On February 18, Toronto City Council passed the 2021 City budget. City Council made few changes to the original staff-recommended (draft) budget launched back on January 14. Most significant, the budget shortfall resulting from the pandemic has been reduced to $649 million (plus an additional $15.4 million that is unfunded and required from the provincial government for supportive housing and $61 million that is unfunded and required from the federal government for supports for refugees). 

Housing is a matter of human rights, public health, and racial justice. Every order of government has a responsibility to act. What about Toronto?

The Budget Committee's work on the 2021 City of Toronto budget is almost complete. Following the budget launch on January 14, the committee met to review the budget on January 20-22, receiving presentations from City staff, asking questions of staff, and voting on motions to request briefing notes to inform budget decisions. This week, the committee hosted two days of public hearings/deputations to hear from the public (Jan 25+26) and met for its first of two wrap up meetings. At the January 28th wrap up meeting, the committee received staff reports and briefing notes and had an opportunity to ask questions of staff. Here are the highlights from these recent jam-packed weeks.