Like any big city, Toronto has its share of challenges — ones we all wish local leaders would finally tackle.
But what if you were in charge for a day? Imagine stepping into the mayor’s shoes for 24 hours, armed with the power to issue unlimited executive orders.
To get people’s opinions, we took to Narcity Canada’s Facebook page to ask readers, “If you were the mayor of Toronto for 24 hours and no one could stop you, what’s the one change you would make?”
Some responses were thoughtful and could genuinely improve daily life in the 6ix, while others were bold, fiery and passionate.
Many of the big-ticket items — like construction, rent, bike lanes and health care improvements — were addressed, but other topics that came up were much more niche.
After going through more than 200 replies, here’s what Torontonians said they’d do if they stepped into Mayor Olivia Chow’s shoes for a day.
Bring in a congestion fee
When I visited New York City in April, I was surprised to spot a congestion charge on my Uber receipt. A quick Google search revealed that certain parts of Manhattan have fees for vehicles entering high-traffic zones.
Lower Manhattan is designated as a congestion relief zone, a model one Toronto resident said they’d like to see implemented here too.
If they were mayor, one user said they’d “add a congestion fee to all vehicles entering the city.”
More bears
One user said they would “release black bears in the Don Valley” if they were mayor for a day — a nod to an old satirical segment from CBC Radio’s This Is That. The comedy show once joked that the City of Toronto planned to release 270 black bears into the valley as part of a rewilding initiative.
Plenty of people actually believed the spoof at the time, but it was all in good fun.
Clearly, this user isn’t afraid to tackle the city’s real hot-button issues.
No more parking fees
One person said they would abolish side street parking fees if they were in the hot seat.
“People are paying federal and provincial tax already,” the user said. “Part of that tax is maintaining public property like roads and streets.”
Finish off construction projects
If you visit Toronto, it won’t take long to notice the city’s construction chaos.
From the Gardiner Expressway repairs to road work at the city’s busiest intersections — not to mention the new Ontario Line — the constant building is clogging traffic and testing everyone’s patience.
One person said their first act as mayor would be to finally finish the work at Yonge & Queen and Yonge & College.
We said you could be mayor for a day… not a magician!
Build more affordable housing
It’s no secret that buying a home in Toronto is a costly endeavour. In June, the Toronto Regional Real Estate Board reported an average selling price of $1,101,691 — down over 5% from the same time last year, but still a staggering figure.
Amid the ongoing housing crunch, one user said their top priority as mayor would be to build more affordable homes.
“Build affordable housing so no one has to be homeless,” they wrote.
Improve the subways
For a city its size, Toronto’s subway system is surprisingly small. TTC Lines 1 and 2 carry the bulk of the load, while Line 4 is minimal by comparison, making stations like Bloor-Yonge major choke points.
The upcoming Ontario Line may eventually ease some of the strain, but for now, the system remains under pressure.
One reader had a clear vision for fixing transit: focus only on subways.
“Ban all business dealings with Metrolinx and build subways, subways, subways. No streetcars and no LRTs,” they declared.
Speaking of LRTs, the long-delayed Eglinton Crosstown might not launch this September after all. According to CBC, outgoing TTC interim CEO Greg Percy told the board last week that hitting that target would be a “reach.”
Perhaps this reader has a point — or at least, they’ve tapped into a growing frustration with the length of time it takes for transit projects to be completed.
Fix the health care system
Toronto’s health care system is under constant strain as the city’s population continues to grow, leading to overcrowded hospitals and longer wait times.
One respondent kept it simple when asked what they’d do as mayor: “Fix [the] health care system.”
According to June 2025 data from the Montreal Economic Institute, the median emergency room stay in Ontario is four hours, showing this isn’t just a Toronto issue, but a province-wide challenge.
Exile the Leafs
We’re not sure if the mayor actually has the power to exile an entire NHL team, but this response definitely stood out.
One user said they’d “quickly donate the Leafs to Halifax.”
After years of heartbreaking playoff exits, the frustration has hit a breaking point, at least for some long-suffering Toronto Maple Leafs fans.
Control rent
The high cost of rent in Toronto is a persistent pain point, and it was mentioned repeatedly in our responses.
Many commenters suggested tightening rent control, making housing more affordable, and curbing the power landlords have over tenants.
According to liv.rent’s June 2025 data, the average monthly cost of an unfurnished one-bedroom apartment in Toronto is $2,078.
“Rent control and [be] tougher on landlords asking for too many requirements to rent,” one person wrote.
Another added, “Get rid of [speed] cameras and help make rent affordable.”
Bring back the SkyDome
When it opened in 1989, the SkyDome made history as the world’s first stadium with a fully retractable roof. It has been home to the Toronto Blue Jays ever since. It has also hosted the Argos (until 2015) and the Raptors (from 1995 to 1999), as well as numerous concerts and events.
But in 2005, years after Rogers Communications purchased the team, the stadium was officially renamed the Rogers Centre. This move sparked controversy and still doesn’t sit well with many fans.
To this day, many Torontonians still refer to it as the SkyDome. Even the Blue Jays seem to acknowledge that sentiment with their “Work From Dome” promotion, where fans can bring laptops to the ballpark and catch a game while working remotely.
One user put it simply: “Change the name of Rogers Centre back to SkyDome.”
Another chimed in, “We still identify as SkyDome LMAO.”
Remove bike lanes
Bike lanes continue to be a contentious issue in Toronto, particularly with Ontario Premier Doug Ford targeting some of the city’s most prominent routes.
Back in January, the provincial government announced plans to remove bike lanes along Bloor Street, Yonge Street and University Avenue, citing traffic concerns. However, in April, the Superior Court of Justice put those plans on hold with an injunction. By June, CTV News reported that Ford and Chow were working together on the issue.
Naturally, bike lanes were a popular topic among Torontonians imagining themselves in the mayor’s chair.
“Take out all the bike lanes in downtown,” one person wrote.
“Get rid of bike lanes on major roads and move them onto residential streets,” a user said.
“Remove all bike lanes on main streets and get bikers to ride one street off the main road… Bam! The congestion problem is solved, and storefronts on main streets have their clients back,” another posted.
So many great ideas here — some of you might consider throwing your hat in the ring for next year’s Toronto mayoral election!
