Rats are on the ballot in Canadian municipal elections this fall, with several political parties promising to tackle city rat problems. While rats may seem like a niche election issue, they can point to broader societal concerns about housing, public services and civic engagement.
Rats are ubiquitous urban residents that cities have attempted to evict for centuries. Often portrayed as dirty pests and bringers of plague, they can harbour pathogens that cause illnesses to people and pets, like rat bite fever and leptospirosis.
