On March 26, the Ontario Budget was released and members of the Worth Fighting For campaign held Budget watch parties and community townhalls across the province.
Live: Online Budget Watch Party
As the 2026 Ontario Budget was tabled at Queen’s Park, members of the Worth Fighting For campaign hosted a LIVE online Budget watch party, with analysis from OPSEU/SEFPO staff and OPSEU/SEFPO President JP Hornick. Over 100 OPSEU/SEFPO members joined the call to break down what’s in this budget and how we can fight back.
In-person: Budget watch parties and community townhalls
Check out some of the photo highlights from the in-person events!
Region 1: London
Region 2: Hamilton
Region 3: Peterborough
Region 4: Belleville
Region 5: Toronto (Scarborough)
Region 6: Sault Ste. Marie
Region 7: Thunder Bay
What’s in the 2026 Ontario Budget for community and social services?
Once again, social services are last in line for a shrinking piece of the pie. Last year alone, there was a $1.5 billion funding shortfall for the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services.
This budget does nothing to fix that shortfall. In fact, funding for social services dropped by 2.4%.
But this isn’t the end. Workers in the Worth Fighting For campaign are organizing and building power like never before! Workers are ready to continue escalating our campaign to win the funding that we, and the people we support, need. That includes strike action, if necessary.
Read more of OPSEU/SEFPO’s response to the budget here.
About the Worth Fighting For campaign
Workers in the Worth Fighting For campaign are fighting for fair wages and stable, long-term funding to protect the vital services our communities rely on:
- Fair wages: Our wages were unfairly capped by Bill 124 during a cost-of-living crisis. After Bill 124 was deemed unconstitutional and repealed, other public service workers received retroactive wage increases to catch up. We deserve fairness, too!
- Long-term funding: Stable, long-term funding from the government is needed to support fair wages and sustain the critical services families, children, and communities depend on. Chronic underfunding has put these essential programs at risk
Learn more and take action: worthfightingfor.ca