localized economy that can withstand the external shocks of an increasingly volatile world.”

Source: Adam Smith for Ward 19

Confidence:High

Environment

Is the candidate protecting the nature we live in?

Smith calls for protecting the environment through responsible development, cutting pollution and emissions, and expanding green spaces.

  • Would preserve the environment through responsible development and reduce pollution and carbon emissions.
  • Would preserve, maintain and expand green spaces; flags inaccurate Toronto emissions counts and rampant illegal idling.
Show their words & source (a few sentences)
“We must ensure the preservation of the environment through responsible development, and reducing pollution and carbon emissions. We have to improve our generation and disposal of waste, and we must preserve, maintain, and expand our green spaces.”

Source: A Livable Planet — Adam Smith for Ward 19

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?

Smith aims for an equitable society and a culture of inclusivity and support, with opportunities for everyone.

  • Strives for an equitable society and a culture of inclusivity and support.
  • Wants opportunities for everyone; platform also covers seniors, youth and food insecurity.
Show their words & source (a few sentences)
“… striving for an equitable society and a culture of inclusivity and support, with opportunities for everyone.”

Source: Adam Smith for Ward 19

Confidence:High

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?

Smith says Toronto's waste disposal is abysmal and calls for moving to a zero-waste society with fewer unsustainable materials.

  • Calls Toronto's waste disposal abysmal.
  • Wants fewer unsustainable materials to transition into a zero-waste society.
Show their words & source (a few sentences)
“Toronto's waste disposal is abysmal and we still use too many unsustainable materials if we are to transition into a zero-waste society.”

Source: A Livable Planet — Adam Smith for Ward 19

Confidence:High

Bylaw enforcement

Are the rules fair, and are they actually enforced?

Not reviewed yet. Know something?

Think we got something wrong?

Candidates and members of the public can both report a correction. Every one is logged and answered, and corrections about a candidate’s own positions get priority.

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