Toronto’s upcoming mayoral election has attracted a remarkable 102 candidates, the largest recorded number of contenders in the history of the city. The race is notably wide-open due to the unexpectedly vacant position left by John Tory after he ended his eight-year reign as mayor. Low barriers of entry to the mayoral race, plus an opening for the job, have encouraged an array of non-traditional candidates. Candidates include an emerging comedian, a teenager, and even a known climate activist running on behalf of his dog Molly. Whilst leading candidates focus on transportation and housing policies, 18-year-old Meir Straus’s aspirations range from eradicating the skunky smell around weed shops to tackling speed bumps on city roads, and even the inappropriate use of the word ‘muck’.
To become a mayoral candidate in Toronto, candidates are required to submit minimal paperwork and pay the refundable filing fee of CAD 200. Toronto’s low political party barriers and the minimum requirement for endorsing signatures, only 25, encourage participation and engagement compared to other global cities.
The non-traditional candidates include Edward Gong, an entrepreneur whose company admitted to committing an international pyramid scheme. Kevin Clarke, a former homeless man, is running for his seventh time, and up-and-coming comedian Ben Bankas are also among the contenders. Non-citizens are not allowed to run, so environmental activist Toby Heaps is running on behalf of his dog Molly.
Toronto is Canada’s most populous city, with three million residents, and the need for a strong and respected mayor is necessary to address the pressing issues facing its citizens. These issues include cost of living, a struggling transit system, stagnant wages, and an increase in crime. Six of the candidates are viewed as serious contenders, including former deputy mayor Ana Bailao, former member of Parliament Olivia Chow, current councillor Josh Matlow, and former police chief Mark Saunders.
Toronto’s inclusive system allows for a diverse range of views to be heard, but with a roster of 102 candidates, uninformed voters may find it difficult to choose between them. Other major cities impose far stricter regulations to limit the number of candidates. In New York, mayoral candidates must attain 2,250 signatures, and in Los Angeles, they require over 1,000 endorsements, or 500 signatures and a $300 filing fee.
Despite the Toronto’s low entry requirements to run for mayor, victory at the polls will require significant funds. Lead candidates could spend an average of CAD 1 million for a credible campaign. The budget limit for the mayoral election in Toronto is CAD 1.66 million. Critics argue that the winner of the mayoral election may not enjoy wide-ranging support, given that victory only requires a plurality of the votes, not even a minimum share. The winner may end up with less than one third of the total votes, the first time in modern history, despite the strong mayoral powers available.
Despite criticisms, Ayesha Talreja, 27, who works for a national urban parks nonprofit, believes the mayoral election’s broad list of 102 candidates is a sign of a healthy democracy. Ensuring all candidates are given a platform for their views, regardless of their campaign budget, signals a renewed interest in Toronto’s mayoral politics. Electoral reforms, such as the ranked-choice system adopted in New York City, are being proposed to address criticisms of Toronto’s electoral system.