Scarborough Southwest federal byelection 2026: Christian Heritage Party candidate David Vedova answers our questions

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

I am, first and foremost, a servant of my community—a dedicated volunteer and committed supporter of charitable causes. My decision to run in this byelection was not born out of ambition, but out of a deep and growing concern for the future of our country.

At hundreds of doorsteps, I have listened. I have heard the strain in the voices of parents choosing between groceries and rent, the uncertainty in young people who no longer believe hard work guarantees a future, and the quiet fear of seniors who wonder if they can afford to live with dignity in the country they helped build. There is a shared grief—a sense that something precious is slipping away, that the Canada we once knew is becoming harder to recognize with each passing day.

After a decade of Liberal leadership, Canadians are facing the consequences of policies that have weakened our economic foundation. Our national debt has exploded to nearly $1.48 trillion—more than the combined total of all generations before us—and we are now paying approximately $146 million every single day just to service that debt. This is not just a statistic—it is a burden being placed squarely on the shoulders of our children and grandchildren.

Even more troubling is the growing unease that our fundamental freedoms—the rights that define us—are no longer secure. From legislation that raises profound ethical concerns to measures that spark fears about freedom of expression, religious liberty, and personal privacy, there is a growing concern that the balance between government authority and individual rights is shifting in the wrong direction.

I am running because Canadians deserve better leadership and a renewed commitment to the values that built this nation. This is about restoring hope, rebuilding trust, and ensuring that opportunity, dignity, and freedom are realities for every citizen.

QUESTION 2: What do you see as the top local issues that will be on the minds of Scarborough Southwest voters as they head into this byelection taking place less than a year after the previous federal election?

Scarborough Southwest deserves more than promises—it needs a focused, results-driven plan that delivers real change quickly and responsibly. As your MP, I support and fund municipal and provincial projects through a combination of structured transfer payments, specific infrastructure programs, and direct advocacy as a coordinated approach that tackles housing, mobility, and community safety together.

We would help launch a “build fast, build smart” initiative that cuts through delays and gets homes built where they are needed most.By introducing pre-approved modular apartment designs, we can reduce construction timelines dramatically while maintaining quality. Underused office and retail spaces will be converted into affordable housing, revitalizing neighborhoods while increasing supply. I will advocate expanding co-operative housing and community land trusts to keep homes permanently affordable. Cutting red tape for family-sized units—not just small condos—will ensure housing reflects the needs of real families.

Commuters cannot wait years for relief. Enhance and expand services like RapidTO Routes. Increase Smart signal systems to improve transit reliability and traffic flow. At the same time, I will push for strict accountability on major infrastructure projects, with clear timelines and consequences for costly delays. Encouraging flexible work hours through targeted tax incentives will help reduce congestion without massive new spending.

Safety must be both proactive and preventative. Strengthen targeted policing to address serious crime while investing in community-based solutions. Expanding crisis response teams will ensure mental health and addiction emergencies receive appropriate care. At the same time, creating more youth hubs with mentorship, skills training, and recreation to address the root causes of crime and build stronger, safer neighbourhoods.

This is a practical, balanced plan – focused on action, accountability, and results for Scarborough Southwest.

QUESTION 3: What are the key national issues now facing Canadians and how can you and your party have an impact on them?

Canada stands at a crossroads. Families are feeling squeezed by rising costs, while confidence in government is eroding under the weight of record spending and debt. This is not sustainable—and it is not acceptable. Canadians deserve leadership that restores discipline, defends their freedoms, and governs with integrity.

Reckless spending fuels inflation, drives up interest rates, and leaves future generations to pay the bill. We must restore fiscal discipline by focusing on core priorities—housing, infrastructure, and economic growth—while cutting waste and demanding full transparency in how public funds are used. Every dollar spent must deliver real value for Canadians.

At the same time, Canadians are increasingly concerned about the erosion of fundamental rights. Legislation such as Bill C-7 raises profound ethical questions about how we protect the most vulnerable. Proposals like Bill C-22 have intensified fears about privacy, surveillance, and the unchecked expansion of state power. These concerns cannot be dismissed—they must be confronted.

I will fight for strict safeguards: clear legal thresholds, independent judicial oversight, and absolute accountability for any government authority that seeks access to personal data or expands its reach into Canadians’ lives. Bill C-9,the so-called “Combating Hate Bill” is not about protecting Canadians from hate; it is a weapon wielded by ideological extremists to intimidate, silence, and punish those who hold to Christian faith, pro-life convictions, and traditional family values. Efforts to combat hate must never come at the expense of lawful speech or deeply held religious beliefs. A free society depends on the ability to speak openly, think freely, and live according to one’s conscience without fear of punishment.

This is about restoring balance: responsible government, protected freedoms, and policies grounded in common sense. I will stand firmly for transparency, liberty, and accountability—because in Canada, government must answer to the people, not the other way around.

QUESTION 4: How can and will you work with the provincial government and Toronto’s city government to make life better for Scarborough Southwest residents?

At present, after Premier Doug Ford’s 14-week Christmas recess—following an earlier 19-week summer break—it is difficult to have confidence that meaningful, timely progress can be achieved with the provincial government as currently practised.

That reality demands a pragmatic shift in strategy. Rather than waiting on inaction at Queen’s Park, we must focus our energy where results are still possible: building strong, productive partnerships at the municipal level. Cities are on the front lines of housing, transit, and community safety, and they cannot afford delay.

By working closely with local leadership, aligning federal resources with municipal priorities, and cutting through bureaucratic barriers, we can still deliver tangible improvements for residents. Progress should not be held hostage by provincial inertia. It must be driven by those ready to act.