Public Policy

When United Way Greater Toronto’s President & CEO Heather McDonald appeared before the Council of the Regional Municipality of Peel, she spoke about the challenges facing residents. Her answer was collaboration.

Meaningfully addressing poverty in Ontario requires bold leadership. The Ontario Government can substantially reduce poverty across the province through measures that ensure financial stability, access to safe, accessible and affordable homes, and critical community services that help people thrive.

Ontario is at a critical point. Housing need is rising, homelessness is growing, federal investment is starting to move but new home construction is slowing in Ontario. Decisions made now will set the course for years. The legislative changes to the Residential Tenancies Act in Schedule 12 of Bill 60, move policy in the wrong direction and will serve to escalate the homelessness crisis across Ontario. The focus should be on keeping people housed while new supply comes online.

Ontario United Ways make recommendations to the federal government’s Build Canada Homes design to help realize the full potential of Canada's community housing sector to build the homes Canadians need.

“Built for Good” shows how targeted investment in non-market housing can deliver thousands of deeply affordable homes, preserve existing stock, and ease pressure on public systems — all while creating jobs and economic opportunity

This federal election will be decisive for our country as Canadians go to the polls looking for strong leadership on the challenges we are all facing, now intensified amid unravelling trade agreements and an uncertain economic future. Your vote is your chance to make a difference.

In the 2025 provincial budget, United Way Greater Toronto urges government to act on policy solutions that ensure Ontarians have access to the basic building blocks of a good life, supporting a stronger, more resilient Ontario.

United Way leaders from across Ontario addressed an open letter to Ontario Premier Doug Ford calling for urgent action from the provincial government on intimate partner violence, starting by declaring intimate partner violence an epidemic.

On May 29th, United Way Greater Toronto, Sheridan College, Mississauga Board of Trade and the Metamorphosis Network will host leading mayoral candidates for a debate on the critical social and economic challenges facing Mississauga.

As the Government of Ontario outlines its budget priorities for the coming year, Ontario United Ways are calling for investment in, and engagement of, the non-profit sector to deliver the full range of housing options, particularly the affordable and deeply affordable homes, so desperately needed in this province.

United Way Greater Toronto, in collaboration with creative agency Sid Lee, turned a 150 sq ft. residential parking spot into an affordable one-bedroom rental opportunity for $250/month

Watch the mayoral candidates debate hosted by United Way Greater Toronto, The Toronto Star and Toronto Metropolitan University on May 31.