ideas that work

Ideas that work

Whether you live in Etobicoke, Scarborough, North York or Downtown, people are struggling to afford to live and work in Toronto. We deserve to live in a safe city where our taxes are paying for services that help us. We need leadership at City Hall that keeps building on good ideas that are working for us.

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The last 10 years in Toronto

The average price of a single detached home in Toronto breaks $1.3 million, <a href="https://dailyhive.com/toronto/toronto-real-estate-board-october-2016-market-figures" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">up 21.7%</a> from the previous year. The opioid crisis is ripping through communities throughout the city. Mayor John Tory promises a fare freeze but is unable to keep that promise as TTC <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/ttc-fare-hike-likely-in-2016-but-price-of-metropass-could-be-frozen-1.3311591" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">fares are hiked up again</a> in 2016.
The average price of a single detached home in Toronto breaks $1.3 million, up 21.7% from the previous year. The opioid crisis is ripping through communities throughout the city. Mayor John Tory promises a fare freeze but is unable to keep that promise as TTC fares are hiked up again in 2016.2016
In 2018, Mayor John Tory <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/exec-committee-affordable-housing-1.4750273" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">announced a plan</a> to build more rental housing, setting a target of building 40,000 new affordable units over the next 12 years. The promise never fully materialized. Rent continues to climb in the city of Toronto. Councillor Brad Bradford is made the Chair of Planning and Housing Committee but housing costs continue to rise.
In 2018, Mayor John Tory announced a plan to build more rental housing, setting a target of building 40,000 new affordable units over the next 12 years. The promise never fully materialized. Rent continues to climb in the city of Toronto. Councillor Brad Bradford is made the Chair of Planning and Housing Committee but housing costs continue to rise.2018-2023
Property taxes are increased by 7% and TTC fares are increased again by 10 cents in Mayor John Tory’s final budget before he resigns. At the same time, the transit service is <a href="https://toronto.citynews.ca/2023/02/15/2023-toronto-budget-vote/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">cut 5%</a> compared to the year before. After Mayor John Tory resigns, a special election is held and Olivia Chow is elected the new mayor.
Property taxes are increased by 7% and TTC fares are increased again by 10 cents in Mayor John Tory’s final budget before he resigns. At the same time, the transit service is cut 5% compared to the year before. After Mayor John Tory resigns, a special election is held and Olivia Chow is elected the new mayor. 2023
Despite a few years of property tax increases, the current city hall administration has frozen TTC fares, cut wait times for 911 calls. For 2026, we have a lower property tax increase compared to previous years, at only 2.2%. We also see investments into the city, like the school food program, city pools open longer and later, and libraries open 7 days a week.
Despite a few years of property tax increases, the current city hall administration has frozen TTC fares, cut wait times for 911 calls. For 2026, we have a lower property tax increase compared to previous years, at only 2.2%. We also see investments into the city, like the school food program, city pools open longer and later, and libraries open 7 days a week.Present

What needs to be done

We’ve made progress in ways that are starting to show up in people’s day‑to‑day lives. The city is finally getting back on track and turning a corner. We must keep building on good ideas that are working. This means continuing to invest in the services that benefit us and are a good return on our tax dollars, like:

  • City services like pools and libraries opening longer and later
  • Freezing TTC fares, which saves people $300/year, and more service
  • School food program to feed kids, which saves families $880/year
  • Keeping property taxes low (2.2% in 2026 compared to 7% in 2023)
  • Hiring more police, fire, ambulance and crisis workers

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About CityWorks Toronto

We represent Torontonians who: work for a living, need life to be more affordable and who know that good ideas come from all sides. We promote ideas that give people some relief: for their pocketbooks, for their commutes, and for their peace of mind

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Do you have great ideas how we can make this city better? Share them with us. We’d love to hear from you.

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What others are saying

We have a long way to go, but [...] we’re headed in the right direction.
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Clayton Campbell, president of the Toronto Police Association
This is proof that when we invest in people and give them the tools they need, Toronto becomes a safer city for everyone.
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Shelley Carroll, Don Valley North councillor and chair of the Toronto Police Service Board
Fare capping and a fare freeze are big steps forward, but riders also need more frequent, reliable service…
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Andrew Pulsifer, executive director of TTCriders

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