E-Blast: Hurray, Hurray – It’s the First of May

It’s the start of the fifth month, and for the first time this year, there is no major democratic decision looming over us. That’s a bit wild when you think about it. We came out of the holiday break with pundits churning out endless “Will he or won’t he?” takes about Justin Trudeau. Since then, we have been through a national leadership race, a provincial election, and a federal one. So… what now?

With the dust settling from Monday’s election, I am genuinely optimistic. We finally have a window where all three orders of government are in place and out of election mode. That means it's time to bring Toronto’s priorities to the table and push for the strong intergovernmental collaboration our city needs—and is ready for.

Our City Manager recently released a document that outlines the Mayor and Council’s shared priorities, those areas where cooperation across all governments is essential. The document is titled Building a Better City for All, and it’s a concise, accessible guide to where our focus lies.These four top priorities are now guiding the work of our senior city staff and Council’s executive team. They also form the foundation for our intergovernmental outreach:

• Supporting people and businesses through economic uncertainty

• Building affordable homes faster

• Keeping Toronto and the GTA moving by accelerating transit repairs and expansion

• Ensuring a caring and safe city by enhancing public safety and supports for the homeless, the vulnerable, and our children

Now, it might sound like Toronto is asking other governments to solve all our problems. Nothing could be further from the truth. What we are asking is for recognition that these priorities can’t be addressed with property tax revenue alone.

Back in 2023, Mayor Chow and Premier Ford struck a historic agreement, The New Deal, Part One, that lasts through 2026. It allowed Toronto to begin recovering from the pandemic’s financial impacts, backed by both provincial support and your ongoing contributions through property taxes. What was missing at the time was the participation of the federal government.

If we’re going to develop a sustainable financial model for Canada’s largest city, home to more than a million more people than any other, we need revenue tools that grow with the economy. The HST, collected federally, is one such tool. It’s in the long-term interest of both the federal and provincial governments to see Toronto supported by a mature, modern funding framework.

I’m eager to discuss this with newly elected federal colleagues from Toronto, including former Councillor Jennifer McKelvie and our new MP in Don Valley North, Maggie Chi. Mayor Chow will, of course, take this to Prime Minister Carney and any new cabinet ministers following a shuffle.

One of the other critical areas for renewed collaboration is public safety. Toronto’s size, diversity, and global profile mean our police service faces pressures unlike any other. With a new five-year collective agreement in place and a focused hiring plan underway, we’ve taken real steps to support and stabilize frontline policing. Now, we need federal involvement to match that effort, particularly on complex issues like gun smuggling, organized crime, cybercrime, and other transnational threats that local forces simply can’t tackle alone.

Of course, economic development remains front and centre. One of the biggest ballot box issues in the recent elections was the economic fallout from aggressive U.S. trade policies. Even with some tariffs paused or rolled back, the Trade War continues to impact Canadian businesses.

In my work with Economic Development staff and the Mayor’s Tariff Response Action Team, I can assure you we are ready to work with both reconstituted governments. Toronto already had an economic plan focused on global competitiveness and diversified trade. We’re now moving faster, building partnerships across oceans and continents. We’ve also been checking in with Toronto-based businesses, large and small, to assess how they’re being affected and help them survive until other levels of government can step in.

I recently visited Plastic Plus, a local eyeglass lens manufacturer. Owner Paul Faibish gave us a tour of the factory floor, where we met employees who have been there for 10, 20, even 40 years. One long-time staffer even put their children through university on their wages, including one who became a City Planner. Businesses like these may only employ 100 people, but they are pillars of their communities and can be devastated by unfair tariffs on the goods they import or export. While our powers are limited, we’ve deferred property tax payments for some of these businesses to buy them time. Now, it’s time for Premier Ford and Prime Minister Carney to step up with further supports and ideally, a better trade deal.

Our Economic Development team is also laying the groundwork for new foreign investment and helping Toronto businesses expand and prepare to export. During the annual SIAL Conference this week at Exhibition Place, I toured an incredible showcase of food innovators and manufacturers. The City featured 14 startup businesses and 20 larger Toronto brands and many founders told me exactly what they need to grow and reach global markets.

The equation is simple: the more these companies can produce and sell internationally, especially in ways that sidestep the Trade War, the more Torontonians they can employ.

We’re doing our part at the City. Now we’re looking to the newly elected federal and provincial governments to do theirs. Because when all three levels of government work together, everyone wins—including you.