HOUSING NOW: Take Action to Support the Expropriation of Vacant Units for Emergency Housing

HOUSING NOW: Take Action to Support the Expropriation of Vacant Units for Emergency Housing

This week Toronto City Councillors will vote on a motion that would call on the Federal government to use their emergency powers to expropriate vacant hotel and apartment units to help solve the housing and homelessness crisis in Toronto.

Instead of criminalizing homelessness, we need bold and decisive action to save lives. Use our tool to send a message to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Mayor John Tory and your local Councillor and MP. Take action here.

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By-Election: Electing a Progressive Councillor for Scarborough—Agincourt

By-Election: Electing a Progressive Councillor for Scarborough—Agincourt

Progress Toronto is campaigning to elect a Progressive Champion to City Council in the Scarborough—Agincourt by-election being held on January 15, 2021. This is our chance to elect a progressive voice in Scarborough and with only 26 votes on Toronto City Council this by-election is an important opportunity! With just 5 weeks till election day, we need to act fast. Learn more.

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Take Action: Help Win on the Vacant Homes Tax

Take Action: Help Win on the Vacant Homes Tax

Thanks to the 7,400+ people who sent their message demanding a Vacant Homes Tax, Mayor Tory announced that he will support the tax at the December 10 Executive Committee. This is a big win, but we still need to make sure the vote passes at Executive Committee on December 10 and Council the following week. Learn more how to take action here.

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Training: Building Your Personal Narrative

Training: Building Your Personal Narrative

Join this training on Thursday, December 3. In this online workshop, you’ll learn the fundamentals of public narrative -- the story of self, the story of us, the story of now -- and practice telling your story to inspire others to take action. Learn from expert storyteller, Amara Possian, to perfect your personal narrative. Learn more and sign up.

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Volunteer: Phone Bank for a Vacant Homes Tax!

Volunteer: Phone Bank for a Vacant Homes Tax!

In December, Toronto City Councillors will be voting on whether or not to use one of the many tools we can use to address our City’s housing crisis: implementing a Vacant Homes Tax.

The vote may be close, so we’re ramping up our campaign and need your help in the coming weeks to phone people and help them take action. COVID-19 has deepened Toronto’s housing crisis and City Councillors urgently need to hear from us so they feel public pressure to support a Vacant Homes Tax. Learn more and sign up.

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Dreaming Bigger, Demanding Better: A Fundraiser for Progress Toronto

Dreaming Bigger, Demanding Better: A Fundraiser for Progress Toronto

You’re invited to join us on Thursday, November 26 at 7pm for our not to be missed online fundraising event. Our inspiring list of speakers include Director of International Diplomacy at the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group and former Toronto Mayor David Miller, Parkdale-High Park MPP Bhutila Karpoche, and the President of the Toronto Public Library Workers Union Brandon Haynes. The event will be hosted by our advisor Zahra Ebrahim. Learn more and buy your tickets here.

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Training: How to be a Facilitator

Training: How to be a Facilitator

Facilitation is fundamental to collective action and a key skill for organizing. Good facilitation meets people where they are and draws insight from their experiences to generate ideas and make choices together - allowing people to work through differences and find a path to action built on shared values.

On November 17, Alejandra Bravo, the Director of Power Lab and Progress Toronto Board Member, will share practices for running participatory meetings and workshops that help you meet your objectives. Learn more and sign up.

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Training: How to Meet with Your Local Politician

Training: How to Meet with Your Local Politician

Ever wanted to meet with your local politician but didn’t know where to begin or what to say?

On Tuesday, November 3, join Toronto Community Benefits Network’s Campaigns Manager Kumsa Baker and Councillor Mike Layton’s Chief of Staff Stephanie Nakitsas for this training. You'll find out why meeting with your local politician matters and how you can prepare for your meeting to make sure your voice is heard. Learn more and sign up.

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October City Council Online Watch Party & Discussion

October City Council Online Watch Party & Discussion

On Tuesday, October 27, Toronto City Council is meeting and there will be many important items debated.

Join Progress Toronto on Tuesday, October 27 at 9:30AM via Zoom so we can watch City Council live together. While we watch the livestream, Progress Toronto will be there, online with you on our Zoom chat. We will be providing helpful info throughout the day, and can help to answer questions about process, timing, motions, and more! Learn more and sign up here.

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Training: Digital Campaigning 101

Training: Digital Campaigning 101

Developing digital campaigns and strategies is crucial to winning on progressive issues, particularly now during the COVID-19 pandemic. Progress Toronto is excited to partner with 350.org and their Senior Digital Strategist Atiya Jaffar to provide this Digital Campaigning 101 training.

Join us on Wednesday, October 21 to learn the basics of digital campaigning, what digital campaigning can achieve, and how to create digital strategies. Learn more and sign up here.

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Training: How to Speak at Government Committee

Training: How to Speak at Government Committee

Join Progress Toronto and the Toronto Youth Cabinet on Monday, October 19 for this workshop where you will learn the basics of making a deputation. You will learn how to choose which committee to speak at, how to read the committee agenda, how to sign up for a deputation, and how to prepare your deputation (speech). Right now, deputations at the City of Toronto are taking place online. We will review how this works and how you can prepare. Learn more and sign up here.

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Phone Bank to Fund Our Schools!

Phone Bank to Fund Our Schools!

For decades our provincial government has let rich Toronto developers off the hook from paying Educational Development Charges (EDCs) that would help fund public schools in disrepair. The pandemic has exposed how our crumbling schools are public health hazards.

That’s why we’ve launched a campaign to close this loophole. We’re running remote phone banks to call people across our city and help them take action. Learn more and sign up to phone bank!

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How to Phone Bank for Our City

How to Phone Bank for Our City

Before the pandemic, conservatives like Doug Ford were bringing in unpopular and harmful cuts that deepened our affordable housing crisis, placed more stress on our cash-strapped TTC, and further set back the next generation in Toronto. And COVID-19 has exposed to us all how these cuts have extremely dire consequences for people across our city.

As City Council debates housing, transit, and funding for key public services, now is the time for us to demand greater investments in our communities. At Progress Toronto we know if enough of us act and put pressure on the Mayor and City Council, we can push them to build a better city that is livable for everyone.

That is why phone banking to help people take action is so important. And! This is something you can do safely from home. Learn more and sign up here!

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September City Council Online Watch Party & Discussion

September City Council Online Watch Party & Discussion

Join Progress Toronto on Wednesday, September 30 at 9:30am via Zoom so we can watch City Council live together. While we watch the livestream, Progress Toronto will be there, online with you on our Zoom chat. We will be providing helpful info throughout the day, and can help to answer questions about process, timing, motions, and more! Learn more and sign up here.

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Fund Our Schools: Tell Ford to make developers pay their fair share

Fund Our Schools: Tell Ford to make developers pay their fair share

For decades our provincial government has let rich Toronto developers off the hook from paying Educational Development Charges (EDCs) that would help fund public schools in disrepair.[1]

The pandemic has exposed how our crumbling schools are public health hazards. Toronto's students have lost out on hundreds of millions of dollars in investments to update and repair their schools because of this regulatory loophole. Learn more and take action here.

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