Polls have closed in the Don Valley West byelection after residents voted on Monday to replace former Ward 15 Coun. Jaye Robinson.
The field of candidates includes conservative former journalist Anthony Furey and Toronto District School Board Chair Rachel Chernos Lin. Furey and Chernos Lin appear to be locked in a close fight for the job.
The byelection was called after Robinson, a former TTC chair, died of cancer last summer.
Furey, who once wrote a column for The Toronto Sun, jumped in the race a little over a year after he surprised pundits by finishing fourth in last year’s mayoral byelection with over 35,000 votes.
He says keeping bike lanes off major streets, fighting congestion and ensuring city hall is spending responsibly are among his priorities.
Other candidates, however, have said Furey doesn’t live in the ward and is using the race as a platform to mount another mayoral bid in 2026.
Chernos Lin, meanwhile, has said she is not a member of the Liberal Party, despite earning endorsements from a number of high profile members of the party, including former premier Kathleen Wynne.
She says those pledges of support are a recognition that the race will come down to the wire.
Mayor urged residents to vote
Earlier on Monday, Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow urged voters in the ward to make time to cast ballots for a new city councillor.
“Send a message that you want more housing built. Send a message that TTC can provide better public transit and let’s feed more kids. Let’s do that today. And this is your chance to elect someone that shares those values,” Chow said.
Chow said city council will welcome the person elected on Monday night to represent Don Valley West.
“Whoever wins today, the good people of Don Valley will make the right decision,” she added.
Voters in the ward said they would like to see the new city councillor deal with such issues as traffic congestion, bike lanes, high rent, affordable housing and support services for newcomers and youth.
Norman Light, a voter, said there are many issues in the ward but property taxes are on the mind of voters because it’s not clear if there will be an increase this year and how much it will be.
“Housing is a big issue for many people, particularly of my children’s generation,” Light said. “Affordability is key. There’s lots of things that the city wants to do, but we can’t afford them all.”
Dave Mimms, another voter, said “overspending” and “bike lanes everywhere” are among the top issues for voters.
“The city is getting to be unlivable now,” he said. “We need to get control of spending and start doing things that people need rather than things that certain elements of the political spectrum want.”
‘Come and speak with people,’ voter says
Salman Akbar, another voter, said it’s important for the candidate who is elected to make themselves available to constituents after assuming office. He said real issues, such as traffic congestion and public security, need to be addressed.
“Come and speak with people. We want to see you once you are in the office. Come and talk to us. See us. Establish a reasonable, reliable link with the community, with your voters, and resolve their matters,” Akbar said.
Ward 15 is bordered by Yonge Street to the west, Leslie Street to the east and Highway 401 to the north. Its southern border runs roughly along the Don River, just above the Evergreen Brickworks.
Byelection voting locations in the ward were open Monday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
For more information, visit the city’s website.