Taiba Ahmed

My housing plan focuses on expanding co-operative housing on City-owned land through long-term leases rather than selling public assets. I will advocate for more fourplexes and sixplexes, particularly around Scarborough's new subway stations, to increase housing options. I also intend to strengthen tenant protections through a centralized complaint office, stronger RentSafeTO enforcement and measures to prevent renovictions, while advocating for the province to end vacancy decontrol. My goal is to increase affordable housing while protecting existing residents.

My transit plan focuses on making Scarborough's TTC faster, safer and more reliable. I intend to reduce bus bunching, improve scheduling and introduce transit signal priority on major routes to reduce travel times. I will advocate for the Eglinton East LRT and Sheppard Extension while pursuing immediate improvements for commuters. I also support full-height platform screen doors, improved station safety and greater accountability through publicly available transit performance data.

I intend to ease the financial burden on residents by exploring ways to lower property taxes and introduce alternative municipal revenue sources, including a commercial parking levy. I want to improve city services by making better use of existing infrastructure, addressing road maintenance and expanding access to community programs. I also support free financial literacy and tax-filing assistance at community centres. My priority is responsible spending, transparent budgeting and ensuring residents receive meaningful services for their tax dollars.

My public safety plan focuses on preventing crime while rebuilding trust between police and residents. I intend to expand the Neighbourhood Community Officer program, prioritizing year-round foot patrols and stronger relationships with local communities. I will advocate for permanent funding for youth violence prevention, mentorship and employment programs, alongside expanded civilian mental health crisis response. I also support greater police accountability, transparent reporting and community involvement in public safety decisions.

My environmental plan focuses on greener streets, cooler neighbourhoods and equitable access to green spaces. I intend to prioritize tree planting in Scarborough's underserved neighbourhoods, expand access to free tree programs and increase shade along major transit routes and bus stops. I will advocate for dedicated funding to plant trees on public land and incorporate tree equity into the City's neighbourhood planning framework. My goal is to address extreme heat while creating healthier, greener communities for everyone.

If elected, I intend to reinvest $33,000 of my annual councillor salary annually back into Scarborough Centre. This money will support local non-profits serving youth and seniors, community events and grants for graduating high school students. Having worked with community organizations, I understand how difficult it can be to secure funding and keep programs running. My goal is to ease the financial burden on local organizations, create more opportunities for residents and ensure that a portion of my salary goes directly back to the community I serve.