Josh Matlow's plan for a better Toronto

Josh Matlow’s platform, A City That Works, is comprehensive, transparent and forward-looking. Nine policy areas. Clear priorities, and financial plans on new spending and revenue. A commitment to negotiate long-term financial relationships with federal and provincial governments from a position of competence informed by future service and infrastructure needs.

KEVIN PAGE

President of the Institute of Fiscal Studies and Democracy, University of Ottawa Former Parliamentary Budget Officer of Canada

Josh Matlow’s plan for a better Toronto

I’m running to be your mayor because I know a better Toronto is possible. I’ve met with Torontonians in every part of our city, from school-aged kids to parents and seniors, and there’s something we all have in common – a desire that Toronto will become the remarkable city we know it can be.

To do that, we need to have an honest conversation about what it will take to make Toronto a safe, affordable and livable city. Our city is in a housing crisis that will only get worse if we don’t act now. We need to improve safety for everyone – on the TTC, in our neighbourhoods and on our roads. And we must do more to invest in our communities, support our city’s most vulnerable, improve our basic services, fix our roads, support our local economy and create a city that works.

In the pages that follow, I’ve laid out realistic plans to protect tenants, reverse TTC cuts and make Toronto a city that’s accessible and friendly to seniors. Under my leadership, the City will start building affordable housing so that it’s easier for you to find a home within your

budget, and Scarborough residents will finally have an improved and expanded transit network that helps them get around the city.

As mayor, I’ll open libraries on Sundays all year long, improve parks and trails, open schools on evenings and weekends for communities and invest in our arts and culture so there are exciting shows, concerts and festivals around the city all year long. And I will stand up to Doug Ford when he tries to privatize our waterfront at Ontario Place, move the Science Centre or sell off the Greenbelt.

I believe that a better Toronto is possible, and I know that you do, too. With the ideas and inspiration of community leaders and experts from across our city, you can count on me to always stand up for the people of Toronto.

HOUSING

Josh’s complete Housing Plan addresses both the urgent housing and homelessness crises facing Torontonians today with an investment of $407.6 million to lower the cost of housing, support homeless residents and create more great places to live in neighbourhoods that include childcare, schools, infrastructure and parks.

He will establish Public Build Toronto, a new City agency

that will build housing on City-owned land at the lowest price to save taxpayers money and make it easier for you to find a home in your budget.

And his Tenant Support Program will improve affordability for rentals and strengthen protections against fraudulent evictions and poorly maintained buildings.

Improved apartment affordability & protection for Toronto renters against fraudulent evictions & poorly maintained

buildings.

SERVICES & SAFETY

To make the TTC and city safer, Josh’s Community Health & Safety Fund will address the root causes of criminal behaviour and build supports that address poverty, racism and trauma. This will allow the police to focus on what they do best. He will improve traffic safety by redesigning

Toronto’s most dangerous intersections and streets.

His City Works Fund will improve vital city services, like pothole repair and snow removal, access to recreation programs, garbage collection, public bathrooms and working water fountains.

TRANSIT & CONGESTION

Josh will reverse TTC cuts and improve service so that it’s more reliable, safe, affordable and easier for you and your family to get around the city.

He will launch Scarborough Moves, a transportation network in Scarborough that includes connected public transit routes – with over 40 stops – plus cycling and walking trails that will shorten

commute times and improve quality of life for all residents.

Josh will invest 50% of the $2.5 billion estimated cost to deliver the Waterfront East LRT with the expectation that the federal and provincial governments will cover the remaining funds required. This will provide rapid transit for residents in the Distillery District, Corktown and Queen’s Quay.

Josh will crack down on illegal stopping in lanes during rush hour and will not allow construction projects to always occupy a lane of traffic for two to three years at a time.

Reverse TTC cuts & return service to pre-pandemic levels.

A NEW DEAL FOR TORONTO

Josh will develop a 10-year strategic plan to fund the City’s five priority areas –social housing, TTC, health care, refugee resettlement services and court services – and secure federal and provincial support for the expenses Toronto carries for these shared priorities.

Josh is the only candidate we can count on to fight for Toronto. He will stop Doug Ford’s plan for a private spa at Ontario Place, will stand up for residents to keep the Science Centre in Flemingdon Park and will intervene to protect the Greenbelt.

COMMUNITY & CULTURE

Josh has a plan to make Toronto one of the healthiest cities to age well in. His Age-Friendly Toronto Plan includes lowering TTC fares for seniors and investing in social connections, promoting independence and quality of life.

His YouthStart plan will boost job prospects, build skills and improve individual and community health and well-being for youth across Toronto.

His Open Schools Toronto program will use schools as community centres on evenings and weekends to create spaces for neighbours to come together for recreation programs, continuing education classes and social activities. And Josh will make sure every branch of the Toronto Public Library opens on Sundays all year long. He will invest in the city’s Arts and Culture sectors to

support television and film production, music, visual arts and theatre and he will make exciting festivals, and street performances, a priority to make every part of Toronto more fun and vibrant.

GARDINER EXPRESSWAY

A Better Plan

When the crumbling 2.4 kilometre section of the eastern Gardiner is taken down, Josh will reconnect that small portion of the Expressway to the DVP

and the rest of the elevated Gardiner at ground level to get the work done faster, save half a billion dollars and open up land for 8,000 new homes.

ENVIRONMENT

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Josh will fund climate programs so the city can achieve its goal of net zero by 2040 and make sure Toronto is climate resilient and a leader in the world.

He will bring together local mayors and Indigenous leaders to form a Greenbelt Leaders council and work with the federal government to safeguard farmland, forests and water sources and protect the vital Greenbelt from development.

million annual investment to ensure Toronto can meet its TransformTO commitment to be net zero by 2040.

BUDGET BREAKDOWN

An inflationary property tax increase alone only allows the City of Toronto to fund the status quo.

sources to actually start building the safe, affordable and livable city Torontonians deserve.

This year, the property tax increase aligned with inflation at 5.5% plus a 1.5% increase to the City Building Fund. This is the 13th year in a row that taxes have been kept at or below the rate of inflation. As a result, Toronto has stopped moving forward, and in recent years, it has seen a real decline in the quality of services. To build a city that supports its residents, new investments are needed. That’s why Josh has developed a costed, and most importantly, funded plan with new revenue

Explanatory note: Unlike budgets at the federal and provincial levels, once revenue is added to the budget at the municipal level, it carries over and is in the “base budget” for the following year.

For example, if Council commits to $1 million of new funding to a program in 2023 with a corresponding increase in property taxes or other ongoing funding source, it is part of the City budget going forward even if property taxes are kept at an inflationary level in future years.

Josh Matlow’s Fully Costed & Fully Funded Plan for a City That Works.

USES OF FUNDSOPERATING BUDGET

USES OF FUNDS - CAPITAL

Footnotes

** Annual contribution for 30 years to leverage $1.25 billion for a 50% share of project cost

*** Annual contribution for 30 years to leverage $800 million in remaining funds needed for 50% share of project cost

**** Annual Contribution for 30 years to leverage $325 million for 50% share of project costs