The race to replace former city councillor Jennifer McKelvie in Scarborough– Rouge Park is now in its final stretch, as voters in that ward will head to the polls at the end of September.
McKelvie, who briefly served as acting mayor in 2023, is now the Liberal MP for Ajax. Candidates have been campaigning throughout the summer, with advance voting days on Sept. 20 and 21 and the main election day on Monday, Sept. 29.
Several well-known names from Scarborough have been stepping forward with policy ideas to distinguish themselves and attract support, each hoping to leave a lasting impression on voters ahead of election day.
But one of the most noteworthy moments of the campaign so far has been one candidate playing hockey in the middle of rush hour on Morningside Avenue to prove a point about the controversial red lanes on many Scarborough streets.
Candidate Shawn Allen, the former president of the Scarborough Business Association, wanted to illustrate how the red painted lanes are hardly Scarborough by-election candidates make final push used during rush hour. He made the point that you can even spend time playing hockey on the lane, because so few buses come by. That’s why he wants them reopened to cars during rush hour.
Allen describes himself as a “family man, lifelong businessman and serial entrepreneur,” emphasizing his deep roots and personal investment in the community.
Meanwhile, York University professor and Toronto District School Board trustee for the ward Anu Sriskandarajah is drawing attention to the need for more tax dollars to be allocated to Scarborough.
“Property taxes have increased, but the question out here in Scarborough is, are we getting our fair share of that property tax?” Sriskandarajah, who is the spouse of current councillor Parthi Kandavel, said in a statement to MPulse.
She is also advocating for “increasing community patrols, implementing effective supporting neighbourhood-based initiatives, and addressing the root causes of violence” as a way of tackling crime and safety in the neighbourhood.
Sriskandarajah is not the only current trustee running for the seat. Two of her school board colleagues are also vying for the spot, creating a competitive race among well-known local figures.
Neethan Shan, another candidate, is the trustee for Scarborough Centre and current chair of the TDSB. He briefly served as the councillor for Scarborough–Rouge Park, winning in a by election in 2017 but losing to McKelvie the following year.
Meanwhile, candidate Zakir Patel is the trustee for Scarborough – Guildwood and is vice chair of the TDSB.
The school board has been in the news recently as the TDSB has been placed under supervision, with the Minister of Education musing about potentially eliminating trustee positions entirely, a proposal that has sparked concern among local residents.
