These meeting notes are part of Documenters Canada, which is partly funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC). Learn more about our program here. The Green Line maintains full editorial independence to ensure journalistic integrity.

Kingston Road-Galloway-Orton Park (KGO) residents came together for a town hall to discuss housing, transit and accountability as key issues ahead of the Toronto municipal election.

Our documenter Lydia Tsai attended the public meeting held on Oct. 15 and has all the details. 

The town hall, which was organized by the East Scarborough Storefront, Social Planning Toronto and A.M. Results, invited residents to reflect on the issues impacting their daily lives while also learning how the municipal government works. 

Affordable housing was a major discussion point. One resident, who’s a mother of eight, said she can’t qualify for a mortgage despite paying $1,500 to $2,000 rent per month for the last 15 years. She suggested that rent payments should count toward a person’s credit score to help renters work toward homeownership.

Residents also mentioned concerns around Scarborough’s transit options, mentioning long waits for better transit infrastructure and congestion at Union Station during major events.

Community members in attendance also discussed accountability. Residents questioned whether elected officials actually followed through on promises. One person said they rarely see candidates in-person and only encounter them through election signs.

During the meeting, residents also talked about the economic disparity across Scarborough-Guildwood and argued that wealthier neighbourhoods have greater influence over political decisions.

The town hall organizers encouraged residents to stay involved between elections by contacting elected officials. 

Documenter Lydia Tsai’s perspective:

Even though the community members were describing many serious problems, the overall mood of the group was optimistic. There was a strong sense of morale, with several people making comments like: “We are stronger together” and “every vote matters.” 

Many of the people at the meeting seemed to know each other and even lived in the same building. Sometimes people talk about the lack of “neighbourliness” in big cities, but this meeting was evidence of the opposite.

I also resonated with the way some attendees connected housing to wellbeing. As a lifelong Toronto resident, I often worry about being priced out of the place I grew up in.