The Toronto Police Service Board recently sought public input on a new Public Order Policy currently in development that will establish a policy on police action in respect to protests, demonstrations, and occupations. Below is the letter that SPT submitted on August 29, 2024.

Social Planning Toronto is a non-profit, charitable community organization that works to advance an equitable, inclusive, and accessible Toronto – shaped by the diversity of its residents and rooted in social and economic justice. Our work challenges inequity in our city – through knowledge generation, debate, civic engagement, advocacy, and collaboration – to spark social and policy change.

This letter was initially submitted to the Provincial Parliament of Ontario on May 15, 2024.

We are writing to express our recommendations concerning Bill 185, titled Cutting Red Tape to Build More Homes Act, 2024.

Black, Indigenous, racialized, 2SLGBTQ+, low-income and other equity-deserving communities are already underrepresented within public planning processes. As the affordable housing crisis continues to worsen across Ontario, it is imperative that equitable planning principles remain at the forefront of provincial planning decisions. We recognize that Ontario’s population is growing rapidly, and that we need to continue supporting development that is affordable and accessible to all, however, this cannot be done at the cost of losing our environmentally protected lands.

2024 federal budget taxes the really rich and makes significant strides on affordable housing, while falling far short on the Canada Disability Benefit

Strong community advocacy has paid off with important new investments in this year’s federal budget. Released on April 16, the 2024 federal budget raises significant revenue for public services by increasing taxes on the top 0.13 per cent of income earners, makes substantial new investments in affordable housing, and funds the creation of new child care centres. The budget advances the federal government’s recently released Housing Plan through several initiatives, including a $1.5 billion Canada Rental Protection Fund, Public Lands for Homes Plan, Rapid Housing funding stream, Canadian Renters’ Bill of Rights, and more. While offering meaningful improvements, the federal budget falls short on key items recommended by SPT and other community groups. The budget fails to provide a funding increase for the Canada Housing Benefit, matching funds required to purchase Toronto subway cars, and full funding for the Canada Disability Benefit.

Join SPT and Lindsay Kretschmer, Executive Director of the Toronto Aboriginal Support Services Council (TASSC) for a conversation about Indigenous prosperity and what eliminating poverty means for Indigenous community-based organizations in Toronto. Kenn Richard, consultant and author of the forthcoming Toronto Aboriginal Research Project 10-Year Legacy Review and Indigenous Prosperity Action Plan, speaks about the systemic change, investments, and long-term solutions needed for Indigenous people in Toronto to thrive and how non-Indigenous community-based organizations can partner and act as allies in this work.

Tackling the root causes of poverty is complex. Solutions involve multiple approaches and an "all hands-on deck" spirit, including all levels of government. Municipalities like the City of Toronto play a critical role. The City of Toronto will launch its Third Term Action Plan on the City’s Poverty Reduction Strategy (PRS) this spring. Join SPT for a conversation with Bryony Halpin, the City’s new Manager, Poverty Reduction, to hear about her approach to collaboration, collective impact, and human rights in the implementation of the next (PRS) Action Plan. Bryony is joined by Orpah Cundangan from the Tamarack Institute’s Communities Ending Poverty, a powerful collective impact movement comprised of 330 municipalities (including the City of Toronto) and represented by eighty regional roundtables.

SPT is currently creating a new communications plan, and we’re committed to ensuring that the voices of all of our supporters and community partners are heard in our communications work.

On the eve of final votes on the 2024 City Budget, SPT and 64 other community-based organizations and grassroots groups sent a joint letter to Toronto City Council, calling on all members to support the Mayor’s budget, including a property tax rate increase of 9.5% and no cuts to any of the service enhancements.

The 2024 federal budget presents an important opportunity for the Government of Canada to make substantial progress on its poverty reduction goals. Action in this area is desperately needed, much overdue, and depends on meaningful investments.

Across Canada, and in Toronto in particular, too many residents are struggling to make ends meet and afford the cost of living. Even though Toronto is one of the wealthiest cities in the world and contributes 21 percent towards Canada’s GDP, more than 1 in 5 residents live in poverty.¹ The Government of Canada must do its part to ensure that Toronto is a place of prosperity and belonging.

Social Planning Toronto calls on the Government of Ontario to make bold investments in the 2024 Budget to reduce the prevalence of poverty and its effects. To ensure that Ontario is a place where everyone can thrive and prosper, we recommend that the 2024 Budget focus on five key areas: improving social assistance, prioritizing decent work, investing in affordable housing and child care, and supporting municipal finances.