Conventional wisdom dictates that a tough, mud-slinging provincial election would usually eclipse a mere municipal mayoral race. But in Toronto, that is just not the case. The five main candidates poised to succeed Mel Lastman as mayor of Toronto have held well-attended policy debates and, perhaps more importantly, people are asking tough-minded questions about the future of the mega-city.

One organization that is determined to help guide the vision of Toronto-and other Canadian municipalities-is Canada25. A non-partisan group, Canada25’s mandate is to represent the voices and ideas of Canadians, aged 20 to 35, at the nation’s public policy level. In an effort to help provide a forum for these and other concerns, the group, in conjunction with the Joseph L. Rotman School of Management, will sponsor a mayoral policy debate on Oct. 1.

“This debate is quite important because the issues addressed effect Torontonians on a daily basis,” said Kaley MacDonald, 25, a Queen’s University graduate and volunteer for the organization. “Provincial politics, though important, effects residents in a broad way. Municipal politics effects people on a whole level: from transit, to waterfront re-development, to students at the university, to the average citizen.”

While the debate offers an opportunity for the public to ask questions and address their concerns, the five mayoral contenders must also answer pre-determined questions that focus on eight themes highlighted by Canada25. These eight themes are: the impact of urban sprawl, the necessity for a national inner and inter-city public transit system, the need to maximize the benefits of immigration, the issue of urban poverty, the importance of fostering the arts, the consequence of neglecting the economic development of the city and the inadequacy of universities to foster economic and innovative development within the nation.

“Each candidate will be asked specific questions based on their platform and have an opportunity to answer general questions posed by both the public and Canada25 representatives,” said MacDonald.

The debate will be held on Wednesday, Oct. 1, in the Joseph L. Rotman School of Management, at U of T, 105 St. George Street. The five expected candidates, Barbara Hall, Tom Jakobek, David Miller, John Nunziata, and John Tory, will arrive at 6:45 p.m. and will answer questions and debate policy until 8:30 p.m. The debate is free for all who would like to attend.