How RaBIT is thinking about the upcoming year - some thoughts and some asks...

Today’s update is a bit of a different one than we usually share: we want to share a little bit of the thinking that’s carrying us forward in these uncertain times. 

To be honest, a lot of things are a mess right now in the world, and a lot of it is scary. So what we’re choosing to do is to focus on what we’re able to do, here at home. We, the RaBIT board members, don’t have any influence or control over whether there’s a trade war between Canada and the United States, but we maybe do have some influence over what happens locally, here in Toronto. 

How we run our elections is probably not a very sexy topic to very many people. It’s not a flashy new building or transit line where people can cut a ribbon, or a rebate cheque that can show up in your mailbox. But it’s a foundational element of the places where we live, work, and play. Does that sound a little grandiose? Maybe! 

But maybe not: HOW we elect our city leaders affects WHO we elect, and WHO we elect affects WHAT they do. What policies they enact, how our city works, who works for the city and makes decisions, what gets built where, and how we get around. Heck, Toronto City Council used to decide which trees got to live and die. Who sits in those seats is vitally important, and how they get there is important, too, because it has an impact on who gets elected. 

So, just to be clear, what we’re saying is that changing the way we elect our councillors is a city building issue, not something that’s isolated or separate from the other city-building issues like bus routes and parks and housing developments. It’s a foundational issue, one we don't talk about often enough…  But, to paraphrase Patrick Swayze: no one puts voting reform in the corner. 
This year is going to be busy, and we hope it will help bring the discussion of ranked ballots and restoring local choice to the forefront, particularly as we move towards an early provincial election. We’ll be doing the work to make it so. 

It’s time to have these conversations (again) and to work together to make change and bring local choice back to municipalities in Ontario. Because, while the world is a chaotic place, one antidote is community and collaboration. Which means we’ll need you with us. The fact that you’re reading this and made it this far is great! If you can help us with a donation or your volunteer time, that will mean the world, ahem, THE CITY, to us. 

Join us for the ride in 2025! And follow along by signing up for our newsletter if this didn’t come to your inbox already, or catch us on social media. (We, like many others, are spendng less time on the former bird app - you can find us where skies are blue as TorontoRaBIT.bsky.social, or still on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.) 

Your friends at RaBIT

PS - every little bit of support helps, no matter how big or small: we really can’t do it without you. Please consider giving or signing up to volunteer today.