Earlier this summer, the House of Commons tabled Bill C-2, an omnibus bill that will block anyone who has been in Canada for more than one year from claiming refugee status, expand Canada Post’s authority to open people’s letters and allow the government to share personal information with US authorities. It will also grant the Immigration Minister authority to cancel permits for entire groups en masse, and boost the powers of border agents and law enforcement. Advocates warn that this bill restricts protections for migrants and refugees, and that all Canadian residents will be affected by increased mass surveillance. Statements have been released by The Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants and a series of other coalitions representing over 3000 organizations demanding complete withdrawal of Bill C-2.
After a summer hiatus, the House of Commons returns on September 15. (An agenda has not yet been released.) Now is the time to send a message to your elected officials urging them not to support Bill C-2. Amnesty International has created a letter template that you can use to contact Prime Minister Mark Carney, Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree, and Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab, calling for Bill C-2 to be withdrawn from Parliament. Migrant Rights Network also has a letter template you can use to contact your MP, as well as other resources including a guide to meeting with your MP, downloadable flyers, and more.
Bill C-2 comes amidst a wave of anti-immigrant sentiments, in which some of our most marginalized residents are being scapegoated for decades of underfunding in social programs and tax breaks for the wealthy. An anti-immigration “Canada-First” rally is being planned on Saturday, September 13 at Christie Pits Park. (In 1933, Christie Pits was the site of a riot between Nazi supporters and Jewish youth and their allies.) In response, several family-friendly counter-rallies are being organized to express support for immigrants, including one organized by the Action Network that will be meeting at noon by the tiger statue.
On September 20, a day of action called Draw the Line, is being planned across the country to oppose Bill C-2 and demand full immigration status for all. This event is also calling on the Canadian government to end war profiteering, uphold Indigenous sovereignty, and end the era of fossil fuels. In Toronto, the meet-up will begin at 2 p.m. at Sankofa Square (formerly Yonge-Dundas Square) before marching towards Queens Park to hold a rally at 4 p.m.
In this issue:
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Take Action: Support Supervised Consumption Services in Parkdale
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Two New Reports From Maytree Reveal Insights on Employment Services, Non-market Housing
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Take Action: Tell the Canadian Government to Restore Shelter Funding for Refugees
- Remembering Gerda Kaegi
Scarborough-Rouge Park By-election
On September 29, Ward 25 (Scarborough-Rouge Park) will be holding a by-election to fill a vacant council seat. Scarborough-Rouge Park is the largest ward in Toronto by area, due to its ample green space. It is a demographically diverse area. Over half of its 101,485 residents are immigrants. According to Social Planning Toronto's 2024 Child and Family Poverty Report Card, the 2022 child poverty rate for Scarborough-Rouge Park was 24.1%, a 6.1 percentage point increase over 2021. SPT has compiled a list of resources of what you need to know to vote, including information about early voting on September 20 and 21.
So far, 20 people have registered to run for the seat. Two candidate forums will be held this month:
Saturday, September 13, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Port Union Community Centre, 5450 Lawrence Avenue East
Tuesday, September 16, 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Royal Canadian Legion, 305 Morrish Road
Welcoming The Newest Addition to SPT’s Staff
Social Planning Toronto is pleased to announce that we have hired a new Director of Research, Policy, and Communications.
Stacia Stewart is a community visionary, researcher, and change-maker with more than 27 years of experience in health equity, community wellness, and developing community-led initiatives across the health, education, and social services sectors. She has worked at the local, provincial, and national levels, leading interdisciplinary teams, shaping public policy, and advancing equity through research, stakeholder engagement, and culturally responsive program design. Her work spans maternal and child health, gender-based violence prevention, newcomer settlement, and LGBTQ+ inclusion, with a proven record of strengthening community initiatives and driving systemic change. Beyond her professional work, Stacia is a proud parent of three and a dedicated community mentor. Welcome Stacia!
Take Action: Support Supervised Consumption Services in Parkdale
In April 2025, the provincial government forced the closure of several supervised consumption sites (SCS) across the province. The remaining operational sites—including one in Parkdale operated by Parkdale Queen West Community Health Centre (PQWCHC)—have seen a huge increase in need, despite nothing being done to improve the sites’ capacities.
Parkdale residents organizing under the name Supportive Parkdale 4 All (SPA) have created a campaign urging policymakers at all three levels of government to support and expand the life-saving services at PQWCHC, to reopen and fund all closed SCS, to increase funding for mobile harm reduction services, to provide safe, dignified, and accessible emergency shelters for everyone who needs it, and more.
SCSs have been providing lifesaving care for years. Between March 2020 and May 2024, trained workers at SCSs in Ontario medically-intervened to prevent almost 22,000 overdose deaths. SCSs have also been shown to reduce the spread of communicable diseases by ensuring service users have access to sterile instruments. In addition, staff provide information, access and referrals to detox and treatment programs, and connect individuals with other critical health and social services. These professional and non-judgmental frontline services are an essential part of an effective response to Ontario’s growing opioid toxicity crisis. Learn more about how SCSs save lives.
Two New Reports From Maytree Reveal Insights on Employment Services, Non-market Housing
A new report from Maytree proposes a way to scale up affordable non-market housing production in Canada to 200,000 units annually. This ambitious model is based on analysis of real projects across three provinces and draws from successful Canadian and international precedents. Read the report.
Maytree also recently published a policy brief which analysed new data to find that Ontario’s new Integrated Employment Services system is failing social assistance recipients and other equity-deserving groups. Read the policy brief.
Take Action: Tell the Canadian Government to Restore Shelter Funding for Refugees
Last month, the federal government announced that they would only provide a quarter of the funding that Toronto requires to shelter refugees and asylum shelters, leaving the City short an estimated $107 million. In the summer of 2023, hundreds of newly arrived asylum seekers, predominantly from African countries, were forced to sleep on the street after shelters reached capacity. This incident led to reports from United Way Greater Toronto and Toronto’s Ombudsman, both which outlined the anti-Black racism that African asylum seekers face.
Refugee advocates have said that all three levels of governments should fund refugee supports, but that the majority should come from the federal government, which controls the immigration system.
Progress Toronto has created a letter template you can use to contact Prime Minister Mark Carney and your local MP urging them to reverse Canada’s decision to cut Toronto’s funding for refugee shelters.
Event: Foundations for Disability Inclusion
The Centre for Independent Living in Toronto (CILT) will be hosting a two-hour virtual workshop on Thursday, September 25. This event will provide participants with a better understanding of disability and access as integral to effective Diversity, Equity and Inclusion work, facilitated by disabled and Deaf educators with lived experience. Tickets are offered at a sliding scale. Learn more and register.
Event: Community Benefits Agreement and High Speed Rail
Community Benefits Ontario (CBO) will be hosting a 90-minute webinar on Thursday, September 25 entitled “Leveraging Transit Infrastructure for Local Impact.” The event will dive into Alto, Canada’s first high-speed rail project. This session is designed for community organizations, municipalities, and stakeholders who are passionate about the outcomes of infrastructure investments in their areas. Learn more and register.
Event: Improving Toronto’s Rental Replacement Policy
Public Progress is hosting a series of focus groups with tenants to help identify opportunities for improvement in Toronto’s Rental Replacement Policy. They are seeking anyone with previous, recent, or ongoing experience with the rental replacement process for feedback on the adequacy of compensation and supports for “Tenants with Special Needs.”
There will be an in-person focus group on Wednesday, September 17 at The 519 (519 Church St.) and a virtual focus group on Wednesday, October 1.
New Report Looks at Barriers to Youth Employment
The Youth Employment Postcard Survey Report from the Toronto Youth Cabinet in partnership with The Neighbourhood Group Community Services highlights some of the challenges young people face in seeking employment. 74% of survey respondents cited structural, systemic, or logistical barriers (including lack of transportation or competing responsibilities like school) when trying to find a job. Those living in Toronto Community Housing and Neighbourhood Improvement Areas face disproportionate barriers to employment. Read the report.
Remembering Gerda Kaegi
Social Planning Toronto was deeply saddened to hear about the passing of our former board member, Gerda Kaegi. Gerda was a tireless advocate for many social causes, including income security for women, living conditions in long-term care homes, and supporting community legal aid clinics. As a Professor in the Department of Politics and Public Administration at Toronto Metropolitan University, Gerta was instrumental in the founding of the first part-time undergraduate Public Administration program in Canada, a founding member of the Seniors Studies Program at Ryerson, and one of a small group who founded the interdisciplinary Certificate in Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Management. In lieu of flowers, Gerda’s family is asking mourners to consider a donation that reflects Gerda’s spirit of passionate advocacy for social justice.