Snowflake opens massive new office in Toronto

Mayor Olivia Chow addressed the audience at the Snowflake Toronto expansion and office opening, expressing hopes for significant investment in Toronto’s housing and food programs. She emphasized the urgent need for affordable housing, stating that low-cost loans for builders, funds for supportive and affordable housing, and investment in shelters are crucial. Chow highlighted the success of the city’s meal program for children and called for its expansion with federal support to address food insecurity among families.

When questioned about her optimism for the federal budget, Chow expressed confidence in seeing allocations for housing, infrastructure, and food programs. Specifically, she emphasized the need for low-cost loans, funding for supportive housing, and investment in shelters to address homelessness. Chow also discussed the importance of funding for refugees, matching last year’s expenditure of around $250 million due to the ongoing refugee influx.

Regarding potential FIFA funding for the World Cup, Chow mentioned the existing funding formula and expressed hope for assistance with security costs, although she noted that this may not be part of the budget. She also emphasized the need for new Line 2 subway trains, urging for an indication in the budget to proceed with the order to replace aging trains.

Overall, Mayor Olivia Chow outlined her priorities for the federal budget, focusing on housing affordability, food security, refugee support, and infrastructure investment, while addressing questions from reporters at the event.