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.

Josh Matlow has been re-elected councillor for Toronto-St.Paul, and part of his ward contains Little Jamaica. Here’s what he promised residents. 

On Oct. 20, the Oakwood-Vaughan Community Organization held an event for candidates to answer questions on housing affordability, neighbourhood development and climate change at the First Unitarian Congregation of Toronto.

Other candidates that were present at the event included David Cottrell, Bob Murphy, Jenny Kalimbet and Ahmed Kamal.

Affordable housing and gentrification

Candidates discussed how to maintain affordability as new developments continue to shape Little Jamaica and Oakwood-Vaughan.

Matlow, who won with 67.56% of the votes, highlighted the Little Jamaica Community Land Trust and a public builder program as solutions, while Murphy (who ranked last) questioned whether land trusts can even afford properties at speculative prices.

Cottrell (who came in third with 4.59% of votes) proposed reserving 5% of new condo units for affordable housing. Kalimbet (who came second with 18.93% of votes) said the first five stories of new developments could be reserved for family housing.

Residents’ voices and community consultations

Candidates were asked about how they will make sure residents have a say in how Little Jamaica and the Oakwood-Vaughan Planning Framework develop.

Matlow said stakeholder committees should be involved before council approves proposals. 

Cottrell called for clearer communication about proposed decisions, while Kalimbet proposed regular town halls. Kamal (who came in fifth) said that government transparency and accountability are priorities. Murphy said developers and planners should publish reports outlining community feedback. 

The candidates also discussed issues like climate change and how heat impacts seniors.

Documenter’s perspective, Natalie Fylak:

To me, cultural heritage development means embracing diversity. There is a unique character that develops in neighborhoods over time that can’t be replicated by new developments. Although I am an outsider looking in, I can see that areas like Little Jamaica have collected stories over the years from the people who have lived there, the businesses that have come and gone, and the community that has formed around them. (For instance, at the debate, it seemed like many of those in attendance seemed to know each other and stories were shared of collaborative efforts to protect the community from unwanted development).

This is what sets Little Jamaica apart and why it is important to protect. I chose to attend the city councilor debate because, in a world where the news can feel overwhelming, I’ve found that focusing my attention on local issues and the people working to fix them keeps me optimistic. At this level of governance, it feels like the candidates are able to listen to their constituents and directly address concerns. As someone who is involved in community organizations in the area, I wanted to hear more about what the councilor candidates envisioned for the future of Ward 12.