Toronto City Councillor
Ward 25 Don Valley West

City of Toronto 2007 Capital Budget and 2008-2011 Capital Plan

Council approved a $1.432 billion Capital Budget for 2007 – which includes a massive $500 million in new debentured debt. If the Mayor’s “One Cent Now” Campaign to direct one-sixth of the federal government’s GST revenues to municipalities eventually proves to be successful, those revenues would somewhat reduce our new debt. Interestingly, the budget also noted that the City receives only about $50 million in development charge revenue each year while incurring many times that amount in growth-related capital expenditures. Consequently, I moved that the City request that the provincial government amend its Development Charges Act to permit the City to levy a more realistic level of development charges. Council referred my motion for a report by our CFO to the Mayor’s Executive Committee. In the meantime, our rapid run-up in debt will result in higher interest charges and then in higher property taxes. I opposed the budget – it places a burden on our taxpayers that will be unsustainable if the “One Cent Now” campaign is not successful or if we fail to persuade the provincial government to act on development charges.

City to in-source waste collection in the former York

Council voted to allow City staff to undertake the collection of residential waste in the former York, starting August 7, 2007. Staff reported that in-sourcing the collection of York’s curbside waste may save the City approximately $4 million each year, beginning in 2008. There are likely to be no savings in 2007 due to the expected costs of breaking the contract with the current private waste collection firm. Council also agreed to in-source the collection of white goods, which includes stoves and dishwashers, in the former East York, Etobicoke, Scarborough and York, effective September 1, 2007. Curbside collection in the former City of Etobicoke will continue to be out-sourced to a private waste collection firm. I believe that memories of the 2002 municipal workers’ strike and the rotting garbage deposited in our parks are still fresh in the people’s minds and that any in-sourcing agreement on residential waste collection should contain a guarantee of service continuation in the event of a municipal workers’ strike – consequently, I did not support this measure.

Conference Centre proposed for Exhibition Place

Council approved $29 million in capital funding, including a $21.2 million loan from the City, to construct and furnish a new Conference Centre at Exhibition Place. Under the proposed plan, the Automotive Building will be renovated to accommodate the new conference facility. City heritage Preservation staff will work with Exhibition Place staff to ensure the heritage character of the building, which is designated under the Ontario Heritage Act, is preserved. The lack of available meeting space is an important issue as trade shows often incorporate seminars and break-out sessions as part of their activities. Exhibition Place’s shortage of meeting space has resulted in the loss of clients to other facilities. The new Conference Centre will enable Exhibition Place to better compete to host major North American events.

New design for street name signs

Council adopted a new street name design style for the City of Toronto that introduces commonality of colour and shape, improves legibility, and proposes consistency and distinctiveness for those neighbourhoods and BIAs that request specific identification and branding. The City replaces between 2,000 and 2,500 street name signs each year. The new street name signs will be introduced, as the old signs require regular replacement. City staff will provide options for the disposal of decommissioned signs, including the sale of old signs with proceeds benefiting the community. Staff will also report on a program to permit existing signs to remain in heritage conservation districts, and in older neighbourhoods and historic communities in the city, as well as in areas where current multilingual signs exist. Council’s decision to consolidate and co-ordinate the City’s street name signage supports the beautification and cleanliness of Toronto’s roads, and preserves the unique quality of Toronto’s many distinct neighbourhoods.

Children’s anti-poverty and nutrition needs package

Following debate, Council approved a comprehensive anti-poverty package to support the nutrition needs and well-being of Toronto’s children and youth, and to alleviate the conditions of poverty affecting families in Toronto. Part of the multi-pronged Council-approved plan calls on the Ontario Government to increase the minimum wage to $10 an hour and to increase the social assistance and Ontario Disability Support Payments to reflect cost of living standards and rates of inflation. Council also directed the Medical Officer of Health to report back on the state of Basic Dental Care among Toronto children as an indicator of their current and future health and well-being.

Enhanced property standards for heritage buildings

Council agreed to a set of minimum property standards to protect heritage properties designated under the Ontario Heritage Act. Designated properties that fail to comply with the new standards will be required to undergo repairs and maintenance work to ensure compliance with the standards. In addition, staff will prepare a report on the use of the City’s powers under the City of Toronto Act to carry out emergency repairs to protect the structural integrity, and prevent the deterioration of Toronto’s heritage properties from neglect.

Toronto Just For Laughs Comedy Festival

Council authorized the approval of a $500,000 loan to establish an annual Toronto Just For Laughs Comedy Festival, beginning in July 2007. The Tourism Event Development Loan is a Council-approved program that is designed to help bring significant events and festivals to Toronto. Just For Laughs is a globally-recognized entertainment brand with a long history of providing quality comedic entertainment. The Toronto Just For Laughs Comedy Festival is positioned as part of the organization’s 25th anniversary celebrations and will be a positive addition to the Toronto tourism, entertainment and cultural landscape.