Independent candidate for Mayor of Toronto
Dr. Bahira Abdulsalam
PhD, P.Eng.
Toronto needs an engineer.
Power back to the people.
Let’s engineer our solutions.
Money in your pocket. Homes for all. Justice for all.
Dr. Bahira Abdulsalam, PhD, P.Eng. has spent three decades researching, building, and creating grassroots movements, and she’s done asking the architects of the problem to fix it. Fix what we have, spend honestly, put people first, and put power back in the hands of the people.
Mark your calendar, election day October 26
Election day, October 26, 2026
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Countdown to election day
Today is election day
day until Monday, October 26, 2026
Toronto needs an engineer. Mark your calendar, and vote.
Seven promises
What I’ll deliver for Toronto
A plan built around what a mayor actually controls, with the honest work of fighting for the rest.
Promise 1
Fix what we have
Toronto owns about $215 billion in infrastructure and faces an $18 billion repair gap. I’m an engineer: fix what we own first. Keep the Gardiner and DVP in Toronto’s hands, and fix them. Toronto is not for sale.
Promise 2
Homes you can afford
Keep public land public and put homes you can own on top of it, plus more affordable housing and real protection for tenants.
Freeze property tax for one year, and make sure tenants share the savings.
Promise 3
Transit that shows up
A free TTC, phased in and funded at every step, running often and on time. This city needs to flow more smoothly.
Promise 4
No more blank cheques
Honest budgets, open books, independent audits, a live projects dashboard, and a full public accounting of World Cup spending.
Promise 5
Build local opportunity first
Local businesses and hiring first, neighbourhood incubators in empty storefronts, and lower taxes for small business.
Promise 6
A city that educates, includes and grows
Libraries, affordable child care, accessibility, and a city that treats every resident equally.
Promise 7
Community safety
Guns and trafficking, violence interruption, the drug crisis as safety and health, a safer TTC, and ending human trafficking, with accountable policing and real supports.
How we pay for it
Every commitment is phased, and paid for
Free transit, a tax freeze and $0 child care are phased, and each phase starts only when its money is in place. The city pays first through a commercial parking levy and higher taxes on luxury homes, and I’ll fight for Queen’s Park and Ottawa to pay their share. Every dollar is published in the open.
About Bahira
An engineer who fixes what’s broken
Dr. Bahira Abdulsalam, PhD, P.Eng., is a structural engineer, educator and independent candidate for Mayor of Toronto. She answers to Torontonians, not a party.
Her pitch is simple: bring an engineer’s discipline to City Hall, fix what we have, spend honestly, and put people first.
I will value every Toronto resident equally, with equal dignity and fairness in city services, in hiring, and in decisions.
I am a proud Muslim hijabi, and I wear my hijab with pride. I am pro-Palestinian. I am an Independent candidate: I do not bow to any political party, and I do not accept donations from pro-Israel groups.
“None of us are free until Palestine is free.”
Elected PIAC Ward 14 Co-Representative (2023); elected Ward 14 parent representative on the TDSB French Student Achievement Community Advisory Committee (2025).
Campaign news
What’s new
October 7 because every life is sacred, freezing the police budget and moving the money into what actually prevents harm, and protected bike lanes that keep people safe, last, and give the public value for its money.
Article | Oct 18, 2026
“You Go”: What a Girl in Gaza Told Anthony Aguilar, and What Toronto Owes Her
She was a young girl in a purple backpack, carrying two empty boxes.
Open letter | Oct 17, 2026
An Open Question to Mayor Olivia Chow, Councillor Brad Bradford and Mr. Chris Alexander
An open letter on how a polling threshold narrowed a field of 53 certified candidates to two on the debate stage.
Article | Oct 16, 2026
The Debate Toronto Isn’t Having
The real issue is not how Toronto labels its money. It is that the city does not build what it promises.
Article | Oct 15, 2026
The Silk Painter
A city that cannot honour its elderly must question what progress truly means.
Article | Oct 15, 2026
One standard against hate must protect Muslims too
Fighting Islamophobia is part of my one standard, not an exception to it. A city that protects every community protects Muslims too.
Article | Oct 15, 2026
Doug Ford must keep his hands off Toronto
Toronto’s roads, waterfront and decisions belong to the people who live here, not to Queen’s Park.
Article | Oct 15, 2026
Bahira Abdulsalam: Why Not Olivia Chow?
Toronto is being told it has only two choices. Here is why not Olivia Chow, and why a vote for me is not a vote for Brad Bradford.
Article | Oct 15, 2026
Bahira Abdulsalam: I Will Repeal Toronto’s Bubble Zone Bylaw
Council was warned the bylaw likely infringes the Charter, and passed a broader version anyway.
Article | Oct 15, 2026
A Promise Is Not a Policy: Canada Must Act on Illegal Settlements Now, and Toronto’s Leading Candidates Must Say Where They Stand
Canada has already promised to ban settlement goods. Toronto’s leading candidates for mayor should say whether they support keeping that promise.
Article | Oct 14, 2026
If I Get Elected as the Next Toronto Mayor, I Will Call for Netanyahu’s Arrest: Bahira Abdulsalam
International law is not optional, and it doesn’t apply only to people we don’t like.
Opinion | Oct 14, 2026
Child Protection
Parents as partners, age-appropriate learning, and every child safe in the city.
Opinion | Oct 14, 2026
A Real Answer to Homelessness
Toronto will end chronic homelessness within 10 years, and cut it in half within my first term.
Opinion | Oct 13, 2026
The Ballot Has 53 Names. The Debates Have Three.
More than fifty people are on Toronto’s ballot for mayor on October 26. Most voters will only ever hear from three of them.
Opinion | Oct 13, 2026
When Feeding Children Becomes a Campaign Boast, Toronto Has a Problem
No child in this city should sit in a classroom hungry. But when that meal becomes the centrepiece of a re-election campaign, we need to be honest about what it means.
Opinion | Oct 12, 2026
A Quarter of Toronto Was Undecided. This Is for Them.
A quarter of voters hadn’t decided. That is the real story of this election.
Opinion | Oct 12, 2026
The Voice the Panel Left Out
A CityNews panel called this a two-way race. Toronto has a third choice, and here are my answers.
Opinion | Oct 12, 2026
Toronto’s Youth Are Not a Pilot Project
Youth programs will be permanent, not pilots. Safe spaces will be open all year, not only in July.
Opinion | Oct 12, 2026
Rent in the Dark: Why Toronto Needs a Rent Registry
Every landlord in Toronto knows what similar units rent for. Tenants have none of that information.
Opinion | Oct 12, 2026
Bahira Abdulsalam, Mayoral Candidate, City of Toronto 2026: You Did Everything Right
You studied. You worked. You did everything you were told would lead somewhere.
Opinion | Oct 11, 2026
When Capitalists Use Hunger to Maintain Power
Take a good look at this weekend’s photo from Daily Bread Food Bank.
Opinion | Oct 11, 2026
Bahira Abdulsalam: Why Olivia Chow and Brad Bradford Need to Go
Toronto is being told it has two choices on October 26.
Out in the community
On the campaign trail
Meeting Torontonians at community events across the city.
In the media
Bahira in the media
Amato Media Group | Oct 7, 2026
Radio Islam International interview | Oct 5, 2026
Wesal TV | Sep 4–5, 2026
Immigrants step into Ontario municipal politics, urge others to vote
Salaamedia interview: watch on this page | Jul 2, 2026
National Citizens Inquiry testimony | Nov 8, 2025
Dr. Bahira Abdulsalam testifies at the Brandon, Manitoba hearings: “Are Children Safe in Canada?”
GTA Muslims Today interview | Apr 28, 2025
Bridge City News interview | Sep 15, 2023
Zoomer Radio, The Morning Zoom with Sam & Jane | Jun 15, 2023
Toronto Mayoral Candidate Bahira Abdulsalam joins The Morning Zoom with Sam & Jane
ListenZoomer Radio page
Respark Your Life podcast with Raymond Aaron | May 11, 2023
Episode 211: Bahira Abdulsalam: Immigrant to Mayor
ListenEpisode pageApple PodcastsSpotify (show)YouTube (playlist)
Pledges and endorsements
The plan
One page per topic
See every issue in one place: A Plan for Toronto
- Housing: public land stays public, Housing First, fair renting and a rental registry.
- Ending Homelessness: Housing First, a home for everyone living outside, and a 10-year target to end chronic homelessness.
- Transit & Streets: free TTC phased in, fix what we have, streets that move.
- Fair share for Scarborough, Etobicoke and North York: Every part of Toronto gets its fair share, not just downtown.
- Community Safety: freeze the police budget and put illegal guns, trafficking and child exploitation first.
- Money & Taxes: how we pay for it, the budget table, and forensic review. Property tax: a one-year freeze on residential property taxes, then taxes geared to what households can afford to pay.
- Opportunity & Jobs: local business, fair contracts, and a city that works for workers.
- Labour: Standing with Toronto’s workers: fair wages, public services, and dignity on the job.
- Families & Community: $0 child care phased in, hot lunch, health, students, libraries and community centres.
- Groceries you can afford: A public grocery pilot so families pay less for food.
- Environment & Water: fix the pipes, green city buildings, keep public land and water public.
- Reconciliation: city land, naming, hiring and partnership; land, water and Treaty as a moral floor.
- About Bahira: engineer, educator, independent candidate.
“Indeed, Allah does not change the condition of a people until they change what is within themselves.”
Qur’an 13:11
Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.
Margaret Mead, anthropologist
Toronto will no longer throw its people away. It will be the place that takes care of its people, and I will change the rules of the game.
Join the movement
Volunteer with the campaign, canvassing, phones, flyers, events, and more. People lead the government, government serves the people.
Prefer email only? Write bethechangeno1@gmail.com with subject “Count me in”, call (647) 785-3729.
Get campaign updates
Join Bahira’s email list for news from the campaign. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Contribute
A people-powered campaign
No corporate money. No union money. Just people who want a city that takes care of its people. If you can chip in, it helps us reach more Torontonians.
Toronto contribution rebate (2026)
The City of Toronto rebates a portion of eligible contributions on a sliding scale, up to a $1,000 maximum. This is not a blanket “75% back”: the 75% rate applies only to gifts of $300 or less (and nothing for $25 or less). A full $2,500 gift still returns at most $1,000.
How the formula works
- $25 or less: no rebate
- $25–$300: 75% of the amount (e.g. $200 → $150)
- Over $300 up to $1,000: (amount − $300) × 50% + $225 (e.g. $650 → $400)
- Over $1,000: (amount − $1,000) × 33.33% + $575, capped at $1,000
Examples (mayoral limit $2,500)
| Donor gave | City returns |
|---|---|
| $100 | $75.00 |
| $300 | $225.00 |
| $500 | $325.00 |
| $1,000 | $575.00 |
| $2,000 | $908.33 |
| $2,275+ | $1,000.00 (cap) |
This takes time. The campaign must opt into the program and file an audited financial statement. Online claims open October 2026; claim deadline December 30, 2027. Rebate cheques typically arrive in early 2028, not right after you give.
Ready to contribute?
Suggested amounts: $25, $50, $100, $250, or any amount up to the $2,500 legal limit. This is not a payment page. Use the contribution form to send your details, then transfer funds to the campaign.
Support the campaign. To make a contribution, please contact the campaign at 647-785-3729. All contributions are received and receipted in accordance with Ontario’s Municipal Elections Act, 1996.
The rules, plainly
- Only individuals normally resident in Ontario can contribute. No corporations or unions. It’s the law.
- The limit is $2,500 to this candidate, and $5,000 combined for Toronto Mayor + Council candidates.
- Anything over $25 must be given by a method that records your name and address (cheque or card); no anonymous cash above that.
- Contributions over $100: name and address become public via City disclosure.
- We will send you a contribution receipt after we verify funds. Official City rebate receipts (if eligible) are issued via EFFS. See the rebate details above.
Questions? Email bethechangeno1@gmail.com, call (647) 785-3729.
Election day
Monday, October 26, 2026
Advance Voting, October 6–11, 2026
Mark your calendar, and vote. Toronto needs an engineer.
We acknowledge that Toronto is on the traditional territory of many nations including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee and the Wendat peoples, and is now home to many diverse First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples. We also acknowledge that Toronto is covered by Treaty 13 signed with the Mississaugas of the Credit, and the Williams Treaties signed with multiple Mississaugas and Chippewa bands.
Dr. Bahira Abdulsalam
PhD, P.Eng., Founder, Be The Change Movement
People lead the government. Government serves the people.
Let’s engineer our solutions.
Email bethechangeno1@gmail.com
Call (647) 785-3729
© 2026
bahira.ca
Toronto, Ontario
Authorized by the campaign to elect Bahira Abdulsalam for Mayor.
