TORONTO The provincial government’s announcement of $64 million for the City of Toronto should encourage city council to stop its own “downloading” to residents, says the Toronto Civic Action Network.
The community and labour coalition recognizes that $64 million is only a portion of the costs owed to the city as a result of provincial downloading of services; however, it will go a long way to helping to resolve Toronto’s current budget crisis.
“The planned $1.8 million user fee increase for Parks and Recreation programs, including ice rinks, general fitness programs and Toronto Island ferry must be stopped,” said TorontoCAN co-ordinator Tanya Gulliver. “User fees have been proven to decrease access, especially for the working poor and families receiving social assistance.”
TorontoCAN will be stepping up its lobby campaign on critical issues over the next few days. Items that have been left out of this budget include expansion of the mobile dental treatment program for seniors, additional shelter beds, new subsidized childcare spaces and funding for an equity increase in the Grants budget to improve service levels and access to programs.
“Residents of Toronto are outraged by many of the proposed cuts in this budget,” said Gulliver. “We reiterate our call for a multi-year urban infrastructure program, not just for Toronto, but for cities across the province and country. We hope City Council will pass a motion requesting staff to begin negotiations for a deal for Toronto, modeled after those of Winnipeg and Vancouver.”
Any infrastructure program should cover physical, community and social infrastructure with publicly-delivered programs and services, she said.
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For more information, contact:
Tanya Gulliver, 416-598-4521 ext 225 - 416-527-4081 (cell)
The community and labour coalition recognizes that $64 million is only a portion of the costs owed to the city as a result of provincial downloading of services; however, it will go a long way to helping to resolve Toronto’s current budget crisis.
“The planned $1.8 million user fee increase for Parks and Recreation programs, including ice rinks, general fitness programs and Toronto Island ferry must be stopped,” said TorontoCAN co-ordinator Tanya Gulliver. “User fees have been proven to decrease access, especially for the working poor and families receiving social assistance.”
TorontoCAN will be stepping up its lobby campaign on critical issues over the next few days. Items that have been left out of this budget include expansion of the mobile dental treatment program for seniors, additional shelter beds, new subsidized childcare spaces and funding for an equity increase in the Grants budget to improve service levels and access to programs.
“Residents of Toronto are outraged by many of the proposed cuts in this budget,” said Gulliver. “We reiterate our call for a multi-year urban infrastructure program, not just for Toronto, but for cities across the province and country. We hope City Council will pass a motion requesting staff to begin negotiations for a deal for Toronto, modeled after those of Winnipeg and Vancouver.”
Any infrastructure program should cover physical, community and social infrastructure with publicly-delivered programs and services, she said.
-30-
For more information, contact:
Tanya Gulliver, 416-598-4521 ext 225 - 416-527-4081 (cell)