Your bi-weekly briefing on policy developments, advocacy insights and the conversations that shape both regional progress and your business success. View online Hello, A commute that used to take thirty minutes now takes over an hour. A condo near your office costs more than your parents paid for their first house. And the city's finances are under real pressure, with potentially tough trade-offs ahead for the services residents rely on. This is the Toronto our next mayor and council will inherit. That's why we're launching What's at Stake, our platform for the ambitious conversation this election deserves. Over the next few weeks, we'll publish three issue guides on the things we think matter most to getting Toronto’s economy firing on all cylinders: moving around our city, ensuring we have places to live and work, and how we’re going to pay for the city services businesses and residents need. This is not the time for small ideas. Stay tuned for new polling that proves it. In the meantime, we invite you to explore some of our past work on these topics. On congestion, we've called on leaders to finish the job on transit and infrastructure delivery. On housing and land use, we've flagged how development charges are driving up the cost of building. And on the city's finances, we've argued there's a better path than leaning on property tax hikes to fix Toronto's fiscal position. Bookmark our new election hub now and check back on September 2nd as we roll out each issue guide alongside the Board's full body of research on what matters most to business this election. And mark your calendar for September 22nd, when we're partnering with the Toronto Star to host a debate bringing mayoral candidates together to address these issues directly. This is only the beginning of the conversation. Stay tuned. What to Expect in this Issue ▸ By the Numbers: The 2026 Toronto Municipal Election ▸ 3 Questions on What's at Stake ▸ Featured Events    ▸ Policy at a Glance SOURCES: Canadian Centre for Economic Analysis Priced Out: The High Cost of Development Charges Recommended 2026-2035 Capital Budget and Plan, 15-Year Capital Investment Plan, and Real Estate Investment Plan Update The Business Council of Toronto 3 Questions on What's at Stake in Toronto's Election Toronto has all the right ingredients to compete with any city in the world, but the next mayor and council will need to act decisively to grow the economy, drive business investment, and create more good jobs to get there. We asked Board President and CEO Giles Gherson what's driving the What's at Stake campaign, and what a winning outcome for Toronto looks like. 1. The campaign from the Board is called What’s at Stake, so let’s start by answering that — in this upcoming election, what is at stake? “There are significant challenges facing this city. People love living here, and they know Toronto has had many of the right ingredients to compete with any city in the world. The high cost of living, chronic congestion and weak business investment are having an impact. The result: too many are thinking about leaving the city for greater opportunity and a more affordable life. That makes it harder for businesses to attract and retain talent.” 2. The three areas of focus — congestion, housing, and the city’s finances — why were these chosen? “These are the three big fixes that need to happen to put us back on track as a global magnet for investment and talent. They directly correlate to residents' quality of life. Where people can afford to live and how they get around the city are daily challenges, and the city's ability to provide the kind of everyday services that contribute to our high standard of living.” 3. Sneak peek: Polling we'll be releasing throughout the course of the election says people think Toronto is headed in the wrong direction. What does the right direction look like to you? “This election cycle, it’s gotta be about the economy. This has to be a city of great opportunity. City leaders need to make a real commitment to economic growth and act decisively to pursue that agenda. We know that nearly half a million people have left Toronto over the last decade because they can't afford to live here. And more young people — particularly those in the prime of their careers — are considering a departure every day. When more young people believe they can get ahead here, we'll be going in the right direction.” Get Involved Policy at a Glance TRANSIT, TRANSPORTATION & CONGESTION Faster Commutes: Advancing Regional Fare and Service Integration Breaking Gridlock: Finishing the Job through Provincial Action The Price of Progress: Enabling the Delivery of Critical Transit Infrastructure A New Future for Regional Transit Next Stop: Building Universal Transit Access Breaking down gridlock: What Toronto’s congestion officer needs to succeed Toronto’s gridlock is an economic crisis. Here’s how we can fix it 11th Annual Transportation Symposium HOUSING AND LAND USE The Power of Connection: Unlocking Canada's Most Valuable Waterfront Priced Out: The High Cost of Development Charges Ripple Effect: Unlocking Toronto's Waterfront Potential Meeting in the Middle: A Plan to End Exclusionary Zoning and Tackle Ontario’s Housing Crisis Out with the Old: New Paths to New Housing The Housing Symposium: Unlocking Solutions to a Generational Crisis Race for Space: Navigating Toronto's Employment Lands Crisis FISCAL FRAMEWORK There is a better way to pay for Toronto’s future than through property tax hikes Fixing Toronto’s Broken Budget: Bold Ideas to Tackle a Growing Crisis Reading this as a forward? Subscribe to stay connected. 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