TMU hosts Toronto mayoral debate before municipal election

Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU), United Way Greater Toronto (UWGT) and the Toronto Star are teaming up to host a Toronto mayoral debate. It happens Oct. 6 at TMU’s Student Learning Centre, ahead of the municipal election. 

This year’s theme is Toronto Together: Our City, Our Future. Candidates will debate the issues shaping the city, including housing, affordability, strong neighbourhoods, transit and public safety. Attendees will be selected by lottery, and the debate will be livestreamed for anyone who can’t attend in person. 

“We think it's incredibly important that our students and our community have a chance to hear directly from the candidates, not filtered through anyone else,” says John Beebe, founder and director of the Democratic Engagement Exchange. “It's a great way to get to know the candidates because you get to see them in action.”

Putting the community first

Beebe founded The Democratic Engagement Exchange in 2017. The initiative is housed in TMU’s Faculty of Arts, and its goal is to strengthen Canada’s democracy and make sure everyone has a voice.

The same approach is shaping the Oct. 6 mayoral debate.

The Democratic Engagement Exchange team has been talking to people across Toronto to find out what issues matter to them and what they want candidates to address. That feedback will help shape the moderator’s questions. Students also got the chance to submit pre-recorded questions for candidates to answer. 

“We don't want to just hear what the candidates have to say, instead, we want to hear what they have to say about the issues that we care about,” says Beebe.

Why municipal elections matter

Municipal governments make decisions that affect daily life – housing, transit, parks, roads and public safety. Despite that, voter turnout for municipal elections tends to be low. 

In Toronto’s last municipal election, fewer than one in three eligible voters cast a ballot. Beebe wants to change that through Voice the Vote, a new initiative from the Democratic Engagement Exchange and UWGT. 

Voice the Vote  (external link) offers community events, grassroots micro-grants, leadership training and educational resources to engage people across the GTA in upcoming municipal elections.

“We're able to bridge that gap,” says Beebe. “We do that by asking and listening to people about the issues that they care about. We remind them: Your voice matters. You can have a say, and we're able to connect those issues to the municipal elections.”

Beebe says students often care deeply about their community but feel intimidated by the voting process. He encourages students to attend the debate, or watch the livestream, and to check out the Voice the Vote resources (external link)  to learn about the candidates and build confidence about voting. 

Get involved: Voting is power

Beebe hopes people leave the debate with a better understanding of the candidates and feel more confident making an informed decision. 

He also wants students to recognize the power of participating in an election. 

“Voting is a form of power, especially for younger people who are just starting out. We often don't have that many forms of power, but when you go to vote, your vote counts as much as the richest person in the world,” says Beebe.

For residents unable to attend the debate, it will be livestreamed at TheStar.com (external link) . You can join the conversation before and during the event using #OurCityOurFutureTO.