January 31st, 2024 (Toronto, ON)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Torontonians are still waiting for answers from their MPs on critical city funding needs
January 31st, 2024 (Toronto, ON) - Torontonians are still waiting for word from their local MPs about whether the federal government will deliver funding to the City for shelters, housing, transit, and climate action.
Local organizations Progress Toronto, TTCriders, and Toronto Environmental Alliance held a press conference today outside MP Arif Virani’s office in Parkdale-High Park. Toronto MPs were invited to attend and speak up for critical funding for Toronto. Although none attended this morning, there is still time to announce a new funding deal before the budget is finalized on February 14th.
The stakes are high. Missing or insufficient funding could leave Toronto residents to cover federal funding responsibilities through additional property tax increases in the City’s budget. The City has asked the federal government to provide $250 million in funding for shelters and refugee claimant support, and federal funding to replace aging subway trains.
“Over 6,450 people from across our city have sent messages to their MPs and the Prime Minister urging them to take action in providing adequate funding to shelter refugees,” said Donovan Hayden, Progress Toronto. “Right now, 300 people a night are turned away from shelters, 150 of whom are refugees. We are looking to the federal government to step up—this is their opportunity to deliver for Toronto.”
“Both the City of Toronto and the provincial government have chipped in to pay for new subway trains. We’re still waiting for the federal government, and the longer they delay, the more expensive these trains get,” said Upasana Bhattacharjee, TTCriders. “The federal government should also chip in to make transit more frequent and affordable by accelerating the Permanent Public Transit Fund and allowing cities to use it to operate transit.”
“Our federal government, and specifically Toronto's MPs — all of whom are Liberal — need to work with the City of Toronto and the provincial government to fulfill their obligations to refugees,” said frontline worker Diana Chan McNally, “Without a financial contribution of at least $250 million, Toronto is facing massive cuts to shelter services — not just for refugees, but for all unhoused Torontonians. This can't happen: homelessness is already a crisis in Toronto and the Federal Government needs to step up.”
“Toronto has a unique and major role as a regionally, provincially and nationally significant centre for economic growth and is a primary destination for young people, new immigrants and refugees,” says Parkdale High Park MPP and Official Opposition GTA Critic Bhutila Karpoche. “Canada has rightly provided safety for many escaping war and persecution, but we cannot leave refugees on the streets, without shelter. The federal government also has a responsibility in these key areas. Prime Minister Trudeau, Toronto residents are counting on your government to deliver."
“Let’s be honest - every level of government is falling behind on their climate commitments,” says Shelly Gordon from Seniors for Climate Action Now! (SCAN). We’re asking the federal government to help provide the scale of funding necessary for cities to address the climate crisis. This means funding world-class transit, green, affordable housing, and building retrofits which will also bring good green jobs.”
More details on our funding asks to the federal government can be found on our action pages:
https://www.ttcriders.ca/newtrains
https://www.torontoenvironment.org/budget_action_2024
https://www.progresstoronto.ca/petition-tell-ottawa-to-support-sheltering-refugees
Contact:
Jessica Gordon
Communications Manager, Toronto Environmental Alliance