Saturday 16 July 2011

Toronto Cuts Just Beginning

Here is a note Mark MacLennan posted on Facebook.

Toronto Cuts Just Beginning
by Mark MacLennan

Please circulate this any way you can. I took the time to read through all of this stuff so it would be less of a slog to get through for anyone who is interested.

The cuts in Toronto are just starting. The city just quietly published these reports which highlight "opportunities"  that they are considering. These"opportunities"  include radical withdrawal of funds to health care, emergency health care, child care, child care standards, economic development, social development, cuts to public works, infrastructure and the arts.

Skip to page 5 of each report for the important points:

Cuts to Child Care, Medical and Fire Services (inexplicably titled, "Community Development and Recreation")
You can comment directly to the city or request to speak at the committe meeting (July 20th) by clicking on this LINK

Cuts to Infrastructure and Public Works
You can comment directly to the city or request to speak at the committe meeting (July 18th) by clicking on this  LINK

Cuts to Parks and Environment
You can comment directly to the city or request to speak at the committe meeting (July 21st) by clicking on this  LINK

Cuts to Economic Development
You can comment directly to the city or request to speak at the committe meeting (July 19th) by clicking on this  LINK


Almost all of these suggestions are in diametric opposition to the results of a city conducted survey which show:
  1. Which issues residents are actually concerned about.
  2. Many residents are happy to pay more in taxes to keep our services (see below - skip to pg. 4, 6, 7, 8)
  3. The majority of residents want to make our city BETTER than others (pg. 11) (also see pg. 39 for highlights).
That survey is here: Public Consultation Report

The government is considering budget cuts and privatization of services despite the fact that this is EXACTLY what residents DON'T WANT. Please get the word out.

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