George Brown College hosting Toronto Mayoralty Housing Debate May 24

Toronto skyline

Toronto’s top mayoral candidates will address the housing pressures facing people across the city at a debate at Waterfront Campus, expected to be a key event of the race. 

The Toronto Mayoralty Housing Debate happens Wednesday, May 24, from 12:30 p.m to 2:30 p.m. at the Daphne Cockwell Centre for Health Sciences and Joe Cressy, George Brown College’s Senior-Vice-President, External Relations, Communications and Real Estate Development, will moderate. Cressy served as the Toronto city councillor for Ward 10 (Spadina – Fort York) for two terms, starting in 2014. 

“This month, Toronto City Council declared homelessness an emergency. And with an acute housing supply shortage, high rental costs and prolonged wait-times, addressing housing for post-secondary students is paramount,” Cressy said. “I look forward to hearing the candidates’ proposed solutions to this crisis and moderating this debate — an event Torontonians will certainly be watching closely.” 

A panel of established journalists will question the candidates. 

Watch the event live stream. 

Addressing the housing stock shortage

RESCON (Residential Construction Council of Ontario) is sponsoring the event along with George Brown College and several sector partners, including BILD (Building Industry Land Development Association), FRPO (Federation of Rental-housing Providers of Ontario), Habitat for Humanity GTA, and TRREB (Toronto Regional Real Estate Board), among others.   

“The housing affordability and supply crisis is one of the most pressing issues facing the next mayor of the City of Toronto, so the debate promises to be one of the main events of the mayoralty campaign,” says RESCON president Richard Lyall. “With the city planning to meet or exceed the provincial target of building 285,000 homes over the next 10 years, housing is a critical issue. I am certain the public will want to hear how candidates intend to address the crisis we are facing.” 

Top mayoral candidates 

One-hundred and two candidates are vying to become Toronto’s next mayor, with six clear front-runners. Recent Forum Research polling shows Olivia Chow leading the pack, followed by Mark Saunders, Josh Matlow, Mitzie Hunter, Ana Bailão, and Brad Bradford. RESCON says “most major Toronto mayoralty candidates” have confirmed their attendance for the GBC debate. 

Land acknowledgement

George Brown College is located on the traditional territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation and other Indigenous peoples who have lived here over time. We are grateful to share this land as treaty people who learn, work and live in the community with each other.


Learn more about our land acknowledgment