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FORUM: Funds flowing (Mar. 2026)

April 7th, 2026 · No Comments

Putting our money—and our priorities—to work in the Annex

By Dianne Saxe

City budgets are moral documents. They show what we value and whether we invest prudently in the public services, spaces, and systems that make our neighbourhoods safe, welcoming, and liveable.

This year’s 2.2 per cent tax rate increase means a tight budget. The top budget expense is better transit, with no fare increase, more service, and a 47-ride fare cap. Better emergency services, longer library hours, the Toronto Arts Council, air conditioners for low-income seniors, and a tax break for small businesses were also funded, plus we gave many millions in waived development charges to build affordable housing. Most other programs were flatlined. The major cuts were in capital spending, such as a significant reduction in the long-awaited renovation of the Toronto Reference Library.

More operating funding is just part of our good transit news. I was delighted to finally ride the Eglinton Crosstown. It is clean, comfortable, sometimes beautiful, and faster than the bus. By May, it will run faster still.

I am also proud to speed up streetcars and buses. At my initiative, the Spadina streetcar obtained signal priority over left-turning vehicles at Dundas, College, and King—a simple, low-cost change that improves speed and reliability. It was so successful that the same changes are being made on Finch, with more to come. The TTC is also reducing bunching with artificial intelligence, signal adjustments, parking changes, and closer supervision.

In this tough budget, I squeezed out an increase for the chronically under-resourced Cecil Community Centre, our neighbourhood not-for-profit that serves a high-need community with recreational, educational, social, cultural, and capacity-building programs, from Early On toddler play to adult Tai-Chi swordplay.

With needs so great and money so tight, I’ve been working even harder to unlock Section 37 community benefit funds that were left unused by previous councillors. At the request of the Bloor Annex BIA and local residents, I’ve already released funds so the BIA can upgrade Seaton Park. Thanks to the BIA, this park is already cleaner and safer, and it will soon be better still. 

Next will be millions for capital upgrades for ten affordable housing buildings run by St. Clare’s and TCHC. With Ford blocking Toronto from requiring developers to include affordable units in new buildings, it is more important than ever to look after the affordable housing we have already paid for.

Then I’ll be funding other exciting upgrades across our community, including: accessibility improvements, HVAC and performance improvements for cultural gems such as the TRANZAC, the Annex Theatre and the Al Green Theatre; heritage conservation at the lovely Heliconian Hall; public art at the Toronto Reference Library and Toronto Western Hospital; Huron Garden upgrades; benches and wayfinding at our TTC Line 2 stations; and a Bathurst Gateway to kick off the Little Italy Master Streetscape. None of these great projects could have been realized without my help.

In contrast, the provincial Blue Bin takeover has been frustrating. Cost-cutting, indifference, and poor customer service by Circular Materials and GFL Environmental has meant hundreds of missed pickups and excess litter on our streets. If you see Blue Bin litter on your street, please let us know. I can request extra street sweeping this spring.

In turn, forgotten Blue Bins made sidewalk snow clearance harder. In Toronto, major storms that dump more than 25 cm of snow in one day happen less than once a decade, with a virtually zero per cent chance of more than 40 cm a month. This year we had a record-breaking 90 cm of snow from  two storms over 10 days, during a period of prolonged intense cold. I know people are tired of waiting, particularly cyclists and those who want to park on the quiet streets that receive snow removal last. But please be kind to our hard-working staff. City crews have done everything they can, working nearly 24/7 since these giant storms, ploughing after every snowfall and removing snow in between. Snow removal is frustratingly slow and expensive, especially when it must be paused for each new snowfall. Thank you to everyone for your patience. Climate breakdown is hard on cities. 

I understand there are particular challenges for people in laneway houses since the city does not clear snow from laneways. I have asked for a report on the cost to improve winter access to these homes.

Thank you to everyone who joined our seniors’ townhall which involved exploring city programs and other supports for NORCs. Sign up for our newsletter so you don’t miss another townhall!

Dianne Saxe is city councillor for Ward 11, University-Rosedale.

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Tags: Annex · Columns · Opinion

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