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Council Highlights
Archive
May 2008 |
 The
Council Highlights are provided as a service to
constituents in Ward 25. The following is a brief
summary of Council’s meeting held on May 26 & 27, 2008.
1.
Incentives to attract industry to Toronto (PG15.2)
City
Council unanimously approved its first-ever city-wide
financial incentives program to stimulate growth in key
value-added economic sectors, including manufacturing,
bio-medical, environmental, information technology,
creative industries and tourism. The new investment
will produce new jobs, and eventually increased City
revenue through property taxes. All properties and
projects affected by the program will continue to pay
base taxes, but will receive grants of up to 60 per cent
of the tax increase resulting from new
investment. The business case anticipates that by
delaying receipt of approximately $6 million in taxes
over 10 years, the program will result in: $904 million
in new capital investment, 11,000 new jobs and $43
million in new tax revenue. In debating this item, I
advocated proper public reporting to measure the success
of the program and thus ensure accountability. Although
it was opposed by Mayor Miller, my amendment to require
annual reports on the attainments of
each grant recipient with respect to thresholds required
to maintain status in the program was adopted by
Council, on a 23 – 19 vote. This should help the City
avoid the unfortunate experience of the Ontario
Government in attempting to stimulate the automotive
sector – wherein job-creation grants were approved in
one area while, at the same time, previously supported
automotive plants were being closed elsewhere with an
even-greater loss of jobs.
2.
Enhanced programming to get panhandlers off the street
(EX20.1)
Enhanced housing and support services to get panhandlers
off the street were approved by Council. Over and above
the current Streets to Homes program, the enhanced
services will take a housing first approach, getting
panhandlers into housing while providing support
services that will help them remain permanently housed.
The program will extend beyond panhandlers to others
living on the street. Additional community workers will
be hired and will be visible on the streets providing
counseling, referrals, case management and assistance in
finding and keeping permanent housing. A central phone
number will be established so that anyone across the
city can trigger a response for those who need help.
Additional mental health, addiction and employment
supports are also being established. The enhanced
service is supported by the business community, and will
cost about $2.6 million in 2008.
3.
Youth employment opportunities through graffiti clean up
project (CD15.2)
Council approved $340,000 in funding to provide youth
employment opportunities to clean graffiti and beautify
neighbourhoods through the Graffiti Transformation
Investment Program. The funding will be provided to
community-based organizations which will employ youth to
remove and resurface areas with graffiti.
4.
Council approves principles for poverty reduction
(CD15.10)
Council put its support behind the principles to reduce
poverty recommended in the 25 in 5 Declaration. The
declaration and its strategy were developed by a broad
range of community organizations and faith groups who
are calling on the Provincial government to develop a
comprehensive plan to reduce poverty levels by 25 per
cent in five years and 50 per cent before 2018.
Principles of the poverty reduction strategy include
creating sustainable, year-round employment for working
adults, ensuring livable incomes and building strong
communities with supports including affordable housing
and community programs.
5.
Action to improve tourism for Toronto (ED13.3)
Council endorsed actions from the report Making Toronto
the Best It Can Be, which has recommendations from
industry leaders, City staff and Member of Council to
enhance Toronto’s ability to serve as a premier tourist
destination and reap the economic benefits. The City
participated in the Toronto’s Premier Ranked Tourism
Destination project which identifies 93 action items.
These include attracting new ‘blockbuster exhibits,’
renewing and creating tourist magnets like a revitalized
waterfront, telling the story of Toronto’s history in a
more captivating way, and for people involved in the
tourism industry to elevate the level of service offered
to tourists. City Divisions will meet to explore
avenues to improve services to support growth in the
tourism sector.
6.
New vision sought for Old City Hall (GM14.9)
The
City will seek to capitalize on the historic appeal of
Old City Hall in future years, with staff directed to
identify potential new uses for the site once its lease
as a Provincial court house ends in 2016.
Non-Council & Other Items
1.
Sinking Fund Committee and Investment Advisory Committee
The
City is seeking residents to serve on the Sinking Fund
Committee and Investment Advisory Committee. The
Committee manages over $730 million in assets to be used
to redeem debenture debt and advises on investment
strategy. Desired qualifications include: a) knowledge
of the City of Toronto Act relating to all statutory
provisions for sinking fund operations; b) extensive
professional skills relating to investment and debt
management as well as financial administration on a
large scale; c) knowledge of local government
procedures, and; d) flexibility in daily work activities
to permit day to day liaison with City Finance staff for
approval of investments and signing of documentation
required to complete transactions when required. For
more information, see
www.toronto.ca/public-appointments.
2. 1
Carluke Crescent – Land Division.
Council approved sending legal staff and appropriate
planning representatives to the Ontario Municipal Board
to defend the decision of the North York Committee of
Adjustment to refuse an application to divide the
subject property into two parcels for redevelopment
purposes.
3.
Powers for the Mayor
Several independent motions by a number of Councillors
with respect to the new powers sought by the Mayor were
dealt with by the Mayor’s Executive Committee. The
motions expressed various concerns with the process of
the Mayor seeking new powers directly from Premier
McGuinty, as well as the possible implications of the
Mayor’s sought-after power to be able to unilaterally
hire/fire the City Manager and to conduct City Business
through meetings of the Executive Committee in secret.
The Mayor’s Executive Committee voted to refer all these
motions to Mayor Miller for “appropriate consideration”.
Quite separately, Councillor Michael Thompson formed a
committee of seven Councillors, including myself, to
conduct public meetings on the Powers of the Mayor. The
first, held in Scarborough, drew over 100 people and
demonstrated strong public opposition to more powers for
the Mayor. The next public meeting will be held at 7pm
on June 18 in the Etobicoke Civic Centre. A future
public meeting for North York has not yet been
scheduled. In any case, Premier McGuinty responded to a
letter from Councillor Thompson indicating that he would
deal with any request from City Council on possible new
powers for the Mayor.
4.
Summer Newsletter
I have
just finished putting together my 2008 Summer Newsletter
which you should receive in your mailbox in
approximately 2-3 weeks. If for any reason you do not
receive your copy, please let my office know and we will
arrange to send one out to you. An electronic version
will also be available on my website shortly.
For more information on City matters, please see my
website
www.cliffjenkins.com, or call my office at
416-395-6408. If you wish to UNSUBSCRIBE to my Council
Highlights, please let me know by return e-mail.
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