More than 200 Torontonians gathered at City Hall on Tuesday for the ‘Fund Our City’ rally, calling for increased investment in social supports and community programs, just hours before Mayor Olivia Chow’s 2026 budget sailed through council.
Organized by Social Planning Toronto (SPT), the event drew endorsements from over 14 local not-for-profit organizations and unions. While the city has invested more than $297 million in services over the past three years, community members say the funding falls short as residents continue to grapple with ongoing crises.
This audio story hears from members of SPT, the South Asian Women’s Rights Organization (SAWRO), ACORN Toronto, Toronto Drop-In Network, Toronto Indigenous Harm Reduction, Toronto Public Library Workers Union CUPE 4948 and the Amalgamated Transit Union. Met Radio CJTM speaks directly with Alisha Alam, from SAWRO, and Stacia Stewart, the director of research, policy and communications at SPT.