---
title: "Three high-profile candidates contest Scarborough North council seat"
description: "Incumbent Jamaal Myers holds the Ward 23 seat won under unusual circumstances in 2022 and faces challenges from two former federal Liberal MPs, Han Dong and Shaun Chen."
canonical_url: "https://voche.me/on/toronto-2026/news/scarborough-north-ward-23-myers-dong-chen-october-16"
last_updated: "2026-10-17T18:40:00.501Z"
---

Eight candidates are on the ballot in Ward 23 Scarborough North on October 26. Global News reported on October 16 that three of them are drawing the most attention: the sitting councillor and two former members of Parliament who both held Liberal seats in the House of Commons.

[Jamaal Myers](/on/toronto-2026/candidates/jamaal-myers) is seeking to hold the seat he first won in 2022 under circumstances that were unusual even for a contested race. According to Global News, the councillor who held the ward before him, Cynthia Lai, died on the eve of that election day. Myers won and also served as chair of the Toronto Transit Commission board during his term.

[Han Dong](/on/toronto-2026/candidates/han-dong) and [Shaun Chen](/on/toronto-2026/candidates/shaun-chen) are both entering local politics after federal careers in the same party. Global News reports that Dong told the outlet he does not currently live in Ward 23 but plans to move there if elected. Chen told Global News he resigned his federal seat because of lasting health effects from a car crash, then entered the council race.

## The six-plex vote

A 2025 Toronto council vote on six-plex housing sits at the centre of this race. The council was deciding whether to allow six-unit buildings on residential lots across the whole city, to meet the terms of federal funding agreements. Global News reports that Myers was the only suburban councillor to vote in favour of the change for his ward.

Myers said at the time, as quoted by Global News: "We did the work of answering a lot of questions, making sure there was no misinformation, having as many meetings as people wanted."

Both Dong and Chen have said that vote was a mistake. Dong told Global News: "We're not a testing pit, I think that needs to be consulted neighbourhood-to-neighbourhood." He directed criticism at Chen for not speaking out when Chen represented the area federally, saying the MP had not expressed any opinion on the issue in 11 years in the position, and that residents are frustrated.

Chen told Global News it was not his place as a federal representative to press on that local council decision. He said Scarborough North being the only suburban ward to opt in remains a live issue for residents, and added: "As the local councillor, I will make sure that I do my homework" before making decisions on local character.

## The wider argument

Beyond the zoning dispute, Global News reports that Myers has framed his campaign around getting a fair share of city resources for Scarborough. He told the outlet: "We're also seeing the type of care and attention that other wards take for granted." He has also said he will make sure whichever candidate wins the mayoral race keeps Scarborough in the conversation on investments.

The other five candidates registered in Ward 23 are Sajawal Javed, Kevin Li, John-Mark Oleh, Ronald Phen, and Piravena Sathiyanantham.

Voters in Ward 23 can read candidate profiles at [/on/toronto-2026/races/councillor/ward-23-scarborough-north](/on/toronto-2026/races/councillor/ward-23-scarborough-north). Election day is October 26, 2026.

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