On the eve of the 2016 Toronto Budget release, residents and city-building organizations across Toronto have come together to urge City Council to implement the city’s recently adopted Poverty Reduction Strategy and kick-start action in four priority areas: jobs, children, housing and transit.

Social Planning Toronto is hosting five budget forums in January 2016.

Learn about what's in the 2016 City of Toronto budget for community services, poverty reduction strategy, public transit, housing and homelessness supports and much more ... Residents play a vital role in the budget process, so join us at one of the following forums to learn what's in the budget, what it means for communities and how you can get involved in this process:

There is currently a vacancy on the Board of Directors for a term that runs until May of 2017 and Social Planning Toronto is seeking nominations to fill that vacancy.

Further information is here

Nomination form available here

Check out new video from the November 9 Inclusionary Zoning Press Conference organized by Social Planning Toronto, Toronto City Councillor Mike Layton and ACORN.

Read 'Lift the Ban' on Inclusionary Zoning, SPT's submission to the Standing Committee on Social Policy

Read news coverage on Inclusionary Zoning: CP24 and Inside Toronto

November 9th, (Toronto, ON) – Social Planning Toronto, ACORN, and Toronto City Councillor Mike Layton have come together to call on the provincial government to give municipalities the freedom to enact inclusionary zoning policies. Despite widespread support for this important tool for creating affordable housing, including a Liberal Private Member’s Bill calling for these powers, the Province’s Bill 73, Smart Growth for our Communities Act, fails to allow municipalities badly needed inclusionary zoning powers.

Groups call for an immediate change to the bill to lift the restrictions that stop municipalities from implementing inclusionary zoning.

MEDIA ADVISORY -- Community Groups and Toronto City Councillor call on Ontario government to give cities inclusionary zoning powers to build affordable housing

On Monday, November 9 at 9:30 am, Social Planning Toronto, ACORN, and Councillor Mike Layton will be speaking to media about the urgent need for the Ontario government to give municipalities the power to adopt inclusionary zoning policies. Despite widespread support for this important tool for creating affordable housing, the Province’s Bill 73, Smart Growth for our Communities Act, fails to provide municipalities with inclusionary zoning powers. Groups call for an immediate change to the bill to give cities the freedom to implement inclusionary zoning.

Toronto Remains the Child Poverty Capital of Canada

 A new report from Social Planning Toronto and partners shows that, amongst large Canadian cities, Toronto continues to have the highest percentage of children and youth living in poverty.

Key findings from the attached report, which is based on recently released Statistics Canada Taxfiler data for 2013: available here

Child poverty in Toronto in 2013 remained virtually unchanged from the previous year, with more than 1 in 4 children (29%), or 144,000 in total, living in low-income households in 2013 (as measured by Low Income Measure After Tax).

On October 19, Canadians will go to the polls to elect their next federal government. Social Planning Toronto and its partners have developed educational and informative resources for voters to learn about 14 important social issues that need the federal government’s action. These fact sheets provide an introduction and analysis of specific issues followed by questions to political parties and more resources.

We had earlier posted 14 fact sheets in English language on our website. (Click here for the link). Five of these fact sheets are not available in Bengali, Tamil and Urdu languages.

The City of Toronto has a program that allows eligible charitable organizations (faith groups and nonprofits) to have their garbage collection fees waived. However, we understand that many charitable organizations have not yet applied to the program. The City sent out bills to organizations in June. Whether you received a bill or not, we encourage all eligible charitable organizations to apply for the waiver program if you have not already done so.

The deadline to register and apply for the Waste Diversion Rate Waiver Program is Friday, August 7.

It is a multi-step process to become approved for a waiver. For this reason, we’re encouraging organizations to start the process immediately.

Step 1) Complete the pre-registration form immediately:  http://cityoftoronto.fluidsurveys.com/s/wastewaiver/

SPT hosted the “Promoting Youth Civic Engagement in the 2015 Federal Election” forum on Tuesday, July 29th at the College Street United Church.

SPT Research Assistant Ramsen Yousif moderated the lively discussion with panelists: Laura Anthony of Samara Canada, Arjun Sahota of Toronto Youth Cabinet (TYC), and Likwa Nkala of East Metro Youth Services. Over 70 youth, youth workers, and community leaders from across Toronto took part in the discussion on strategies to engage youth and overcoming barriers to youth participation.

SPT would like to thank our amazing panelists and participants, and the dedicated staff at College Street United Church for a great event.

Part 1/3 - Laura Anthony from Samara