Parthi Kandavel campaigns in Scarborough amid OPP probe

Toronto City Councillor Parthi Kandavel is campaigning to retain his seat in Scarborough Southwest as an ongoing Ontario Provincial Police investigation casts a shadow over his political future. Winning his previous municipal contest by less than 800 votes, the incumbent faces a crowded ballot while dealing with an inquiry sparked by a developer complaint.

Ontario Provincial Police Probe Shakes Scarborough Southwest Campaign

The municipal campaign took a tense turn during a candidate forum at the West Scarborough Neighbourhood Community Centre, where the police investigation dominated public questions.

The probe stems from a July 2025 complaint sent to Toronto’s integrity commissioner by a developer representative. Under municipal rules, the commissioner must notify police upon finding reasonable grounds that a crime occurred, triggering the referral two weeks later. The exact details of the complaint remain unreleased by authorities. Two individuals connected to separate Scarborough Southwest developments told the Toronto Star that Kandavel allegedly asked them to arrange six-figure payments to third parties while their projects awaited city approval. Kandavel has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing.

Colleagues Disagree on Kandavel's Voting Approach

Kandavel has operated as an independent figure on city council since winning a 2023 byelection. Two sources told the Toronto Star that some colleagues were uneasy about his approach. Incumbent Councillor Josh Matlow disputed that characterization, stating he never witnessed Kandavel take a transactional approach to voting and praising Kandavel for reflecting constituent interests rather than factional politics.

Supporters emphasize Kandavel’s deep roots in the community and focus on localized infrastructure. Peter Thachuk noted that while his group is not endorsing candidates, they have worked alongside Kandavel to oppose sweeping municipal changes like citywide sixplex legalization. Thachuk told the Toronto Star that he is withholding judgment on the OPP investigation until facts become clear.

Contrasting Views From Former Office Staff

Internal workplace dynamics have emerged as another point of discussion during the campaign. Five former staffers offered mixed accounts of Kandavel’s leadership style during his council tenure. Three former employees described a high-pressure environment marked by significant staff turnover and initial organizational challenges following a compressed transition period after the byelection. Conversely, two other ex-staffers described Kandavel as an impassioned mentor who maintained an open-door policy and drove hard to address historic underinvestment in the Scarborough area. Kandavel acknowledged experiencing staff turnover but stated that his office found its rhythm by 2025.

Challengers Press the Incumbent on Transparency

Eight candidates appear on the ballot for the Scarborough Southwest ward, including Kevin Rupasinghe, who finished as the runner-up to Kandavel in the 2023 race. Rivals used the community forum to press the transparency issue without naming the incumbent directly. “We deserve to have a councillor who can be there at every table, who can be there without a cloud,” Rupasinghe told the audience. Candidate Sharmina Nasrin pledged to introduce a motion ending closed-door meetings between councillors and developers if elected. The OPP has not disclosed when its ongoing investigation will conclude, and Kandavel has not received a public update from the police force.