Xue Ding Brings Financial, Technology and Business Experience to Toronto’s Ward 10 Council Race

TORONTO, Ontario, Oct. 1, 2026 —Shaoren Gou, Canada & World Report— Xue Ding, a candidate for Toronto City Council in Ward 10, Spadina–Fort York, is campaigning on a platform focused on responsible taxation, stronger financial oversight, more efficient municipal services, community safety, transportation and support for local businesses.

According to the campaign, Ding and her team have conducted outreach to approximately 80,000 households to date. Through those conversations, she has heard directly from residents concerned about the rising cost of living, property taxes, housing affordability, public safety, traffic congestion and the quality and efficiency of city services.

Ding said the extensive community outreach has reinforced her belief that Toronto residents expect City Hall to manage public money more carefully and deliver measurable results.

“Many residents are worried about rapidly rising living costs and increasing tax burdens, while small and medium-sized businesses are struggling to remain competitive,” Ding said. “People work hard for their money, and they deserve a municipal government that uses public funds responsibly, operates transparently and delivers services efficiently.”

Ding is one of eight certified candidates seeking to represent Ward 10 in Toronto’s 2026 municipal election. Her campaign slogan, “Let’s Refresh Toronto,” reflects what she describes as a practical approach to renewing municipal government through professional management, responsible economic development and stronger connections between City Hall and local communities.

Xue Ding speaks with residents in Ward 10, Spadina–Fort York.

From a Teenage Immigrant to a Toronto Professional

Ding came to Canada from China with her parents in 2004, when she was 15 years old. She began Grade 9 in Toronto and completed her high school education in the city before attending the University of Waterloo.

At university, Ding pursued studies in statistics and computational mathematics, with additional academic training in mathematical finance, economics and actuarial science. She said the combination of quantitative analysis, financial knowledge and technology has shaped how she evaluates government programs, budgets and long-term policy decisions.

Ding began her professional career with Citibank in a position involving finance, technology and financial technology. She later accumulated approximately 10 years of professional experience in Toronto’s financial district.

Her career has also included work connected with the Ontario and federal governments. Ding said that experience allowed her to observe how government policies are developed, administered and communicated to businesses and the public.

She believes her combined private- and public-sector experience would help her assess municipal proposals, examine the financial consequences of city decisions and identify opportunities to improve service delivery.

“Toronto needs representatives who understand both numbers and people,” Ding said. “A budget is not simply a financial document. It determines whether residents receive reliable services, whether communities remain safe and livable, and whether businesses have the confidence to invest and create jobs.”

Xue Ding during an interview with CP24 at 4 p.m. on Sept. 17, 2026.

 Experience Supporting Businesses and Communities

Ding established her first business before graduating from university. For more than a decade, she has been involved in entrepreneurship and consulting in the areas of technology, finance, business development and government policy.

After balancing her business with other professional responsibilities for several years, Ding moved into her consulting work on a full-time basis approximately one year ago.

Through Mi Tech & Consulting, Ding works with small and medium-sized businesses to help them understand government policies, connect with appropriate resources, develop new markets and improve their operations through technology and digital transformation.

She said her work has given her first-hand knowledge of the pressure facing local businesses, including rising operating costs, commercial uncertainty and the difficulty of navigating complicated government processes.

Ding believes municipal government should make it easier for entrepreneurs and community organizations to understand city policies and access municipal services. She also supports creating stronger connections among local businesses, educational institutions and employment programs.

“Small and medium-sized businesses are essential to Toronto’s economy,” Ding said. “They create jobs, serve neighbourhoods and give newcomers and young people opportunities to build careers. City Hall should be a partner in their success, not another source of unnecessary delay or confusion.”

A Direct Connection to Ward 10

Ding has had a connection to Ward 10 since investing in a condominium in the area in 2018. She now lives in downtown Toronto and said her experience as a local resident has allowed her to witness both the opportunities and the challenges facing the ward.

Spadina–Fort York includes rapidly growing residential communities, major employment centres, cultural institutions, entertainment districts, waterfront neighbourhoods and some of Toronto’s busiest transportation corridors.

Ding said residents across the ward may have different backgrounds, but many raise similar concerns: housing costs, public safety, traffic, transit reliability, neighbourhood cleanliness, access to city services and confidence in municipal decision-making.

Her decision to enter municipal politics was also encouraged by Marc Kealey, a longtime friend who now serves as her campaign director and chief political adviser. Ding said the encouragement of friends, residents and members of the business community helped convince her that her professional experience could be used in public service.

Her family has also supported her decision to seek office.

Ding said she chose to begin her political journey at the municipal level because city government has a direct effect on residents’ daily lives. Rather than seeking provincial or federal office, she wants to begin by addressing practical issues in Toronto’s neighbourhoods and representing residents at City Hall.

“Public service should begin with the community,” Ding said. “The role of a city councillor is to listen, understand local concerns and ensure that residents have a strong and effective voice in municipal decision-making.”

Xue Ding with her campaign manager, Marc Kealey.

Responsible Taxation and Municipal Spending

One of Ding’s central campaign priorities is the relationship between taxes, city spending and service quality.

She supports reviewing municipal finances to identify inefficiencies, improve accountability and ensure that tax dollars are directed toward essential services and measurable community needs.

Ding said fiscal responsibility does not automatically mean reducing important programs. Instead, she wants the city to examine how services are organized, how contracts and proposals are evaluated, and how technology can reduce unnecessary administrative costs.

Her goal is to improve municipal efficiency while protecting the services on which residents depend.

Ding also supports clearer communication about city spending so residents can more easily understand where their tax dollars go and what results are being achieved.

“Residents should not have to choose between responsible taxation and reliable public services,” Ding said. “The city must become more efficient, more transparent and more disciplined in how it plans and spends.”

Community Safety and Quality of Life

Ding has also identified public safety and neighbourhood conditions as major concerns in Ward 10.

She supports stronger coordination among municipal departments, community organizations, mental-health services and public-safety agencies. She believes the city must respond to immediate safety concerns while also addressing the social and health-related conditions that can contribute to disorder and instability.

Ding said residents and businesses deserve clean, safe and accessible public spaces. She also wants city services to respond more effectively to neighbourhood complaints and provide clearer follow-up when residents report local problems.

Her broader goal is to create a community where residents feel secure, businesses can operate confidently and public spaces remain welcoming to everyone.

Housing and Affordability

Housing affordability is another major component of Ding’s campaign.

She supports increasing the supply of housing, improving the efficiency of municipal approval processes and working with the provincial and federal governments to secure additional housing resources for Toronto.

Ding also recognizes the need to protect tenants and preserve existing affordable housing while the city pursues new development.

She said the housing crisis cannot be resolved by one level of government acting alone. City Hall must work with other governments, developers, nonprofit organizations and community partners to produce practical and financially sustainable solutions.

Transportation and Technology

With a background in technology and financial analysis, Ding supports using data, digital systems and artificial intelligence to improve transportation management and municipal operations.

She believes better use of technology could help the city analyze traffic patterns, coordinate road work, provide more accurate public information and make municipal services easier for residents to access.

Ding said technology should not replace public accountability or human judgment. Instead, it should help the city make better decisions, reduce delays and respond more quickly to changing conditions.

Her transportation priorities include improving coordination, reducing avoidable congestion and ensuring that residents can move safely and efficiently through the ward.

Jobs and Opportunities for Young People

Ding also wants Toronto to provide stronger employment and career-development opportunities for young people.

She supports closer cooperation among the city, businesses, colleges, universities and community organizations to expand internships, workplace training and entry-level career opportunities.

Ding said young people need pathways to stable employment with opportunities for advancement, rather than being limited to short-term or insecure work.

She believes Toronto’s financial, technology, cultural and creative industries can play an important role in providing those opportunities if municipal government helps connect employers with local talent.

 A Commitment to Practical Municipal Leadership

Ding describes her campaign as the first step in a long-term commitment to public service.

If elected, she said she would bring her experience in finance, technology, government and entrepreneurship to the review of municipal budgets, policies and proposals. She would also maintain direct communication with residents and businesses throughout the four-year council term, not only during an election campaign.

Her campaign’s outreach to approximately 80,000 households represents an effort to understand the different concerns of residents across Ward 10 and build a community-based agenda for City Hall.

“Toronto has enormous potential, but the city needs a renewed approach to financial management, economic development and public service,” Ding said. “I am running to help make Toronto cleaner, safer, more affordable, more efficient and better prepared for the future.”

Advance voting in Toronto’s 2026 municipal election will take place from Oct. 6 to 11, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Election Day is Monday, Oct. 26, 2026, with voting locations open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

About Xue Ding

Xue Ding is a financial and technology professional, entrepreneur and business consultant who has lived in Toronto for more than 20 years. Her experience includes finance, technology, business consulting, government-related work and support for small and medium-sized businesses.

Ding is a candidate for Toronto City Council in Ward 10, Spadina–Fort York, in the Oct. 26, 2026 municipal election.

Media Contact:

Steven Zhao
Canada & World Report
zhao@canadanewsreport.com