Each January, Toronto City Council presents the city’s annual budget, setting priorities that shape life in Toronto for the year ahead. As part of this process, residents and community organizations are invited (and encouraged) to share their feedback on what matters most.

Toronto350 took part in this year’s consultation by submitting a deputation that calls for strong, sustained investment in climate action and social justice. You can read our full 2026 budget submission below.

Want to have your voice heard too? Members of the public can submit written feedback to the City’s Budget Committee by emailing [email protected]. Learn more about the budget and submission process at here at toronto.ca.

Toronto350’s 2026 Budget Deputation

I am writing on behalf of Toronto350, a non-partisan, grassroots group whose volunteers focus on climate justice. Thank you for the opportunity to share our comments with the budget committee.

Toronto350 members come from locations across the city, where we’re seeing various impacts of climate change on ourselves and our communities. In York-South Weston for example, flooding is a problem and in Toronto Centre, heat during the summer is an issue due to the lack of shade. 

Given those impacts, we’re glad to see continued investment in existing programs that respond to increased heat and precipitation, like the Air Conditioner Pilot Expansion and the Pilot Program Stormwater Management 2026. 

We also support increased investments in public transit, bike lane networks and Vision Zero as well as the continued TTC fare freeze and fare cap programs. These commitments ensure affordability, reliability and safety for those of us who use active and public transit options. 

That said, we need to do more to fulfill existing climate-related programs that also increase equity and affordability, as mandated in TransformTO. Every single reduction in emissions matters–it’s important that Toronto meets its 2030 and 2040 emissions targets.

For example, we need to see continued investments that address Toronto’s building emissions, including programs that help residents replace furnaces with heat pumps. Steering large building owners toward green retrofits while protecting renters from rent increases and renovictions is also important. 

Finding more revenue to invest in actions that protect Torontonians is key. We are quite concerned to see the police budget increase so much. That money could go towards services and programs that increase affordability and strengthen our communities, like continued movement toward well-run free transit, increasing the city's tree canopy in those neighbourhoods harshly impacted by the urban heat island effect, more cooling centres and climate friendly housing. City Council could consider using the discretionary 2 million remaining for these things.

We support the Municipal Land Transfer Tax and encourage other revenue tools like a Commercial Parking Levy. Gaining investment from the provincial and federal governments is also critical.

This inter-jurisdictional support, along with focused, city-wide efforts, can move us closer to healthier, safer communities as we face interconnected issues, including the climate and affordability crisis.

Thanks again, for the opportunity to share our thoughts with the committee.