2026 has arrived! I hope you and your loved ones had a chance to relax and celebrate this past holiday season. While the weather continues to be erratic, one thing you can count on is local drop-in skating rinks being open this winter, such as at the Regent Park Athletic Grounds, Moss Park Arena and Toronto Metropolitan University Square. Grab your skates, consult the City's online map to see the rink's status, and let’s make the best of the cold weather while it lasts!
Today, City staff released budget briefing notes for the 2026 City Budget, and it appears there will effectively be a 50% funding cut from what was originally promised for the 2025-2030 Downtown East Action Plan (DEAP). If you attended any of my town halls over the past three years, you’ve heard me speak about how important and valuable this plan is. Toronto Centre is a ward with a growing population and the largest concentration of social services in the City, which puts significant pressure on our roads and open spaces. The DEAP provides more supports to keep our vulnerable residents safe and our streets and parks clean. That cannot happen without the funding it requires, and I have significant concerns that the DEAP will receive about half the funding it was promised for this year.
