#1. Housing Affordability

Housing Affordability is an Urgent Crisis

Ontario’s housing affordability crisis is a fundamental threat to the future of our communities in Etobicoke-Lakeshore. The numbers tell a clear story: over the past decade in Toronto, average rents have gone up by 60% and the average price of a home by 94% - while average wages have grown by only 17%. Young people are priced out of their neighbourhoods. Families are forced into overcrowded or unsafe living conditions. More and more people spend over half their income on rent. Working people increasingly give up on the dream of homeownership. In major cities like Toronto, homelessness continues to grow. We cannot afford more of the same. We must do more to build affordable homes, strengthen rent protections and create opportunities for hardworking Ontarians to own their own homes. Addressing this crisis isn’t just about housing—it’s about protecting Ontario’s economic future and creating a more equitable society for all.

We Need to Build More Affordable Homes

For too many people, finding an affordable and safe place to live is far too difficult in Toronto’s rental market dominated by for-profit private landlords. Meanwhile, a decades-long lack of investment in the construction of publicly owned affordable housing has created a deep and severe shortage that is fuelling a worsening cycle of homelessness and poverty in our communities. It’s time for serious investment in housing that meets the needs of all — that’s why the Ontario NDP has committed to the largest home-building program in Ontario’s history, Homes Ontario, which will double the supply of permanently affordable homes, provide funding for non-profit and co-op housing providers, and expand protections for renters.

You Shouldn’t Need Generational Wealth to Own a Home

Young people in this province have been unfairly locked out of the opportunity to achieve homeownership without generational wealth. As housing has primarily become a profit-generating asset for investors and speculators, rather than a place to live and grow, many younger or less affluent Ontarians have been disproportionately burdened by unaffordable housing prices and long-term debt. This constitutes a generational theft - younger generations are deprived of the same opportunities that previous generations had, creating a long-term inequality gap. Meanwhile, investors own over 2 in 5 Ontario condos and most newly built units. For example, in Toronto, over 70% of newly built condos are investor-owned. This drives housing prices higher and locks more average families out of home ownership — all in favour of speculative profits. We must do more to counter the influence of investors on the market and curb speculators.

Years of Failures & False Promises from Doug Ford

Governments at multiple levels have failed us time and time again on the critical issue of housing affordability. When it comes to this provincial government, this failure is obvious — after years of policies designed to pad developer pockets disguised as building “more homes faster” and false promises of “1.5 million net new homes by 2030”, the housing shortage in Ontario is worse than ever, housing starts are down and new home construction has slowed to 2018 levels. This Conservative government is simply not taking this housing crisis seriously - we deserve leadership that will fight for real solutions for ordinary people who have been unfairly crushed by the rapid rise in housing prices

Our Broken Housing Market Threatens our Whole Economy

Ontario’s housing market needs structural changes to prioritize affordability and access over speculative profits. And this affects everyone, as our broken housing market threatens our overall economic prosperity and living standards. Over-investment in housing instead of business, innovation and technology means lower productivity and poorer prospects for all Ontarians. We are already seeing this materialize - Ontario’s productivity is falling compared to its international peers and investments in machinery, research & development and innovation are on the decline. And higher housing costs on households means that consumers have less disposable income. To course-correct, we must immediately fix the skewed incentives that are driving investment away from productive areas into non-productive housing speculation that only worsens our affordability crisis.

#2. Complete Communities

We Need Housing for the Community, Not Developers & Investors

The communities of Etobicoke-Lakeshore are seeing more and more real estate developments in their neighbourhoods - in fact, this area has the second highest number of development applications in the entire province. Unfortunately, these developments are often poorly planned, with little to no consideration for the quality of life of existing and new residents. We are seeing this unfold right now in Etobicoke-Lakeshore, where nearly all development applications are for high-rise luxury condos clearly made for investors and with mostly small studio and 1-bedroom units, often with no accompanying plan on how increasing density will be accommodated for in the area. Instead of creating complete communities for people to live, work, learn, shop and play without tedious travel, we have allowed developers to exploit our communities for profit without even delivering the housing that the community needs.

Luxury Condos Shouldn’t Be All That We Build

A healthy, vibrant community needs a mix of housing types for different needs - for example, affordable housing, rental units, single-family homes, mid-rise apartments and condos. However, in Etobicoke-Lakeshore, we are seeing an almost singular focus on high-rise condominiums, due to their profitability for developers and desirability by investors. Meanwhile, our communities face a massive shortage of family-sized homes. We need a better balance between high-rise condominiums and other housing types. Ontario can and should do more to promote the construction of mid-rise “missing middle” housing such as duplexes, triplexes, and townhouses. That’s why the Ontario NDP supports zoning reforms to encourage this type of housing and increased funding for non-profit and co-op housing providers

We Need to Invest in Infrastructure to Accompany Density

Too often, new housing builds in our communities are not accompanied by matching investment in the appropriate infrastructure and amenities to ensure that quality of life is maintained. Instead of coordinating increased housing density with new transit, groceries, parks, schools, healthcare services, community spaces, etc., we have poorly designed communities that are making our neighbourhoods less livable. We need a full reset at the provincial level on how we plan for thriving communities and put those plans into action in a way that creates sustainable, inclusive and prosperous communities. A clear, illustrative example of this is the proposal to replace the Cineplex on the Queensway with 12 new buildings (mostly high-rises) in an area with no higher-order transit nearby, no plan for traffic congestion, no nearby parkland and no new schools being built. Meanwhile, demolition of the Cineplex on this site removes one of the few entertainment establishments in the South Etobicoke community.

It’s Time to Derail Doug Ford’s Developer Gravy Train

These issues are happening because Doug Ford’s government has chosen to abandon the needs of our communities in order to serve the interests of developers. This government has repeatedly acted to empower developers with a blank cheque, remove community voices from the process and handcuff municipalities when it comes to planning. For example, the Ontario Land Tribunal established by Ford government is a quasi-judicial body that decides what gets built in Ontario and it's supposed to be independent - yet it rules in favour of developers 97% of the time. This has allowed developers to push through poorly planned proposals without community benefits, and often without community consultation (such as in the case of the 220 Lake Promenade application in Long Branch and the 2405-2411 Lakeshore Blvd application in Mimico). Then there’s Doug Ford’s Bill 23 (the More Homes Built Faster Act) - a brazen handout to developers that erodes responsible municipal planning, prevents more affordable housing and removes environmental protections. We must reverse these policies and stop putting developer profits ahead of community needs.

We Need Real Solutions To Congestion - Not Gimmicks

The City of Toronto has long been recognized as one of the worst cities in the world for traffic congestion, a problem that is spiraling out of control as congestion is now worse than it was before the pandemic. In Etobicoke-Lakeshore, this is further amplified because we are the western corridor into Toronto, and have the Gardiner Expressway cutting right through our communities. And as more housing density has been added to an area designed for car-centric, suburban living, congestion has become unbearable. Unfortunately, rather than investing in the sorely needed transit projects and infrastructure investments to actually alleviate brutal traffic congestion, our current Conservative MPP is much more focused on ripping up bike lanes on Bloor St. We know this is not the answer, and we need real leadership who will advocate for actual solutions to the pressing issue of traffic congestion in our communities.

Hold Metrolinx Accountable

People in Etobicoke-Lakeshore are fed up with the slow, delayed or poorly managed GO projects in our communities. With congestion worsening, we need more convenient, accessible transportation options here. Yet, Metrolinx has repeatedly failed to deliver on the needs of this community. In Humber Bay Shore (a community that has experienced rapid densification with no additional transit), a new Park Lawn GO station has been promised for years, but construction has not started and now this community is being told that it will take another 5 - 10 years. The Mimico GO station and surrounding lands were supposed to be redeveloped as a “Transit Oriented Community” - but this has fallen through multiple times and now the community is left with a giant hole in the ground, an inaccessible GO station and major parking issues that remain unaddressed. And in Long Branch, the poorly managed construction work at the station has created safety issues that recently led to a woman being struck by a train. We need a provincial leader that will hold Metrolinx accountable for these failures.

We Need to Invest in More Transit

Getting around without a car in many of our communities is slow, ineffective and exhausting. For those who don’t live within walking distance of a GO station, relying on a patchwork of buses and streetcars can often take twice as long (or more) as driving. Prioritizing fast and convenient transit options is the best way to relieve traffic congestion, by providing viable alternatives to driving. When it comes to the GO, that means restoring 15 minute rush hour service, expediting 2-way all-day GO service and getting the new Park Lawn GO station operational in the next few years, not the next decade. But we must also fight to bring new transit infrastructure to this community - that could include a west-ward expansion of the Ontario Line to Etobicoke-Lakeshore and a new LRT line in this community.

Better Management and Coordination of Construction Is Possible

The increase in traffic congestion over the last few years is not just about more cars on the road - major construction projects, often poorly coordinated and timed, have created bottlenecks and made it harder to get around. In our communities, we have seen the direct effect of construction on the Gardiner Expressway on a spike in traffic in Etobicoke-Lakeshore, and this gets even worse when there is work happening simultaneously on other major roads such as Lake Shore Boulevard. A lot can be done to significantly improve traffic disruptions by coordinating construction between the province and the City, accelerating provincial infrastructure projects and implementing standards that prioritize minimizing lane closures and disruptions to local life.

#3. Traffic & Transit

Let’s Get to the Root of High Costs and Low Wages

Life in Ontario has gotten brutally expensive - food, transportation, utilities, childcare and everyday bills have far outstripped wages. People are forced into making tough choices everyday and it shouldn’t be this way. We must move beyond short-term fixes and hollow gestures (like one-time $200 handouts) to address the root causes of Ontario’s cost of living crisis — stagnant wages, corporate greed and a provincial government that is more concerned with serving corporations, wealthy donors and developers than ordinary Ontarians.

Ontario’s Workers Deserve More

It’s no secret that wages in Ontario have not kept up with the cost of living and full-time minimum wage falls well short of a livable pay. Hard-working people should not need 2 or 3 jobs just to get by - wages must rise to match the reality of today’s cost of living. This will require meaningfully increasing the minimum wage, protecting gig workers and strengthening critical labour protections. This includes paid sick days, support for collective bargaining and expanding employment standards for all workers. Ontario’s workers also deserve more than the bare minimum needed to survive, and this includes the right to a full, balanced life beyond their jobs. We must build towards a future where fair wages and labour protections are accompanied by benefits like adequate paid time off, and a transition to fewer hours of full-time work (e.g. a four day work week).

We Need Leaders That Will Protect Consumers

People in Ontario pay some of the highest prices for everyday goods and services compared to other parts of Canada and the rest of the world. For instance, Ontario’s grocery prices are some of the highest in North America and have risen more than inflation, because just a few major corporations control the entire market. We also face some of the highest prices in Canada when it comes to gas, electricity, car insurance, childcare and more. These realities, combined with the high inflation rate of the last several years, have made life harder for ordinary people and left many struggling to survive. It doesn’t have to be this way — Ontario needs to strengthen provincial consumer laws to protect Ontarians from unfair pricing practices and invest in local and cooperative models for essential goods. The Ontario NDP, under Marit Stiles leadership, have fought for consumer protections time and time again, and are championing the creation of a consumer watchdog in this province.

End Poverty For Those On ODSP & OW

The reality of Ontario’s high cost of living is that it disproportionately affects low-income and vulnerable families. We have a significant problem of worsening wage and income inequality, such that lower income earners have actually seen their wages decline in real terms (i.e. adjusted for inflation). Meanwhile, worsening poverty has left 1 in 10 Torontonians reliant on a food bank and Toronto is now the child poverty capital of Canada. We must do more to combat this growing epidemic and protect the most vulnerable people in our communities. That’s why the Ontario NDP is fighting to double the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) and Ontario Works (OW) — so people who rely on these vital supports can get the help they need.

#4. Cost of Living

#5. Healthcare

Our Healthcare System is Crumbling

Ontario’s healthcare system crisis has reached catastrophic levels under Doug Ford’s leadership - entire emergency departments have closed, our hallway healthcare problem is worse than ever, doctors and nurses are dangerously burnt out, and people are waiting longer and longer to receive care. Ontarians deserve to get the basic healthcare services that we pay for. Instead, we have paramedic services that are so scarce that wait times can take hours. More than 2.5 million Ontarians are without a family doctor (a number that is expected to double in the next few years). Wait times for specialist care, surgery and diagnostics often exceed the standard of care. And we have fallen behind when it comes to digital health and innovation that could create a more efficient healthcare system that better serves patients.

We Need to Immediately Reverse Cuts & Stop the Bleed

This healthcare crisis was not inevitable, nor an accident - it was manufactured by this Conservative government through years of underfunding. Doug Ford has even gone so far as violating the Constitution to cut healthcare workers’ wages in the middle of a staffing crisis - all while his donors have benefited from his push to privatize healthcare. Enough is enough. The Ontario NDP will fight to ensure that our healthcare system is not for sale. It is critical that we immediately reverse years of cuts to our healthcare system by Ford’s Conservative government by investing in underfunded hospital beds and hiring more doctors and nurses.

Let’s Expand and Improve Healthcare Instead of Cutting It

Ontario’s healthcare system has long been characterized by what many experts call “sick care” - waiting until problems escalate to treat patients, often resulting in higher costs, preventable suffering and poorer health outcomes. Physician shortages and long wait times are a core part of the problem. But we also know that our healthcare system is plagued by inefficiency, lack of care coordination and a complete absence of whole-person care that puts patient needs at the center - this is at the heart of the Ontario NDP’s plan to build integrated team-based primary care in Ontario. Whole-person care must also include mental healthcare - one of the leading contributors to disability, diminished quality of life and poorer physical health in Ontario. Yet, access to timely and adequate care remains a luxury for many. Under an NDP government led by Marit Stiles, mental healthcare will become universal healthcare, for everyone.

It’s Time to Invest in Digital Health & Innovation

It’s time to modernize our healthcare system by taking advantage of cutting-edge tools and technologies to reduce costs, lower wait times and improve access to care. Ontario is lagging when it comes to investing in digitization and innovation compared to other countries and even other provinces like British Columbia and Quebec. For example, health tech and AI tools to reduce the administrative burden on physicians and hospitals, reduce wait times and improve clinical decision-making already exist and are successfully in use in other places. Yet, Ontario has yet to fully embrace them. And during the pandemic, we saw how telemedicine and virtual care was transformative in improving access to a doctor, yet the Ford government slashed funding to these services in 2022. By investing in digital health and innovation, we can create a more accessible, efficient, and sustainable healthcare system that meets the needs of our growing and aging population.