What We Heard From Residents at the Budget Deputations at North York Civic Centre and Scarborough Civic Centre

On Tues. Jan 20 and Wed. Jan 21, I attended the Public Deputations on the 2026 City Budget to hear Torontonians input. Here's what we heard:

Residents repeatedly emphasized that Toronto’s public health, mental health, and social services are under severe strain. Frontline workers and community members described staffing shortages, burnout, wage disparities, and retention challenges that are limiting access to preventive care, Indigenous health programs, sexual health services, family supports, and outreach for unhoused residents. Speakers stressed that sustained investment in prevention—such as drop-ins, Toronto’s Rent Bank, eviction prevention, food security, violence interruption like the TO Wards Peace Program, and disability-informed services—reduces long-term costs by stabilizing people before crises escalate into hospital visits, shelter use, or emergency interventions.

Residents who spoke at the Budget Committee emphasized that affordability, climate action, and community wellbeing are deeply interconnected. Residents urged the City to apply a climate lens to all decisions, noting that investments in transit, cycling, tree canopy expansion, cooling programs, and building retrofits can both cut emissions and lower household costs. 

The TTC fare freeze, fare capping, bike lane investments, and expanded library hours were widely welcomed, particularly by young people, seniors, people with disabilities, and low-income riders. Many also called for more reliable transit service, reduced bus and streetcar bunching, clearer wayfinding, and earlier implementation of 47 rides per month fare capping planned for September 2026.

Public safety and fiscal responsibility were also raised. Many deputants challenged proposed increases to the police budget, arguing that resources would be better directed toward housing, mental health care, youth employment, public washrooms, and community-based safety initiatives. Others stressed the importance of transparency, outcome-based budgeting, and clearly showing residents what past investments have achieved in order to build trust during difficult financial decisions. 

Overall, residents asked Council to be bold, clear about trade-offs, and focused on long-term solutions that make Toronto more affordable, equitable, resilient, and livable for everyone.

On Jan 23, Budget Committee will wrap up. The Mayor will release her budget by February 1. 

Any further comments after Jan 23’s Budget Committee should be directed to City Council and the Mayor, and sent to councilmeeting@toronto.ca for the Feb 10 Special City Council meeting item.