As the country struggled to make sense of the shooting death of a young soldier near Parliament Hill on Wednesday, security was pushed to the top of the agenda in a televised debate between Toronto’s three leading mayoral candidates.

All three candidates offered condolences Wednesday night to the family of Canadian Forces reservist Cpl. Nathan Frank Cirillo, who was gunned down as he guarded the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Ottawa.

Then they addressed whether such an act, which may have been motivated by extremist views, will put pressure on a multicultural city.

“I remember a phenomenal speech by (Toronto Police Chief) Bill Blair,” said Chow. “He said the best way to keep our community safe is to build bridges among each other.”

Tory added that he had visited all types of religious institutions while campaigning and that, “the vast, vast, vast majority of people are law abiding people (who) have good values.”

Ford responded that, “ninety-nine per cent of us all get along.”

So what do they believe can be done to keep Torontonians safe?

Chow responded that she believes, “we should always let professionals make that judgement.”

Tory agreed that experts must be consulted. “I think the key here is to make a decision about what you do about future security needs based on the facts.”

Ford suggested there ought to be more security at places like City Hall and Union Station.

On reducing gun violence in the city

A related topic was how the mayoral candidates intend to fight gun violence, like the type that killed teenagers Zaid Athir Youssef and Michael Menjivar outside a school in Etobicoke earlier this month.

Ford suggested educating young people is the answer.

Tory said that, while education is important, a healthy economy would also help. “A job in the family and amongst some of the young people is going to make a difference to them heading off in the wrong direction.”

He added that federal officials also need to do more to stop the flow of illegal handguns at the border. “It seems some days they make more effort trying to nab somebody with a bottle of wine in their suitcase than they do finding a trunk of illegal guns.”

Chow said the next mayor needs to consider “the root causes of violence,” like poverty. “I’m the only candidate that is promising to invest in after-school activities.”

How the next mayor would get Torontonians moving

Each candidate was asked how they would reduce gridlock.

Tory touted his “SmartTrack” plan for a frequent train service built mostly on existing GO Transit rail lines. It would have 22 stops and be built in seven years.

“It’s not the much, much longer period of time my two friends are talking about,” he said.

He added that the city also needs to address “reliability,” because transit users get frustrated when they wait for streetcars for “10 or 15 minutes and then three come.”

Ford committed to building subways, “without increasing taxes.” He also criticized Tory’s and Chow’s willingness to go ahead with plans to build light rail lines (LRT) along Sheppard, Eglinton and Finch Avenues.

“They’re going to rip up the roads,” said Ford. “I’m the only person who’s going to make this a world-class city with world-class subway system.”

Chow said she would immediately improve bus services and begin work on a “downtown subway relief line.”

Both Chow and Ford questioned whether Tory’s SmartTrack proposal could be achieved in seven years, in part because it may require tunnelling underground.

Chow also questioned where the money would come from. “For four years now, Mayor Ford has said we can build a subway and somehow we don’t have to pay a penny for it,” she said. “John Tory is saying the same thing, ‘Oh we can borrow a huge amount of money and somehow the money will materialize later.”

Closing statements

Chow closed on a positive note. “I believe in building this city,” she said. “I will work to make sure nobody is left behind. Not you, not your business, not your neighbours, not your children -- no one.”

“If there’s one thing I learned from Jack,” she added, referring to her late husband and NDP leader Jack Layton, “it is that hope is better than fear. Vote based on hope, not fear. Vote for a hopeful future."

In Ford’s closing statement, he focused on finances. “When we first started, the city was in desperate financial shape,” he said. “I’m proud to stay, since we’ve been fiscal prudent managers of your money, we have a $248-million surplus. This is critical for transit in this city.”

Tory, meanwhile, emphasized cohesion. “We need to focus on standing together as the city, so that we can build the city up, address the neighbourhoods that are isolated, address the need for more jobs to come to the city [and] get the transit built. We have to stand together to do that."