The City of Toronto’s $18.8 billion budget supports the operation of a broad range of programs and services, from affordable housing, public transit, and community services to public libraries, parks and recreation, public health programs, and many more.
City funding supports the work required to advance our collective commitments to reconciliation, equity, and human rights.
Budget process, the Mayor and the Councillors decide which services to fund (or cut), how much funding to provide, and how to pay for those services. The choices that Toronto City Council make shape the quality of life of residents and how we experience the city every day. Many of us are deeply concerned about our city — a city where housing is increasingly unaffordable, child poverty rates are skyrocketing, and infrastructure is breaking down.
Residents have an important role in the budget process. Active community participation in the budget process is essential to achieving a better budget for our city. Fortunately, there is no shortage of opportunities to learn more and participate in the City budget process.
Here are some ways you can get involved.
Join Social Planning Toronto and Partners for Our 2025 City Budget Town Hall
For decades, Social Planning Toronto has been offering budget town halls that translate complex budget documents from a social and economic justice lens so community organizations, groups, and residents can more effectively shape the City budget.
Thursday, January 16
2:00 - 4 p.m.
Online
Speakers include:
- Sara Beyer, Canadian Centre for Housing Rights
- Diana Chan McNally, The Shift
- Daniella Leacock, Toronto Drop-In Network
- Stephen Mensah, Toronto Youth Cabinet
- Nigel Morton and August Puranauth, TTCRiders
- Saman Tabasinejad, Progress Toronto
- Beth Wilson, Social Planning Toronto
Please register to secure your spot for this virtual event.
If you require any accessibility support to attend the event, please contact Israt Ahmed, [email protected]
Learn About the Budget Process from Progress Toronto
City Budget 101
Wednesday, January 15
6 - 7:30 p.m.
Online
Join Councillor Alejandra Bravo’s Chief of Staff Wyndham Bettencourt-McCarthy and Councillor Gord Perks to learn more about the budget, the process, and how you can have your say.
Take Part in Mayor Chow and Budget Committee Chair Carroll’s Telephone Town Halls
Join Mayor Olivia Chow and Budget Committee Chair Councillor Shelley Carroll at a telephone town hall. Share your feedback on the 2025 City Budget. To participate, call 1-833-380-0687 (toll-free) at the time of the telephone town hall:
January 15
7:00 to 8:30 pm
January 16 (special for Toronto Community Housing Residents)
7:00 to 8:30 pm
January 23
7:00 to 8:30 pm
Have Your Say at the City of Toronto Budget Committee’s Public Hearings/Deputations
Speak to Budget Committee on January 21 or 22 in person or by video conference.
To register to speak email [email protected] or call 416-392-4666. Please choose a preferred day and timeslot (see list below) and register to speak by 4:30 p.m. the day before the meeting. Registered speakers will be provided with instructions about how to join the meeting.
The meetings will stream live on the City Council YouTube channel.
City Hall, Committee Room 1, 100 Queen St. W.
Tuesday, January 21
9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
1:30 to 4:30 p.m.
6:00 to 9:00 p.m.
Scarborough Civic Centre, Council Chamber, 150 Borough Dr.
Tuesday, January 21
9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
1:30 to 4:30 p.m.
6:00 to 9:00 p.m.
Etobicoke Civic Centre, Council Chamber, 399 The West Mall
Wednesday, January 22
9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
1:30 to 4:30 p.m.
6:00 to 9:00 p.m.
North York Civic Centre, Council Chamber, 5100 Yonge St.
Wednesday, January 22
9:30 am to 12:30 pm
1:30 to 4:30 p.m.
6:00 to 9:00 p.m.
Learn How to Make a Deputation at a Training Session
Housing Deputation Workshop for Renters with SPT and partners
January 17
7 p.m.
Online
This free, virtual workshop give you the tools to take action for this year's City Budget process and will focus on the role that the city can take in addressing the housing crisis, featuring presentations from expert housing organizations.
Partners: Social Planning Toronto (SPT), Don Valley Community Legal Services (DVCLS), The Neighbourhood Organization (TNO), Right to Housing Toronto (R2HTO) and Advocacy Centre for Tenants Ontario (ACTO).
January 20
6:30 - 8:30 pm
Online
This virtual workshop will help leaders gain confidence in delivering a powerful deputation for the 2025 City Budget. Participants will have a chance to share their ideas for a written or spoken deputation and receive feedback from Social Planning Toronto. We encourage participants to come to the workshop with their ideas.
Speaking at Budget Consultations with Progress Toronto
Progress Toronto will be hosting two events to help you prepare a deputation.
How to speak at Public Consultations
January 16
6 - 7:30 pm
Online
TYC Executive Director Stephen Mensah and Progress Toronto’s Executive Director Saman Tabasinejad will be leading this training. At this workshop you will learn the basics of making a deputation. You will learn how to read the committee agenda, sign up for a deputation, and prepare an impactful deputation.
Speaking at Budget Consultations Prep Session
January 19
12 - 1:30 pm
Online
Learn the basics of crafting a deputation, brainstorm what you’d like to speak about, and practice delivering an impactful speech.
Have Your Say: Toronto's Climate Plan with Toronto Climate Action Network
January 18
10a.m. - 1p.m.
Centre for Social Innovation, Spadina (192 Spadina Avenue)
Join TCAN for this consultation on the City of Toronto's climate strategy and the challenges and opportunities ahead of us. The second part of the event will focus on climate action and the 2025 City Budget. Information will be provided on how to depute at budget hearings and advocate for climate action and a greener, fairer, and more affordable Toronto for all.
Take Part in City Councillor Budget Town Halls
Ward 10 (Spadina-Fort York) and Ward 13 (Toronto Centre) Budget Town Hall
Hosted by Councillors Ausma Malik and Chris Moise
Thursday, January 16, 6:00 pm
Online
Details
Ward 18 (Willowdale) Budget Town Hall
Hosted by Councillor Lily Cheng
Saturday, January 18, 10:30 am.
Online
Details
Ward 4 (Parkdale-High Park) Budget Town Hall
Hosted by Councillor Gord Perks
Monday, January 20, 6:00 pm
Online
Details
Ward 17 (Don Valley North) Budget Town Hall
Hosted by Councillor Shelley Carroll
Monday, January 20, 7:00 pm
Parkway Forest Community Centre (55 Forest Manor Road), Multipurpose Room B
Details
Ward 9 (Davenport) Budget Town Hall
Hosted by Councillor Alejandra Bravo
Monday, January 20, 7:00 p.m.
New Horizons Tower (1140 Bloor St. West)
Details
Ward 24 (Scarborough-Guildwood) Budget Town Hall
Hosted by Councillor Paul Ainslie
Monday, January 20, 7:00 p.m.
Online
Details
City Budget 101 with Progress Toronto
January 16
6 p.m.
Details, register here
Virtual Budget Town Hall with City Councillor Paula Fletcher
Join Councillor Paula Fletcher and Mayor Olivia Chow for a virtual budget town hall. Anthony Ng, the City's Interim Executive Director of Financial Planning, will provide an overview of the 2024 budget, answer your questions, and hear your feedback.
January 25
7 p.m.
Online
Register here
Other Events and Campaigns
Thursday January 23
7:30pm-9:00pm
Online
Details
How to Phone Bank for a Better Budget (Progress Toronto)
Tuesday, January 28
5:30pm EST
Online
Details
Check our budget events page regularly for updates on newly announced events.
Have a budget event coming up? Let us know! Contact [email protected].
Did you miss a budget event? Find recordings from SPT-organized events here, including:
- A Deeper Dive into Revenue Tools with David Macdonald, Senior Economist from Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, and
- A City Budget Primer with August Puranauth and Kailin Chan from TTCriders.
Header image by storyset on Freepik