Leaders talk tariffs, transit and Scarborough’s future
By Anthony Joseph
The Toronto Zoo was the unlikely backdrop for a sweeping political discussion on Friday last as two Ontario MPPs and three Toronto city councillors gathered
with community leaders to talk tariffs, economic pressures, policing, and the fast-approaching 2026 municipal election.
What began as a conversation about U.S. trade actions quickly expanded into a candid, sometimes fiery, look at Scarborough’s place in Ontario’s political and
economic landscape.

The event was organized by the Scarborough Business Association and dubbed the Scarborough Business Leadership Breakfast.
The MPPs, David Smith and Vijay Thanigsalam, speaking on behalf of the provincial government, framed the moment as one of intense global uncertainty
where strong, unapologetic leadership is required.
They highlighted Premier Doug Ford’s early response to this year’s tariff threats, recalling how the province convened an emergency meeting “the
moment we first heard about it,” and how the Premier moved swiftly to roll out protective measures for Ontario businesses. “He was the first one to stand up to the media and say, ‘Call me anytime. We will defend Ontario’s economy,’” one MPP said.
That defence, they argued, took shape through a series of funding and financing programs designed to help businesses withstand international shocks. These
included over $1 billion in provincial support aimed at keeping small and medium-sized companies afloat, particularly manufacturers hit hard by price
spikes and supply-chain disruptions.
“Without this protection, you would have seen thousands of layoffs,” Thanigsalam noted, emphasizing that the goal was to provide businesses with
enough liquidity to cover payroll and stay open.
The MPPs also pointed to recent efforts to diversify Ontario’s export markets beyond the United States, with new attention on Europe, South America, and
Africa. Additional provincial investments, over $150 million, were positioned  as part of a long-term plan to encourage new industries, attract global
investment, and strengthen the province’s technological footprint.

“This is the biggest economic transformation Ontario has seen in decades,” one speaker declared.
But the conversation took on a different tone as Scarborough’s three councillors, Neethan Shan, Jamaal Myers and Parthi Kandavel spoke. They turned the focus
toward local frustrations, particularly the persistent feeling that Scarborough has been overlooked by successive City Hall administrations. They warned that
the 2026 mayoral election must finally bring meaningful commitments to the area, not just campaign-season promises.
One councillor described what he called the “Scarborough privilege”, growing up in a community defined not only by racial diversity but deep class diversity,
which he credited for shaping the resilience of many Scarborough residents.
Yet, he noted, that same community has been left behind when it comes to infrastructure and economic development.
“Multiple administrations have never made Scarborough a priority,” he said.
“Next year’s election must change that.” Transit dominated much of the municipal discussion. Councillors gave updates, some encouraging, others not, on major projects including the Crosstown, the Finch West LRT, the Sheppard improvements, and the Ontario Line.
Councillors said that while several projects are progressing, none are moving fast enough for residents who have waited decades for promised transit relief.
They also spoke about re-purposing the old RT corridor into a transportation and park space that could improve mobility across the region.
Economic development at the local level also surfaced, with calls for stronger support for small businesses, more coherent planning rules, and quicker
responses to chronic issues such as illegal truck parking in industrial zones.
One councillor argued for a new model of industrial districts, modern BIAs where businesses collaborate directly with the city and police to resolve
persistent problems.
As the meeting closed, community leaders noted that Scarborough’s challenges and its opportunities require cooperation across all levels of government.
With a contentious U.S. political climate, shiftingglobal markets, and a local election only months away, Friday’s gathering made one thing clear:
Scarborough intends to be heard.  Discussions were moderated by communications expert Saeed Selvam