Nominations to run in Ontario’s fall municipal elections close today

Nominations to run in Ontario's upcoming fall municipal elections close today, with the deadline being 2 p.m. for would-be candidates to register for the Oct. 26 vote. Many high-profile candidates have already begun campaigning, including former Liberal MP Nate Erskine-Smith, who is running in Toronto's Beaches—East York ward. Political observers have expressed concerns over a lack of competition in some races, with only one candidate or no candidates vying for certain seats.

Zachary Spicer, an associate professor of public policy at York University, notes that a competitive mayoral race can increase voter turnout, which is typically low in municipal elections. However, a strong incumbent with few challengers may have a negative impact on other council campaigns, leading to lower voter participation.

The race for mayor in Mississauga, Hamilton, and Guelph are expected to be especially interesting. In Mississauga, there has been a surge in competition for the position after decades of being a stronghold for the late Hazel McCallion. In Hamilton, incumbent mayor Andrea Horwath, who previously served as provincial NDP leader, is facing significant challenges. Guelph is also witnessing a change in leadership, as three-term mayor Cam Guthrie vacates the top job.

In Toronto, veteran politicians like former federal Conservative minister Chris Alexander and current council member Brad Bradford are challenging incumbent mayor Olivia Chow. A recent Ipsos poll conducted between July 20 and Aug. 4 found that 59% of Torontonians believe the city lacks speed in decision-making, while 57% feel the city is unwilling to adopt new solutions.

The survey also revealed that 55% of respondents think the city is not investing enough in infrastructure, with public transit improvements ranked fourth among the city's economic concerns, following the cost of living, housing affordability, and traffic congestion. However, it is important to note that the Canadian Research Insights Council, the professional body of the polling industry, cautions that online surveys cannot be assigned a margin of error due to their non-random sampling of the population.