Supporting the call for fair, transparent and meaningful city planning 

FoodShare supports residents of the Eglinton West – Little Jamaica neighbourhoods who are asking the City of Toronto for fair, transparent, and meaningful planning services for their neighbourhoods.

Context 

The Eglinton West – Little Jamaica neighbourhoods are experiencing significant displacement pressures. Residents have been organizing to ensure that decisions about our community meaningfully includes the people most affected—particularly renters, Black residents, local businesses, and community organizations.

On April 14, 2026, Toronto’s Planning and Housing Committee directed City staff to establish a Stakeholder Advisory Committee to guide the Little Jamaica and Oakwood Vaughan Planning Framework, with Councillor Josh Matlow describing the intention as putting the community “in the driver’s seat.” City staff subsequently proceeded with public engagement activities and questionnaires without first establishing that committee. They have also downplayed their responsibility and mandate to address displacement. There is also a concern about fair and equal treatment between neighbourhoods. Other Toronto planning studies have provided residents with consultation reports, interim reports, project staff information, newsletters, and—in some cases—open data showing the feedback received. Comparable transparency has not been provided for Little Jamaica.

What’s needed?

Residents, with the support of Community in Public, are petitioning the City to:

• pause the Planning Framework until the Stakeholder Advisory Committee is established and able to guide the work;
• adopt service standards grounded in meaningful engagement, housing rights, and confronting anti-Black racism;
• publish a What We Heard Report so residents can see what the City heard and how their input is being used; and
• establish the Stakeholder Advisory Committee with a meaningful role in shaping the Framework.

All Toronto neighbourhoods deserve a voice in city planning: 

What’s next? 

The Mayor’s Office has acknowledged receiving the petition, but the community is still awaiting a substantive response. The issue has also recently been reported by The Green Line and TorontoToday.

For organizations like ours working to advance housing stability, community wellbeing, equity, access to services, or meaningful civic participation, this is an important opportunity to stand alongside residents asking that the public planning process affecting their neighbourhood meet those same principles.

Organizations and individuals can join us in signing the petition and continuing to support resident-led resistance to displacement.