Pride Toronto's $900K shortfall sparks NDP call for ‘stable' and ‘predictable' funding
With Pride Toronto facing a $900,000 deficit and warning next year's event could look drastically different, Ontario's New Democrats are urging the province to step up their financial commitment.
'The provincial government has largely left arts and culture funding the same since 2009,' Toronto Centre MPP Kristyn Wong-Tam, told CTV News Toronto. 'It hasn't kept up with the rate of inflation and any funding that the government says that they have infused is largely related to COVID activity, which was one-time funding.'
The Ontario NDP says it has introduced a motion in legislature that calls for 'stable' and 'predictable' funding for major cultural events such as Pride Toronto, which they say generates enormous economic returns.
While Pride Toronto has dominated headlines in recent weeks, Wong-Tam says it's part of a wider crisis stemming from over a decade of flat funding for Ontario's $26-billion arts and culture sector, which employs 270,000 people.
'Organizations like Pride Toronto, plus all the other major festivals in Ontario, have been struggling to gain access to provincial funding,' they said. 'What that means is that they are so much more reliant on corporate partnerships and what we've seen is that corporate partnerships can be fickle.'
'Not asking for a handout'
In a press conference held last week, Pride Toronto Executive Director Kojo Modeste confirmed losses from organizations such as Google, Home Depot, Nissan and Clorox — some of whom, he says, already committed to participate in this year's events.
He says the loss, combined with soaring costs and security expenses, pushed the festival's projected shortfall to nearly $1 million, straining their $5-million budget.
'We are not asking for a handout; we are asking for our fair share of the pie,' Modeste said, noting that Pride generates $200 million in taxable revenue. 'As we face our current challenge, we're not asking for much, we're asking for less than one per cent of the taxable revenue we bring in annually.'
Some governments have already answered the call.
The City of Toronto increased its annual funding by 35 per cent to $350,000 this year. However, Modeste said there's been little movement from Queen's Park or Ottawa.
Insurance costs alone have jumped nearly 200 per cent since 2022, and Modeste told CTV that they now spend over $425,000 on security annually.
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Ontario's Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Gaming wrote to CTV News Toronto suggesting that they have already provided funding to Pride Toronto this year.
'This year our government is providing Pride Toronto with over $450,000 including advertising space and sponsorships, which includes $335,000 in direct grant funding from the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Gaming – part of the over $1.9 million we have provided directly to the organization since 2018," they wrote in an email.
'In addition to funding for Pride Toronto, our government provides support to eight other 2SLGBTQIA+ events across the province.'
More than just emergency relief
The motion introduced by the NDP is about more than just emergency relief, Wong-Tam explains — it's about rethinking how Ontario supports a major employer and economic driver.
'Whether it's through the collection of tax revenues or the employment of people, arts and culture does a lot to hit above its weight, to foster tourism and to promote social cohesion and the economy.'
Wong-Tam added that festivals like Pride not only activate public space but also contribute to Ontario's brand as a vibrant, inclusive destination — something that both the Conservative and previous Liberal governments haven't made a priority.
'I would say that the Government of Ontario has very little relationship with a juggernaut like Pride Toronto,' they said.
According to Ontario Art Council, their share of government's budget stands at just $60 million, adding that 'OAC's base budget has been mostly at this level since 2009.'
'Perfect time for Canadian corporations'
Without stable government backing, Wong-Tam warns Ontario risks undermining years of both cultural and economic progress.
'Would you rather reduce the GDP by $26 billion annually? Would you rather see the unemployment lines go up?' they said. 'If their answer is yes, then they're not civic-minded people.'
Wong-Tam points to Quebec as a model, where provincial funding is more robust and integrated into long-term cultural planning.
'Can you imagine what we would have in Toronto and Ontario if governments stepped up with a strategic plan to infuse money into these festivals that hire hundreds of thousands of people in Ontario?'
For now, the motion has not been scheduled for debate. But Wong-Tam said the urgency is growing.
'This is the perfect time for Canadian corporations to step up if they can,' they said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CTV News
36 minutes ago
- CTV News
The credit card habits that are putting Canadians deep in debt
We talk five common types of debt and how to deal with each one. Christopher Liew is a CFP®, CFA Charterholder and former financial advisor. He writes personal finance tips for thousands of daily Canadian readers at Blueprint Financial. Credit cards, when used responsibly, can be useful financial tools that help you build your credit profile and can help you earn rewards and cash back for your purchases. For many Canadians, though, they've become a source of growing debt and financial stress. With inflation driving up everyday costs and interest rates still remaining high, more people are relying on credit to make ends meet. The problem? Small balances can quickly turn into long-term debt, especially if you're only making minimum payments or juggling multiple cards. Below, I'll break down some of the most common bad credit card habits so you can avoid getting trapped in a debt cycle. Canada's growing debt problem According to Equifax Canada, credit card balances have reached record highs in recent years, with younger Canadians between 25 and 45 carrying some of the fastest-growing debt loads. As everyday essentials become more expensive and wages struggle to keep up, more people are turning to credit just to get by. What makes credit card debt especially problematic is its high interest rate, often ranging from 19 per cent on the lower end to 28 per cent or more on the higher end. Unlike a car loan or personal loan, credit card interest compounds quickly, making it easy to fall behind even with small balances. Once you start carrying a balance and only make the minimum payment, it can feel like you're stuck in an endless cycle. 5 bad credit card habits to avoid Between inflation, rising borrowing costs, and poor credit habits, many are finding themselves financially vulnerable. Understanding how credit card debt builds and the habits that make it worse is the first step toward breaking the cycle and regaining control of your personal finances. 1. Only making the minimum payment One of the simplest ways credit card companies lure customers into debt cycles is by advertising a deceptively low minimum payment. Your minimum credit card payment may only be a fraction of what you'd pay if you borrowed the same amount from a bank in the form of a personal loan. If you're carrying over a large balance from one month to the next, only making your minimum payment means that you'll be forking over a lot of interest. Often, 75 per cent or more of your minimum payment will go purely to the monthly interest fee (charged for carrying a balance), meaning that you'll barely make a dent in your actual principal balance. Carrying over a high balance on your card will also increase your credit utilization rate, which can negatively affect your credit score. 2. Treating credit like free money With an extra $2,000 at your disposal, the possibilities can seem endless. The new camera you want, the vacation you've been dreaming about, and the car parts you've been eyeing are now just a simple swipe away. When combined with the allure of a low monthly payment, the temptation to treat your available credit card balance like lottery winnings can be tempting. One of the first rules of building your credit is that credit cards should only be used to cover expenses that you can already afford with the money in your bank account. Use the cards to cover planned expenses, and then make sure you pay the amount off before the next billing cycle. This is, by far, the most responsible and effective way to use your credit card. By only using your card for what you can already afford, you'll be able to easily pay the balance off, which means you'll avoid interest fees while also being able to take full advantage of any cash back or rewards offered for using your card. 3. Not paying attention to your interest rate Credit card interest rates are variable, meaning that they can change monthly depending on the economy, your changing credit score, or simply the whims of your credit card company. Many credit cards offer a low or no-interest introductory period for the first few months (or even a year) of owning your card. While this can be helpful for a balance transfer to pay down another high-interest debt within that short period, it can also trap you into a false sense of security. As soon as the introductory rate is over, your rate will jump right back up. If you haven't paid the balance off by then, you'll suddenly be faced with mounting interest fees that will leave you feeling stuck. 4. Relying on credit to cover basic expenses If you find yourself relying on credit cards to cover basic expenses like groceries, fuel, utility bills, or rent, then you have another problem — your income is too low or expenses are too high. For example, if your monthly expenses are $3,000, you're only earning $2,700, and you're relying on credit to cover the remaining $300, then you'll quickly mount up debt. If you find yourself in this situation, the best thing you can do is to increase your income by picking up a side job or asking for a raise. Simultaneously, you should also find ways to decrease your monthly living expenses so that you're not living above your means. 5. Missing your monthly payment Missing your monthly payment typically comes with a late fee, which is just money thrown down the drain. If you consistently miss your payments, you could end up throwing hundreds of dollars away over the course of a year. In addition to the wasted money, it can also hurt your credit score. If you're more than 30 days late on a payment, the credit card companies may report this to Equifax and TransUnion — the two major credit bureaus. This will negatively impact your score and will remain on your credit report for years. Breaking the cycle By avoiding these poor credit card habits, you'll be able to build a solid credit profile for yourself and keep yourself from getting into a cycle of negative revolving debt. If you're already stuck in a cycle, it's important to face your situation and be accountable. With a solid plan, consistency, and a little bit of self-sacrifice, you can get out of debt and get back on the right track. More from Christopher Liew:
CTV News
an hour ago
- CTV News
‘A no-brainer': Some bosses happily giving staff Monday off along with Canada Day
A boy reaches for a Canadian flag on Canada Day in Vancouver, Monday, July 1, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ethan Cairns TORONTO — Anyone who works Monday to Friday and is keen for a long weekend this Canada Day has likely had to do a bit of calendar juggling to cope with the ill-timed holiday. The stat day falls on a Tuesday this year, forcing many to work an odd Monday squeezed between days off, unless they burn a vacation day to eliminate the wonky schedule. Some startup companies say they're calling Monday a wash and giving staff a paid day off in order to smooth out the mid-week quirk and create a long weekend. It might not make sense on paper, said Klarify founder Moody Abdul, but he said he believes in prioritizing employee happiness. 'It's that, 'if I take care of you, you'll take care of us' kind of mentality,' Abdul said. Connecting the Canada Day holiday to the preceding weekend is just one way to demonstrate worker appreciation, said Abdul, whose company provides AI-driven note-taking and administrative tools to therapists. For those in Quebec, it's the second holiday Tuesday in a row, after Saint-Jean Baptiste Day on June 24 forced many Fête nationale celebrants to grapple with their own odd workweek. But with Canada Day following so close behind, it's not uncommon for Quebecers to take the whole week off between the two holidays, much the way many treat the stretch between Christmas and New Year's. Of course not every employer can offer such accommodations, and full-time workers with less shift leeway will have to choose to take a vacation day or just make do with an odd schedule next week. Ani Siddique, a research assistant at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre in Toronto, said he asked far in advance for Monday off in order to get ahead of colleagues with the same idea. 'I had to ask for it but I planned for things one or two months in advance,' he said. Morad Affifi, who sat in a downtown park after a shift Friday, said the majority of his planned Canada Day festivities take place over the weekend but he, too, dipped into his vacation bank to avoid working Monday. Suze Mason, co-founder of the digital health platform Sprout Family, said her five staff members have the Monday off and she didn't expect the move to have much of an operational impact on her company. Sprout Family helps co-ordinate fertility care through workplace benefits programs. She said many of its clients, including larger Canadian organizations, plan to treat Monday like a holiday. 'It felt like it was the right business decision to give our employees a day to rest and recharge, while also not having as much of a direct impact on the business,' Mason said. Mason said extending the holiday to match that of the companies Sprout Family works with can also make it easier for staff to disconnect, knowing they aren't missing out on anything crucial. 'Sometimes when you're on vacation and the business is racing ahead without you, it can feel stressful,' she said. Vineet Johnson, founder and CEO of IRegained, said he's made it a recurring practice to bridge awkward gaps between days off when they occur. Johnson, whose company develops neuro-rehabilitation devices, said he did the same last December when Boxing Day fell on a Thursday and otherwise would have forced people to return to work for just one day before the weekend. 'It's an easy incentive, a no-brainer incentive,' said Johnson. With files from Natasha Baldin in Toronto. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 28, 2025. Nicole Thompson, The Canadian Press
National Post
an hour ago
- National Post
'Political expediency': Lawyer for IDF soldiers critical of war-crimes probe
There is a growing backlash after the RCMP announced this month it is investigating whether Canadian citizens involved with clashes in or around Israel were in contravention of this country's Crimes Against Humanity and War Crimes Act. Article content Amid outcry from Jewish groups, the force said it wasn't a criminal probe, but to 'collect, preserve and assess information' for potential future prosecutions. Article content Article content Article content Foreign governments, such as Belgium and Brazil, have also opened investigations into their own citizens who served with the Israel Defense Forces. Article content Article content Lt.-Col. (ret.) Maurice Hirsch, director of the Initiative for Palestinian Authority Accountability and Reform, at the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs, suggests these are politically motivated probes. Article content He has been retained by IDF soldiers who have been questioned by foreign government representatives. Hirsch has previously served as senior legal analyst for Human Rights Voices in New York, lawyer for the Israel Defense Forces, director of the legal department for Palestinian Media Watch, senior military consultant for NGO Monitor, and adviser to the Israeli Ministry of Defense. Article content I can't tell you exactly as to what their motivation is, but I believe that it's somewhere in the realms of political expediency, and internal demographic politics. It requires these governments to almost change what they've been doing traditionally, even to the point of potentially abandoning allies. Article content Article content Their voter base has changed. And so now you have a situation where you need to almost pander, to cater, to a more fringe population. Article content Article content In May, U.K. government lawyers told the High Court that there was no evidence Israel was deliberately targeting civilians in Gaza, and that evidence exists of Israel making efforts to limit harm to civilians. If the government doesn't believe that war crimes are being committed, then obviously they won't then take that forward, and actively engage in an investigation of something that they don't believe is happening. Article content But if the government is so prejudiced, and predisposed, that war crimes are being committed, then obviously you launch an investigation. Article content Video footage, forensic analysis, operational logs — all impartially examined. What they have is so weak and poor, it's impossible to say it's 'evidence.' I think it's just so circumstantial and flimsy, even imagined.
