On September 17th & 18th, 2016 staff from Social Planning Toronto joined software Developers, data scientists, mappers and idea people to work together and ‘hack’ through challenges outlined in the City’s poverty reduction strategy (TOProsperity).

Community groups showed cautious optimism today at the Mayor's announcement on dental care as part of the City’s Poverty Reduction Strategy. Sean Meagher, Executive Director of Social Planning Toronto was encouraged by the City’s announcement of expanding access to dental care for low-income Torontonians: “We are glad to see investments in front line services, and count on seeing them extended to key supports like housing, transit and childcare”.

Low-income residents paying more so others can pay less—that is the overall six-year trend for the city’s finances, and a pattern that will continue if the City’s budget process stalls on revenue tools and keeps property tax increases at or below the rate of inflation.

Speaking to the media today, members of the Commitment2Community Campaign pointed to the growing ‘Fairness Gap’ in the City’s finances, and solutions for Council to address concerns over housing, transit and services.

Next week high school will officially let out for summer vacation and many students will find themselves with a considerable amount of free time. How they spend this time, and whether they have adult supervision and productive outlets, will play an important role in determining their outcomes.

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President’s Message

I joined this organization exactly one year ago. Thinking back to our AGM in 2015, let’s recall that we had a new sense of optimism because it was only a few months since the municipal election had ushered in greater respect and open dialogue about Toronto’s challenges, and a feeling of momentum going forward together.

COMMUNITY PLANNER

Social Planning Toronto is an independent social planning organization committed to democratic, community based social policy and civic participation.

Social Planning Toronto is looking for a full time Community Planner to carry out community organizing in a variety of communities.

The general responsibilities of the position are to work with local community organizations, networks and coalitions to build local community capacity and civic participation and provide policy analysis on various topics related to the SPT priorities.

In 2015, Social Planning Toronto (SPT), Canadian Urban Institute and Swerhun Facilitation conducted a Community Services and Facilities Study for the City of Toronto’s TOcore: Planning Toronto’s Downtown initiative. TOcore is a three-year inter-divisional initiative, led by City Planning. The purpose of TOcore is to ensure growth positively contributes to Toronto’s downtown as a great place to live, work, learn, play and invest. The initiative will do so by determining: a) how future growth will be accommodated, shaped and managed, and b) what physical and social infrastructure will be needed, where it should go and how it will be secured. The TOcore Study is a response to the rapid intensification of the downtown that is placing pressure on finite hard and soft infrastructure assets.

We need your help to send a strong message to the provincial government to act now on its commitment to provide municipalities with inclusionary zoning powers.

On Monday, March 14, after many years of urging, the Province announced that it would finally pass legislation giving municipalities inclusionary zoning powers. With these new powers, municipalities will be able to require developers to create affordable housing within new residential developments. City of Toronto Chief Planner Jennifer Keesmaat estimates that 12,000 units of affordable housing could have been created in the past 5 years in Toronto alone if an inclusionary zoning policy had been in place.

SPT is seeking a full-time Communications Officer, with a proven track record working in the area of communications focused on community development and action.

This position encompasses the development and implementation of the overall communications, public relations and media strategies of SPT.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement internal and external communication strategies/policies;
• Prepare SPT annual communications plan;
• Write and develop press releases, articles, speeches, media kits, and cultivate media relations;

Social Planning Toronto is pleased to announce that the Frances Lankin Community Service Award for 2016 will be presented to Debbie Douglas

Debbie Douglas
Debbie Douglas has a long and impressive track record as a leader in the settlement sector and has made an outstanding contribution in other sectors over the last 25 years in support of social justice.