About City Budget Watch
Social Planning Toronto's City Budget Watch is back for the 2020 City of Toronto budget process! We'll be bringing you up-to-date reports and analysis on each step of the City budget process from launch date on Friday, January 10, to final votes at City Council on February 19. We'll let you know how you can learn more, get involved, and have your say on the 2020 budget.
The City Budget Watch Blog is authored by Beth Wilson. Beth is our lead on policy and research at Social Planning Toronto, starting at our organization in 2002. She has a Master of Social Work (MSW), Policy, Organization and Community.
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Latest Posts
2022 City Budget: City Council Passes Austerity Budget Despite Multiple and Mounting Crises
On February 17, Toronto City Council passed the 2022 City budget, making only minor changes to the original staff-recommended budget launched one month ago. Despite thousands of residents calling for a better bolder budget that would respond to the multiple and mounting crises impacting communities, Toronto City Council opted for a status quo budget that failed to meet the moment.
2022 City Budget: Budget and Executive Committees Make No Changes to Draft Budget - No New Funding, No Reallocation of Police Budget
The Budget Committee and Executive Committee have concluded their work on the 2022 City of Toronto budget, making no changes to the staff-recommended budget launched nearly one month ago. No new funding was added to introduce or expand programs and services, beyond what was already included in the staff-recommended budget. One attempt to reallocate a small amount from the increase to the police budget to programs to support tenant housing conditions was defeated at Budget Committee.
2022 City Budget: Strong Calls to Cut the Police Budget, Support Climate Action, and Fund Critical Services at Budget Deputations
The 2022 City budget process has advanced to its final stages with the Budget Committee concluding its work on February 7, the Executive Committee set to review the budget today, Friday, February 11, and Toronto City Council to meet for final budget votes on Thursday, February 17. At public hearings, residents and community groups spoke with frustration and anger about plans to increase the police budget while urgent action is needed to address mounting and multiple crises in affordable housing, emergency shelter and supports, overdose prevention, public transit, climate action, child care, long-term care, seniors services and more - none of which require the police.
Budget Resources
Budget Analysis & News
"Toronto After a Decade of Austerity: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly"
This report looks at how our city has progressed, declined, or stagnated — when it comes to housing, child care, public transit, and cycling and walking — as a result of budget choices made over the past decade. Learn why it's urgent that we move away from austerity toward building a more affordable, fair, & caring city.
Partner Analysis
Our partners are also analyzing the budget through various lenses. Read some of their work here »
Media Coverage
On the budget:
- A date with big city budgets
- Toronto's proposal for balanced budget needs $77 million from federal government
- Toronto's infrastructure costs don’t end once construction is done
On housing:
On growing support for a tax on vacant homes and higher taxes on luxury homes:
- City puts plan to tax vacant homes on hold, but the idea isn't dead quite yet
- Canada needs a lot more rental housing. A tax on empty condos is part of the solution
- City Councillor favours tax on vacant homes in Toronto
- Growing push to tax both vacant, luxury homes during city's budget process
- Toronto's 2020 budget is just a chapter in a bigger book
- Toronto should put a tax on vacant homes
- Toronto’s 2020 budget would be improved with a tax on vacant homes
- Proposal for more real estate taxes is expected to heat up Toronto’s budget debate
On marginalization and inequity:
- No extra funding for Toronto fund that helps prevent evictions
- Toronto’s economic boom is not being felt in every neighbourhood
On gun violence:
- $6M anti-violence funding boost passes first budget hurdle, prompting both praise and concern
- ‘It’s good to see the city invest in communities again’: Tory’s promise for $6 million to youth programs brings hope of shift on gun violence
- Days after Airbnb killings, Mayor Tory pledges $6 million in new money for youth violence prevention
- Toronto's 2020 budget proposal has little city funding to respond to escalating gun violence
On transit and transportation:
- TTC fare enforcement crackdown doesn’t feel all that fair
- How the Gardiner Expressway hogs the road during budget talks
- Op-ed: The city balances its budget on the backs of students
- Billions to spend on transit renewal but what do we get?
- TTC staff release $4.6B shopping list, including new vehicles, station upgrades
- Toronto’s new streetcars are sleeker and roomier, but you could be waiting up to 25 per cent longer for a ride
- TTC's 10-cent fare hike doesn’t buy much transit
- Will Toronto be getting more new streetcars? The battle begins today with the city's draft budget
On libraries:
Get Involved!
Support the Vacant Homes Tax
It didn't make it into the 2020 City Budget, but we need to keep pushing for Council to take this action—one of the many needed to address our housing crisis—in 2021.
Send a message supporting the tax to your local City Councillor and the Mayor »