Social Planning Toronto | Author Archives

“Cutting My Backyard” Report – Impacts of the City Core Services Review

Posted on 13. Dec, 2011 by Jeremy.

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In 2011, the City of Toronto appointed KPMG consultants to conduct a Core Service Review to determine which services in the City of Toronto are mandatory and which are discretionary. This exercise was undertaken in order to reduce the City’s expenditures to compensate for the projected budget shortfall of $774 million in 2012. The goal of the Core Service Review was to reduce or eliminate services that the City is not legally obligated to provide in order to balance the budget.

The purpose of this report is to outline the negative impacts the proposed service cuts would have on the City of Toronto. By highlighting the adverse effects of the service cuts, City Councillors as well as residents of Toronto will be able to make more informed and educated decisions on whether or not to accept the proposed cuts.

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Service cuts affect low-income areas most (The Star)

Posted on 08. Dec, 2011 by Jeremy.

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Anita Li
Staff Reporter, The Toronto Star

A map created by Social Planning Toronto reveals that the proposed cuts and closures in the city’s 2012 budget are “disproportionately” located in low-income neighbourhoods.

Forty-two of the 75 location-specific cuts — or 56 per cent — are in impoverished areas, according to the organization.

“(There’s) really great concern about creating a city that is a less equitable city, a less just city, a less compassionate city,” said senior researcher Beth Wilson. “I don’t think anyone voted for that.”

Wilson compiled statistics for the map using information from city budget documents and economic data from its most recent 2006 report on low income. The location-specific cuts do not represent all the proposed service cuts.

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Toronto budget meeting begins with pleas to scrap land transfer tax, save men’s shelter (Globe & Mail)

Posted on 07. Dec, 2011 by Jeremy.

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Pool closings, transit cuts, reduced library and arena hours – Toronto residents have a chance to have their three-minute say on the city’s money-saving plans over the next two days at city hall.

A total of 348 residents have signed up to speak over the course of the two-day budget meeting, many from organizations such as daycare centres, school nutrition programs, arts groups and non-profits that will be directly affected by the proposed reductions to funding.

The proposed budget – released last week – aims to reduce the city’s total spending for the first time since amalgamation and would require major layoffs of up to 1,190 city workers and a 10-per-cent reduction in most departments. It also recommends a 2.5-per-cent increase in residential taxes.

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Video from SPT’s December 1st Budget Forum is now available online.

Posted on 02. Dec, 2011 by Jeremy.

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Close to one hundred residents came to YWCA’s new Elm Centre on December 1 to hear how the budget cuts were going to affect our communities and discuss what can be done to prevent these cuts from being implemented. Social Planning Toronto (SPT) hosted the event with Winston Tinglin, SPT’s Director of Community Engagement moderating the forum. Speakers included Franz Hartmann (Toronto Environmental Alliance), John Cartwright (Toronto and York Region Labour Council), Mark Ferguson (CUPE Local 416), Preethy Sivakumar (Justice and Dignity for Cleaners Campaign), Rob Howarth (Toronto Neighbourhood Centres), Jane Mercer (Toronto Coalition for Better Child Care), Neethan Shan (Council of Agencies Serving South Asians), Sonja Greckol (Toronto Women’s City Alliance), Lindsay Junkin (Toronto Youth Cabinet) Susan Wright (Toronto Arts Council), Michael Shapcott (Wellesley Institute), and Geordie Dent (Federation of Metro Tenants’ Associations).

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Check out Social Planning Toronto’s Soundbites e-Bulletin for November 30, 2011

Posted on 30. Nov, 2011 by Jeremy.

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