2026 Mayoral Election Priorities
Mayoral candidates outline distinct priorities and plans ahead of upcoming 2026 municipal elections.
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Key Points
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Stellenbosch mayor Jeremy Fasser was born and raised in Cloetesville and spent 21 years as an entrepreneur before entering politics in 2019; he also chaired the Breughel Community Centre and the Tourism and Heritage Committee.
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Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow’s proposed weekly cap would make rides free after a rider pays for 10 trips in a week. Her campaign said the change would lower the existing monthly cap from 47 rides to 40 and was already accounted for in the 2026 city budget.
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OneCity’s proposed community-hub concept could extend beyond Britannia: the party identified the Kingsgate Mall site, owned by the Vancouver School Board, as a possible location for a hub with a pool, public library and rental housing.
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Coleman Township mayoral candidate Michel Cooper said the issues needing attention include roads, sidewalks, drainage ditches and equipment, as well as the Cobalt Refinery, Bass Lake Park, the township landfill and the volunteer fire department.
Mayoral candidates across Stellenbosch, Toronto, Vancouver, and Coleman Township are laying out sharply different visions as they head toward 2026 elections. NOW Toronto reports that Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow is pushing for a weekly TTC fare cap that would make rides free after 10 trips, while CityNews notes OneCity Vancouver wants integrated community hubs to replace existing infrastructure. In South Africa, incumbent Stellenbosch Mayor Jeremy Fasser emphasizes community empowerment, and in Coleman Township, candidates are focused on aging roads, drainage systems, and local industrial sites.
These campaigns reveal clashing priorities: affordability versus fiscal restraint in Toronto, community reinvestment versus tax freezes in Vancouver, and basic infrastructure renewal in rural Ontario. CP24 reports Chow's weekly cap would cost about $12 million annually but would lower the existing monthly threshold from 47 rides to 40, directly benefiting part-time workers and hybrid commuters who take 10 or more trips per week.
Toronto Mayor Chow Doubles Down on Transit Affordability
Olivia Chow is positioning transit costs as her signature re-election issue. NOW Toronto quotes her directly: "If I am re-elected, after you take 10 TTC trips in a week, every ride for the rest of that week will be free." This marks her fourth consecutive TTC fare freeze, following her 2023 decision to roll back a 10-cent fare increase and restore service levels that former Mayor John Tory had cut.
Chow's campaign says the weekly cap is already budgeted into the 2026 city budget and would benefit commuters making 13 or more trips weekly with up to $1,000 CAD in annual savings, CP24 reports. TorontoToday notes that TTC Board Member Alejandra Bravo emphasized that weekly systems offer more flexibility than monthly caps for riders with irregular schedules. The approach targets younger workers and shift-workers who cannot commit to fixed monthly patterns.
Vancouver OneCity Contests ABC's Property-Tax Freeze
Vancouver's OneCity party is directly challenging Mayor Ken Sim's ABC majority, calling a proposed second property-tax freeze "unsustainable." CityNews quotes Councillor Lucy Maloney: "We should always have a predictable, moderate property tax increase that people can anticipate." ABC implemented 0% property tax increases for 2026 under its "Zero Means Zero" platform, following years of increases: 10.7% in 2023, 7.28% in 2024, and 3.9% in 2025.
OneCity unveiled its own platform on September 30, proposing integrated community hubs starting with a 10-year renewal of the Britannia complex. Global News reports the party identified the Kingsgate Mall site—owned by the Vancouver School Board—as a possible second hub location featuring a pool, public library, and non-market rental housing. OneCity argues tax freezes force cities to rely on service fees or cut amenities, while ABC supporters say freezes protect residents from cost-of-living pressures.
Stellenbosch's Fasser Pitches Empowerment and Continuity
Jeremy Fasser, Stellenbosch's incumbent mayor, is seeking the Democratic Alliance (DA) nomination for another term based on his record in local governance. A Cloetesville native and entrepreneur for 21 years before entering politics in 2019, Fasser previously chaired the Breughel Community Centre and the Tourism and Heritage Committee. His campaign emphasizes community participation and public empowerment as the foundation for municipal success.
Fasser faces competition from GOOD Party candidate Marius van Stade, while the ANC has not yet named its formal candidate, saying it will do so after the election. The race reflects South Africa's broader municipal tensions between service delivery, fiscal management, and community engagement in small towns where local government directly shapes quality of life.
Coleman Township Candidates Focus on Crumbling Infrastructure
In Ontario's Coleman Township, mayoral candidates Michel Cooper and Lois Perry are zeroing in on practical municipal renewal. Cooper lists immediate infrastructure priorities: deteriorating roads, sidewalks, drainage ditches, and equipment. He also highlights the need to address legacy sites including the Cobalt Refinery, Bass Lake Park, the township landfill, and the volunteer fire department's equipment needs.
Perry brings 23 years of municipal council experience to her campaign, positioning herself as a continuity candidate who understands township operations and budgeting. Both candidates reflect rural Ontario's core challenge: aging assets requiring capital investment in communities with smaller tax bases than urban centers. Infrastructure renewal dominates their platforms because deferred maintenance directly affects roads, water systems, and public safety.
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