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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.

Over 100 service providers and housing advocates in Toronto, Peel Region and York Region took part in consultations on private-sector rental housing. As a member of the Neighbourhood Change Research Partnership (NCRP), Social Planning Toronto, in partnership with the Social Planning Council of Peel and the Social Planning Council of York Region, organized five consultations across the region to inform the NCRP's next phase of research which will include a focus on private-sector rental housing.

The consultation report, Private-Sector Rental Housing in Greater Toronto, highlights the troubling on-the-ground realities of tenants living in private-sector rental housing in the GTA.

Dozens of community groups and networks across Ontario are urging the Province to stop blocking municipalities from adopting inclusionary zoning policies to build desperately needed affordable housing. Through inclusionary zoning policies, cities and regions can create thousands of units of affordable housing within each new residential development.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 11, 2016

Community Groups across Ontario Tell the Province 
“The Time for Inclusionary Zoning is NOW”

March 11th, 2016 (Toronto, ON) – Dozens of community groups and networks across Ontario are urging the Province to stop blocking municipalities from adopting inclusionary zoning policies to build desperately needed affordable housing. Through inclusionary zoning policies, cities and regions can create thousands of units of affordable housing within each new residential development.

“Stop Stalling on Inclusionary Zoning, Let Us Build Housing”, communities tell Minister

Social Planning Toronto, ACORN, and Toronto City Councillor Mike Layton will be speaking to media about the urgent need for the Ontario government to allow municipalities the power to use inclusionary zoning policies to build new housing. In spite of the unrelenting call from city planners, community groups and political figures for many years, the Province continues to prohibit inclusionary zoning. In the latest call, 57 community groups and networks operating throughout Ontario called on the Province to act now on inclusionary zoning by moving either of the two private members’ bills (Bill 3 and Bill 39) already before the legislature.