Provincial Election 2025: Toronto-Danforth Liberal candidate Connor Taras answers our questions

(EDITOR’S NOTE: Beach Metro Community News sent these questions to candidates we were aware of in Toronto-Danforth. Not all candidates responded by our deadline. Candidates were asked to keep their responses to approximately 200 words. Please visit our website at www.beachmetro.com for more information on the candidates.)

QUESTION 1: Please tell our readers a little bit about yourself and why you are running in this election?

I’m a 2SLGBTQI+ former professional athlete, and I’m running to bring a new generation of leadership to Queen’s Park. Too many young people in Ontario are being shut out—shut out of homeownership, out of opportunity, and out of the Canadian dream. That’s not right, and I refuse to accept it.

We need a government that works for us—a government that actually makes life affordable and invests in young people instead of leaving them behind. Right now, wages aren’t keeping up with the cost of living, housing is out of reach, and healthcare wait times keep growing. People are frustrated, and they should be.

I’m running because I believe we can build a better future—one where no one is forced to put their dreams on hold because of affordability or a lack of opportunity. I will be a voice that never backs down. Not to Doug Ford. Not to anyone.

QUESTION 2: Please tell our readers what you and your party will be doing to deal with the lack of affordable housing and homelessness issues in Toronto-Danforth.

Housing affordability is one of the biggest challenges we face in Toronto-Danforth. People who grew up in this community are being forced out, and too many who want to build a life here simply can’t afford to. That needs to change.

I’m part of an Ontario Liberal team with a plan to lower costs and remove barriers to building housing faster. We will scrap development charges on homes under 3,000 square feet so young families and first-time buyers aren’t priced out before they even start. We will also eliminate the provincial Land Transfer Tax for first-time homebuyers, seniors downsizing, and non-profit home builders—removing a large financial burden to homebuyers.

For renters, we’ll establish the Rental Emergency Support for Tenants (REST) Fund—a provincial rent bank that provides short-term, interest-free loans to tenants facing financial hardship. Keeping people housed during tough times prevents evictions and homelessness, which is not only the right thing to do but also saves costs in the long run.

We can make Toronto-Danforth a community where people of all income levels can afford to live and thrive. But that takes real leadership—leadership that’s ready to take bold action to tackle the housing crisis head-on.

QUESTION 3 – What do you think is the issue in your riding that you can have the most impact on if you are elected MPP?

The cost of living—especially housing affordability—is the biggest issue I hear about at the doors. People in Toronto-Danforth feel like the dream of homeownership is slipping away, that rent is eating up too much of their paycheques, and that wages just aren’t keeping up.

As your MPP, I will push for bold, immediate action on housing. That means scrapping unfair development charges that drive up costs for buyers. It means protecting renters with stronger tenant rights and emergency support to prevent evictions.

I will also fight for a healthcare system that actually works. Long wait times and staff shortages are unacceptable. We need to invest in more long-term care beds in Toronto’s East End and expand community-based care so seniors can age with dignity and continue to live in our community.

We also need to integrate mental health care into the broader system so everyone has access to the support they need.
People are tired of being told change isn’t possible. I’m running to prove that it is.

QUESTION 4 – How will your party and your party’s leader deal with the economic and other challenges facing Ontario and Canada that are presented by the Administration of U.S. President Donald Trump?

We must take bold, decisive action to protect Ontario workers and businesses in the face of unfair trade policies. The Ontario Liberals have a plan to protect our economy and create good jobs while keeping Ontario competitive.

We will launch a Fight Tariffs Fund, giving businesses access to government-backed, lower-than-market interest rates so they can invest in their operations and workforce without being crippled by tariffs.

At the same time, we will prioritize infrastructure investments, ensuring stimulus spending goes toward the projects Ontarians need most—hospitals, schools, roads, and transit.
We’ll also take necessary approaches to government procurement, directing funds away from American companies and reinvesting those savings into projects that support Ontario workers.

Finally, we will work with other provinces to eliminate outdated interprovincial trade barriers, creating a stronger, united pan-Canadian approach to economic growth.

Ontario’s economy is strong, but we need leadership that will stand up for workers and invest in our province’s future. That’s exactly what I’ll do.