Thursday, February 18 from 9:30 AM to Noon

519 Church Street Community Centre

Toronto's 2010 proposed operating budget will be introduced on February 16 at City Hall.

Join us on February 18 to:

• Learn more about what's in the budget
• Ask questions and share your ideas
• Find out how to have your say in the budget process

Not a Social Planning Toronto member?
Individual and organizational memberships are available.
You can sign up online, by phone at (416) 351-0095 x251 or at the event.
For more information about membership or to sign up online: www.socialplanningtoronto.org/get-involved

Please pre-register for this event or call (416) 351-0095 x251
Organizational members can send up to two people.

This venue is wheelchair-accessible.

AGENDA: Homeless Memorial, Community Lunch & Federal Party & Community Panel
DATE: Tuesday, February 9, 2010
TIME: 12:00 pm – 3:00 pm.
PLACE: Church of the Holy Trinity (just west of the Eaton Centre between Dundas and Queen Street).

• The Conservative, Liberal, NDP, Green Parties of Canada and the Bloc Quebecois Party have been invited to answer questions on actions they will take to more effectively respond to the ongoing recession and the harsh impact on many vulnerable people and communities.
• Also, representatives from several community coalitions will respond to positions taken by the parties and pose questions.
• In addition, the Recession Relief Coalition will be releasing the responses to a Survey we sent to the five federal parties, and will also release our 3rd Bulletin on the Impacts of the Recession.

Thanks to all for taking part in Social Planning Toronto and Toronto Open Budget Initiative's City Budget Process 101 workshop on February 3.

Budget Chief Shelley Carroll, CAW Sam Gindin Chair Judy Rebick and TOBI speaker Ann Fitzpatrick delivered excellent presentations to a packed house on the state of the City budget process and how we can make it more inclusive and participatory.

Videos from the evening will be posted online shortly.

Social Planning Toronto is pleased to announce that we have hired Jeremy Tudor Price as our new Communications Officer.

“I am pleased to welcome Jeremy Tudor Price to our staff as our new Communications Officer. Jeremy brings very strong technical and communications skills to the position, and combines strong experience in the private sector with a real interest and commitment to working with the Council and our community partners. I know he will be a real asset to the Council. Please join us in welcoming Jeremy to the organization. (Jeremy can be reached at [email protected])

The Welcoming Communities Initiative has released a new report titled Putting Equity on the Agenda: Are We Being Heard? that relates the findings from a year's study and reflection in York Region by the Council of Agencies Serving South Asians. [PDF Format]

A major Senate report tabled today is declaring that Canada’s system for lifting people out of poverty is substantially broken and must be overhauled.

This provincial forum, sponsored by Health Nexus and the Best Start Resource Centre, will address pertinent information for service providers working with families with young children living in poverty.

Individuals/organizations are invited to submit abstracts for oral presentations or poster presentations by Friday December 18, 2009 for a conference aiming to gather local academic and community researchers with interest in health services for uninsured and undocumented clients.

The report is based on the testimony of more than 170 witnesses who spoke at hearings held in nine cities across Canada over a two-year period. The release can be viewed live online December 8th at 3:45pm.

The Ontario government must set targets for attracting more low-income, disabled, rural and aboriginal students to higher learning in order to fight poverty and boost the province's economic recovery.