TORONTO - Even the wealthiest Torontonians agree: Toronto should raise property taxes on the wealthiest homes to invest now in public services. A recent poll found the vast majority of voters—from across the whole city and across all demographics—support making investments now in public and community services, even if it means a small property tax increase for property valued over $2.5 million.

The survey, which reached voters in the final month of Toronto’s municipal election, measured attitudes on issues that may affect voting behaviour such as investment in public services, transit, road use, climate change, accountability at City Hall, and developer influence. This survey was sponsored by the Toronto & York Region Labour Council, designed in consultation with Earnscliffe Strategies and the fieldwork conducted by Léger using a random sampling of panelists from Léger’s proprietary online panel. All analysis of results was conducted by the Toronto & York Region Labour Council with the Broadbent Institute.

In findings representing 2296 respondents city-wide, 72% of participants—and over 73% of those in the highest income bracket (households with incomes above $150,000) —aligned with the statement “Toronto should invest now to improve public and community services like recreation, roads, transit, bike lanes, affordable housing, and public health, even if it means a small increase in property taxes for homes valued at over $2.5 million.”

“I believe the survey results show social unity. Our experiences have differed during the pandemic, and yet we have all come out the other side with a new appreciation for the impact Toronto’s services have on our day-to-day lives,” says Andria Babbington, President of the Toronto & York Region Labour Council. “Residents have had to use their city’s resources differently, and now they are noticing the impact of a dozen years of cutbacks. Raising taxes on the wealthiest homes in order to invest in the community makes sense and is something everyone supports.”

What the vast majority of Torontonians want:

• 72% agree that Toronto should invest now in public and community services, even if it means a small increase in property taxes for homes over $2.5 million
• 72% say Toronto should purchase housing stock to create affordable community and supportive homes
• 75% support increasing protections for renters to reduce evictions and improve building maintenance
• 85% support Community Benefits Agreements to ensure good local jobs as part of public infrastructure contracts
• 80% want developer money out of municipal elections
• 83% support improving the frequency and reliability of TTC services
• 77% support changing planning priorities to increase housing density and require developers to include a greater proportion of affordable units in all new developments
• 81% support redirecting responsibility for non-violent mental health and overdose response from police to other city services

“People want to live, work, and play in Toronto, and they have pride in their hometown. We are a city that wants to see everyone be able to live a good quality of life. Voters are looking for leadership from candidates who share that vision and who aren’t afraid to make these important policy choices for the good of the City,” says Babbington.

The full dataset is available. Email us at [email protected] to request the report.

Media Contact:

Matt Dusenbury: 647-297-4182

Further reading:

Toronto Municipal Election Polling Quantitative Analysis [view slide deck]

Polling Questionnaire [view PDF]

Printable version of this release [view PDF]