Taxes. Investment. Equality. Community. The environment. Everywhere you look, politicians seem to be lowering the bar, promising tax cuts and belt-tightening instead of building our city up.
And now in the midst of a municipal election, Toronto is caught up in the same mindset.
That’s not the Toronto I was raised in. And I know I’m not alone.
The economic case for investment is clear: the longer you delay infrastructure repairs, and transit modernization and expansion, the more difficult and expensive it becomes to catch up in the future.
But public investment is about much more than simple economics.
Public investment is about social justice, taking care of people and making sure our communities have affordable housing, public transit, child care, clean air to breathe and water to drink.
Now, when progressive candidates talk about investing in communities, we are often labeled as ‘tax-and-spenders,’ as if that were something to be ashamed of.
The reality is that taxing, spending, and regulating are the core functions of government, no matter who holds office. The difference lies in how you prioritize spending.
Instead of running from the word ‘tax,’ we need to look at what we are actually doing with our resources. Are we taxing fairly, and are we investing in things that will make life better? That should be the ‘bottom line.’
We need to get our city moving again by investing real dollars in transit. We can also reduce congestion by investing in pedestrian and cycling infrastructure that is safer and more convenient.
Toronto is often called the ‘City within a Park,’ but if we don’t act now, it may not be that way for long. We need to invest in, protect, and expand Toronto’s green spaces and tree canopy before it’s too late.
Finding appropriate, affordable housing shouldn’t be a fantasy, but in Toronto, it often feels that way. We need to invest in affordable housing for everyone, and work with developers to ensure there are appropriate downtown spaces for families of all sizes.
I love living in downtown Toronto, I love the sense of community and common purpose. These are what fuels our values and actions and are vital to Toronto’s future.
We are not just consumers and taxpayers. We are neighbours, community members, and participants. We all have a role to play.
Joe Cressy, a former senior advisor at the Stephen Lewis Foundation, is a candidate for City Council in Ward 20 Trinity-Spadina. See our Election Guide here.
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