TORONTO, ON – Mayoral candidate Rob Davis – Toronto’s first Black city councillor and a three-term council member – today called on the city’s civic organizations and media to ensure equitable access to debate platform exposure on a wide range of issues.

“Toronto has a diverse population with wide-ranging interests and priorities.  For democracy to thrive, it’s important that our public discourse affords equitable exposure to ideas from candidates reflecting the regions and communities that make up our city – and not just ideas from perceived front-runners,” said Davis.

Davis issued the call after the Toronto Region Board of Trade and TVO informed candidates of a restrictive format for their May 25th debate that gives an unfair advantage to sitting councillors and other candidates who have high name recognition in the early stages of the campaign.

Giorgio Mammoliti, a prominent city councillor and candidate for mayor of Toronto, has announced his strong opposition to bike lanes in the city. His stance is informed by recent KTM polling data that shows most Toronto residents feel negatively impacted by bike lanes, with 63 per cent wanting the next mayor to evaluate and potentially remove them from major roads.