On February 10, Toronto City Council met for the final votes on the 2026 City Budget.
Throughout the budget process, Social Planning Toronto continued our annual work of providing analysis, insights, and training, and brought people together so that communities were empowered to vocalize their budget priorities. We are grateful to everyone who attended one of our virtual workshops (and, in many cases, went on to make a deputation in front of the Budget Committee), signed our joint letter, and followed our updates on the City Budget Watch Blog. We’re especially thankful to everyone who braved the cold to attend our rally outside City Hall during the final Council votes, urging Council to fund a thriving city.
The work paid off. Our budget analysis was covered by Toronto Life, and our rally participants were interviewed (twice!) by the Toronto Star.
But more than that, our collective voices were heard by City Hall. The final budget maintains all program and service enhancements proposed in the Mayor’s Budget and the Staff-Prepared Budget, adds $2 million more to support a broad range of service enhancements, protects a transit fare freeze for a third year in a row, and makes critical investments in infrastructure.
By our calculation, the final 2026 City Budget invests $30.445 million (including $26.087 million from property taxes) in new and enhanced programs and services.
Social Planning Toronto will continue working with our community partners year round in advocating for a thriving city. This will be essential in the upcoming year, as we face a municipal election. The best way to support our work is by making a donation, or by becoming an organizational member.
In this issue:
- Our Latest Op-ed in the Toronto Star Looks at Reduced Crime Rates Surrounding Supervised Consumption Sites
- SPT’s Bubble Zone Research Cited in Amnesty International’s Submission to the UN Human Rights Committee
- Proposed Ontario Regulation Will Lead to Increased Harassment of Unhoused People
Our Latest Op-ed in the Toronto Star Looks at Reduced Crime Rates Surrounding Supervised Consumption Sites
Social Planning Toronto and The Neighbourhood Group Community Services co-authored an op-ed published in the Toronto Star on February 3, 2026 titled, "Doug Ford called supervised consumption sites ‘the worst thing ever.’ New research shows why he’s wrong." The piece responds to new research that found crime rates surrounding supervised consumption sites (SCS) either remained steady or declined after these sites were opened.
The closure of four SCS across the city earlier this year has caused the remaining sites to serve significantly more people, without any increase in capacity or resources. Since April 1, visits to the Kensington Market Overdose Prevention Site have increased by about 35%. (The same figure reflects the increase in overdose calls to paramedics in December 2025.) We also know that SCS give people an alternative to using substances in shared public spaces. These sites do not provide drugs; they provide a private, supervised environment where people can safely use substances with care, dignity, and support from trained health care professionals.
SPT’s Bubble Zone Research Cited in Amnesty International’s Submission to the UN Human Rights Committee
Amnesty International has submitted its recommendations ahead of the Human Rights Committee’s review of Canada’s periodic report under the International Covenant on Civil and and Political Rights. The document argues that Canada continues to fall short of its human rights obligations on a range of issues, including refugee rights, harm reduction, and the rights of Indigenous peoples.
Amnesty International also raises concerns about Canada’s obligations regarding freedom of expression, assembly, and association, specifically calling out Bill C-9, a federal bill that would create protest exclusion zones (or “bubble zones”). Several municipalities have already passed similar bylaws. Amnesty International cites Social Planning Toronto’s research from last May in response to Toronto’s bubble zone bylaw.
Amnesty International recommends that Canada repeal Bill C-9 and ensure any future legislation on hate crimes involves consultation with racialized communities to prevent further harm and increased criminalization, and work with provinces and municipalities to ensure by-laws align with the rights to freedom of expression and assembly. It also calls for the immediate repeal of bylaws that violate human rights.
Proposed Ontario Regulation Will Lead to Increased Harassment of Unhoused People
Last summer, Ontario passed Bill 6, the so-called “Safer Municipalities Act,” which includes a section called the “Restricting Public Consumption of Illegal Substances Act.” Under this Act, a person found consuming an illegal substance in a public place (including an encampment) may be arrested without a warrant and is liable to a fine of up to $10,000 and/or imprisonment of up to six months. The Bill targets people with addictions, particularly those experiencing homelessness who do not have a private place to use substances, especially following the closure of supervised consumption sites. It ignores evidence-based research, criminalizes poverty, and forces people to use drugs in increasingly isolated and dangerous situations. (In their submission to the UN Human Rights Committee, Amnesty International is recommending that Ontario repeal Bill 6.)
Now, the Ontario Government is proposing to empower transit special constables to enforce this Act. Once again, this proposal will disproportionately impact transit riders who are unhoused or are living with mental illness, and who are already more likely to be the victims of violence. It also risks increasing racial profiling, as well as harassment and surveillance from police on the TTC.
Transit advocacy group TTCriders, is instead calling on a non-police response to crisis and violence, a well-resourced TTC with reliable service and supportive staff, and increased housing supports so that people do not need to shelter on transit.
The Ontario Government is accepting comments on this proposal until March 1, 2026. You can submit a comment here.