Mr. Speaker, Canadians are living through a moment of real uncertainty. Families are feeling the pressure of rising costs, communities are anxious about economic instability and people want to know the government has their back and is prepared to step up and invest in the future of our country. At a time like this, we cannot afford to pull back from our cities. We need to invest in them. This is exactly what our government has been doing.
Toronto's 23 Liberal members of Parliament have been strong advocates for this city because we understand how important Toronto is to Canada's economic and cultural future, and our record reflects that. We have delivered historic federal investments in transit, housing, infrastructure and waterfront revitalization, including over $40 million for Harbourfront Centre and a tri-government commitment of roughly $1 billion for each level of government to the waterfront east transit project. These are investments in how people move through the city, where they live, how communities stay connected and whether families can continue to build a future in Toronto.
Through the spring economic statement and budget 2025, our government is continuing to make targeted investments that strengthen communities, support local economies and help Canadians navigate a highly competitive and uncertain global economy with great stability and opportunity. Over the last few months, I have spent a lot of time in community centres, town halls, small businesses, school gyms and on the doorsteps of Spadina—Harbourfront. No matter where the conversation starts, it almost always comes back to the same thing: People are worried about whether life in the city is becoming unaffordable for ordinary people.
A few weeks ago, I spoke with a young woman in my riding who wants to build her future here. She told me she has done everything she was told to do. She has worked hard, gone to school, built a career and taken care of her family, but she cannot imagine ever owning a home in the city where she has grown up. She told me that she does not need luxury and just wants stability. That feeling resonates with a lot of Canadians right now. People are not asking for miracles. They are asking for a fair shot at opportunities to improve their lives.
In a city like Toronto, that pressure shows up everywhere. It shows up in the student working two jobs while trying to finish school. It shows up in the parent deciding between child care costs and rent. It shows up in seniors stretching fixed incomes further every month. It shows up in young professionals who thought they were doing everything right but still feel like stability keeps moving further out of reach. Everyone wants to know that if they work hard, then they can afford a home, raise a family, get a good-paying job and remain in the communities they love.
Strengthening our economy requires hard work and must never come at the expense of Canadians. Now more than ever, Canadians need our support. Our government is focused on building a strong and resilient economy that keeps Canadians financially secure and ensures that no one is left behind. This is why the measures in the spring economic statement matter.
I also hear from small business owners across Spadina—Harbourfront who are trying to keep their doors open while navigating rising operating costs, staffing pressures and economic uncertainty. Whether it is a café like Ivy on Queens Quay or a food truck operator at Street Eats at Sugar Beach, local businesses are the heartbeat of our communities. When we invest in transit, public infrastructure, tourism, housing, arts and culture, and vibrant public spaces, we are also investing in the local economies that those businesses rely on every single day.
We know solving the housing crisis requires us to build differently and to build faster. That is why investments in modular and factory-built housing are so important. Canadians do not want endless debates about housing; they want homes built. Our government will be accelerating over $7 billion in low-cost loans through the apartment construction loan program to help build up to 16,500 new rental homes. Projects could include major waterfront and downtown developments, such as Quayside, which will help unlock new housing supply where it is needed most. In a community like Spadina—Harbourfront, where density is high and 57% of residents are renters, this investment will make a meaningful difference, helping more people find a place they can afford to call home.
Our government is also launching the build communities strong fund, a $51‑billion investment to strengthen infrastructure and improve quality of life in communities across Canada. We are moving beyond concrete and construction to build communities where people actually feel a sense of belonging. In my riding, we see that every day in places like Harbourfront Centre, spaces that have become gathering points for our city, where families attend festivals, young people take part in sports and recreation, artists share their work and residents reconnect with public space along Toronto's waterfront.
Last week, I was pleased to join an announcement with the Secretary of State for Sport at Harbourfront Centre, recognizing it as one of the 25 community mini-pitch projects across Canada aimed at increasing sport participation among children and youth. Watching kids immediately run onto the pitch and neighbours stopping to connect with one another was a reminder that investments in community space have a real impact on people's lives every day. This project builds on the investments outlined in the spring economic statement, including $660 million over five years with ongoing funding to strengthen community sport and create more opportunities for Canadians, especially children and youth, to participate, to connect and to thrive.
For many residents in downtown Toronto, public space matters deeply because not everyone has access to a backyard, access to green space or even room to gather with family and friends. That is why spaces like the Bathurst Quay Common, the Toronto Islands, Love Park, Sugar Beach, Fort York, Little Norway Park, Ireland Park, Coronation Park, Trillium Park, Canoe Landing and The Bentway are so important. These are places where people build community, where children play, where families gather, where cultural events take place and where residents reconnect with the city and waterfront around them.
They are also important economic and tourism assets for Toronto. Thoughtful public infrastructure attracts visitors, supports local businesses, encourages investment and strengthens the vibrancy of our downtown core. As Toronto continues to grow, protecting and investing in these public spaces will only become more important, not only for tourism and economic development, but for quality of life and the sense of connection people feel to the communities they call home.
I want to speak specifically about The Bentway, because it reflects what strong public infrastructure can look like when we invest in community space with intention. What was once underutilized space beneath the Gardiner Expressway has been transformed into a destination that draws residents and visitors year-round through public art, cultural programming, recreation and community events. Today, The Bentway is a place where people skate in the winter, check out contemporary art and connect with friends and neighbours. These kinds of spaces encourage people to stay longer, explore different parts of the waterfront, support nearby businesses and experience Toronto in a more connected and meaningful way.
Transit is not a luxury. It shapes people's quality of life and whether parents can make it home in time to see their kids before bed. Transit shapes access to jobs, education, health care and opportunity. Strong public transit systems are one of the ways we make cities more affordable, more connected and more livable. This is why our government continues to invest in critical transit projects such as the Ontario line. Once it is complete, Spadina—Harbourfront will be home to five Ontario line stations: Exhibition, King West, Chinatown, Osgoode and Queen. We are also working alongside the province and the City of Toronto to jointly fund the waterfront east transit, because building transit requires collaboration across all levels of government. These projects are a critical component to connecting our community and linking residents in Spadina—Harbourfront and beyond to their jobs, families and homes.
Toronto's tourism sector has welcomed more than 28 million visitors, spending $9 billion in our city. With FIFA World Cup 2026 fast approaching, Toronto, and in particular Spadina—Harbourfront, will welcome even more visitors. In fact, all six Ontario matches will be hosted on the vibrant waterfront in Spadina—Harbourfront.
Toronto has a proud record of hosting international sporting events, from the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup to the 2015 Pan Am Games. Spadina—Harbourfront is home to some of Canada's most recognizable destinations and sports and entertainment venues, like the Rogers Centre, or the SkyDome, Scotiabank Arena, the CN Tower, Union Station, our waterfront and Toronto's financial district. It is also home to the teams and events that bring millions of people into our city every year, from the Toronto Blue Jays and the Raptors to the Toronto FC, the Maple Leafs and Toronto Tempo, among others.
It has become one of the great sports and cultural cities in the world, and that economic activity matters for Canada. That is why our government will be investing $755 million over five years and $118 million ongoing to support Canada's sports ecosystem and help strengthen our ability to host major international events.
When we talk about growing our economy, Canada depends on strong local economies. Toronto's business improvement areas, including the Waterfront BIA, play a major role in that work. The Waterfront BIA brings together businesses, tourism partners, cultural institutions and community organizations to help strengthen Toronto's waterfront as a year-round destination for residents and visitors alike. This contributes to the economic growth across our city, and it builds on decades of sustained federal investment into Toronto's waterfront and public infrastructure.
Toronto's 23 Liberal MPs have been strong advocates for this city because we understand its importance to Canada's economic future. Our record reflects that commitment: historic investments in transit, housing, arts and culture, infrastructure and waterfront revitalization.
The spring economic statement is ultimately about the kind of future we want to build together. Through budget 2025 and the spring economic statement, we are continuing to make targeted investments that strengthen communities, support local economies, attract global investment and ensure that cities like Toronto continue to grow and thrive.