From Federal Minister to Local Advocate | Toronto News

Toronto News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! · Aug 23, 2026 · 1m

Former federal housing minister Nathaniel Erskine-Smith is running for Toronto city council, ditching national policy for hyper-local fixes like speeding up lead pipe and electrical panel upgrades—stuck in bureaucratic limbo—and calling the outdated property tax system a missed opportunity. After political turbulence—including being dropped from cabinet and losing a provincial leadership bid—he’s framing his council run as a return to community roots, not a backup plan. Grounded in public service and buoyed by ties to Mayor Olivia Chow, he’s betting that tackling everyday problems with…