Diana Chan McNally: Bringing community work to Toronto’s City Council
Release Date: 05/28/2026
Diana Chan McNally: Bringing community work to Toronto’s City Council
Needs No Introduction
This week, we welcome and spotlight community worker, homelessness advocate, and candidate for Toronto City Council, Diana Chan McNally. We discuss Chan McNally’s run to become City Councillor for Toronto’s Ward 4, Parkdale-High Park, top-of-mind issues for the Ward and the city, provincial encroachment on municipal government and her vision of bringing community work to municipal politics. Chan McNally says: “Part of why I'm running too, I also very much do not appreciate the provincial encroachment on municipalities. I have a history of fighting Ford. I have won resources from...
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info_outlineThis week, we welcome and spotlight community worker, homelessness advocate, and candidate for Toronto City Council, Diana Chan McNally. We discuss Chan McNally’s run to become City Councillor for Toronto’s Ward 4, Parkdale-High Park, top-of-mind issues for the Ward and the city, provincial encroachment on municipal government and her vision of bringing community work to municipal politics.
Chan McNally says:
“Part of why I'm running too, I also very much do not appreciate the provincial encroachment on municipalities. I have a history of fighting Ford. I have won resources from Ford, including $54 million for rents for people on the streets. Managed to win that from his government And I am ready to just let it rip against this guy because of his constant encroachment on our autonomy municipally, not just here, across the entire province. Strong Mayor powers. He's appointing regional councils instead of having them elected. The trustees, cutting them and then putting them under supervision. All of this is about taking away local democracy. It makes me so angry that I want to fight back as well and defend the city against what he's doing.”
About today’s guest:
Diana Chan McNally (she/they) is a former graduate and faculty member of the Community Worker Program at George Brown Polytechnic in Toronto, a long-time front-line worker, and a housing and harm reduction advocate. Chan McNally is currently running for Toronto City Council in Ward 4 Parkdale—High Park.
Visit Diana Chan McNally’s campaign at https://www.dianachanmcnally.ca/
Transcript of this episode can be accessed at georgebrown.ca/TommyDouglasInstitute.
Image: Diana Chan McNally / Used with permission
Music: Ang Kahora. Lynne, Bjorn. Rights Purchased.
Intro Voices: Ashley Booth (Podcast Announcer); Bob Luker (Tommy)
Courage My Friends podcast organizing committee: Chandra Budhu, Ashley Booth, Resh Budhu.
Produced by: Resh Budhu, Tommy Douglas Institute and Breanne Doyle, rabble.ca.
Host: Resh Budhu.