ALT Calls to Candidates in Toronto’s 2026 City Election on Disability Poverty Reduction. What are the issues? It is well documented that disabled people face more extreme rates of poverty than non-disabled residents, and that this rate is higher among people who experience additional marginalization (e.g. disabled 2 Spirit youth). For many, this is related to social assistance rates that are far below the poverty line, and income supports from other layers of government that do not meet actual need and are difficult to qualify for (e.g. Canada Disability Benefit). Another contributing factor is the lack of accessible and equitable employment opportunities that provide a living wage.

ALT Calls to Candidates. As a candidate who is running for election in my ward: 1. What will you do to ensure that City Council increases disability-specific investments within Toronto’s Poverty Reduction Strategy (PRS), including accessibility and disability inclusion, transparent and publicly reported disability-inclusion budget lines, and measurable accessibility/disability-inclusion targets across PRS-related programs? 2. How will you support City Council in advocating for adequate income rates from provincial and federal disability income programs such as ODSP and the Canada Disability Benefit, so that disabled people can be lifted out of legislated poverty? 3. What are your plans to increase accessible employment and training opportunities for disabled residents within city government, including jobs that offer a living wage linked to Toronto’s cost of living?

ALT What can you do? There are different ways that you can take action to have your voice heard this election! 1. Learn more about the issues. Social Planning Toronto has a list of election resources including webinars and events. You can also check out the full City For All platform. 2. Find who to contact by finding your ward and the list of local candidates. 3. Reach out to your local candidates by phone, email or social media and share these calls to action (or come up with your own!) with them. 4. Make sure you are registered to vote. You can vote by mail-in ballot, in advanced polls or on election day. 5. Stay in touch with GTADC’s election work by signing up for our Call to Action News and check out our Election Resources page! Vote by Mail: By October 14. Advanced Polls: October 6-11. Election Day: October 26. Centre for Independent Living in Toronto. CILT.ca. GTA Disability Coalition. GTADC.ca.

ALT Calls to Candidates for Toronto’s 2026 City Election on Accessible and Affordable Housing What are the issues? It is well known that Toronto is in the midst of a housing crisis. This crisis disproportionately impacts disability communities as many live in deep poverty, and some require accessible housing. Accessibility is often left out of affordable housing conversations and has been absent from shelter planning discussions too. There is currently a critical lack of accessible units with waitlists that are extremely long, while many shelters remain inaccessible. The accessible housing gap is more extreme for Black, Indigenous, 2SLGBTQIA+, and other marginalized disabled people who require housing that prioritizes their safety.

ALT Calls to Candidates As a candidate who is running for election in my ward: 1. What will you do to ensure that City Council acts on their commitments to increase accessible housing, develop an up-to-date inventory of accessible units, and restate its request to the province to improve income support programs so that disabled residents can meet their basic needs. 2. Will you commit to calling for the City’s capital shelter plan to prioritize construction of all new shelter sites with 100% universal design standards, given the profound accessibility gaps in city shelter sites? 3. Will you strongly support the renewal of the City’s Housing Rights Advocacy Committee in Toronto Council’s next term?

ALT What can you do? There are different ways that you can take action to have your voice heard this election! 1. Learn more about the issues. Social Planning Toronto has a list of election resources including webinars and events. You can also check out the full City For All platform. 2. Find who to contact by finding your ward and the list of local candidates. 3. Reach out to your local candidates by phone, email or social media and share these calls to action with them (or come up with your own!). 4. Make sure you are registered to vote. You can vote by mail-in ballot, in advanced polls or on election day. 5. Stay in touch with GTADC’s election work by signing up for our Call to Action News and check out our Election Resources page! Vote by Mail: By October 14. Advanced Polls: October 6-11. Election Day: October 26. Centre for Independent Living in Toronto. CILT.ca. GTA Disability Coalition. GTADC.ca.