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Letter to the Editor
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City Politics
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Citizens must defend Toronto's core values and services
Make deputation at Council Sept. 19 to encourage rejection of much of KPMG's recommendations to gut the city of services many people need
This summer the people of Toronto have been presented with reports from KPMG consultants as part of the Core Service Review. Although it is very useful for any government or organization to examine what it does and make improvements, it has become very clear from the consultants' reports and the public deputations that the primary question has been left unanswered: "What is a core service?"
KPMG considered a core service as one that is directly mandated by the federal or provincial governments, or as one that is essential to the day-to-day function of the City. While the reports consistently demonstrate that the vast majority of services that the City of Toronto provides fall into these categories, I am deeply troubled that this lens was used to examine our services. In fact, I believe this isn't a lens as much as it is a set of blinkers, providing a very narrow view.
The scope of this review ignores the remarkable progress that Toronto has made over the last decade to become a fully realized and mature government, rather than a junior partner. As Canada's largest city and sixth largest government – serving more residents than most provincial governments – Toronto is one of the great cities of the world and a leader in many important initiatives, from climate change and waste diversion to economic development and assistance for our vulnerable residents. The underlying message in these reports is that Toronto has no right to be ranked with the great cities and that we need to participate in a race to the bottom, satisfying ourselves with glum mediocrity and apathy. I entirely disagree with this view.
In addition, the reports examine the services in isolation, with little or no regard for the implications on other services or the quality of life for Torontonians. These reports are oblivious to the complexity of our city and attempt to treat it as if it were a business that creates widgets – and only a single type of widget. The City of Toronto serves a diverse population of over 2.5 million people and is supplying a variety of functions and a safety net for individuals, agencies, organizations, and businesses. Pulling away one strand of this net causes the entire web to fray and weaken.
As I stated early in this process, this service review is not concerned with how to improve services but is rather built on the premise that there is a budget crisis. Certainly there is a structural shortfall that was created as a result of amalgamation and downloading from the federal and provincial governments. This shortfall has been further exacerbated by the ill-considered decision for a property tax freeze, the squandering of the $300 million surplus from 2009, and a repeal of the Personal Vehicle Tax. Furthermore, this shortfall does not warrant a wholesale gutting of city services.
During the recent election campaign, residents consistently told me that they want their municipal government to work with residents and communities to build a healthy city where everyone has an opportunity to work, live, and raise a family. During the consultation session that I co-hosted with other downtown Councillors, residents were unanimous in their belief that the services the City provides are essential to building those healthy communities. More so than ever, the calls and messages that my office receives clearly indicate that residents want their city to do more than simply pick up the garbage and remove the snow.
The "opportunities" for reduction or elimination presented by KPMG represent many of the initiatives that set our city apart. These are important services that many depend upon.
Our long-term care facilities and affordable housing programs provide opportunities for residents to live with dignity in safe, clean housing.
Our child care facilities and recreation programs give parents the opportunity to be employed while children enjoy the opportunity to be active with other children.
Our funding for dental care, student nutrition, and disease prevention gives vulnerable people the opportunity to have healthy and productive lives.
Our funding assistance for community agencies and organizations leverages thousands of volunteer hours and expertise, along with millions of dollars in private donations, to give opportunities to our vulnerable residents.
Our libraries, zoo, and Riverdale Farm provide educational opportunities for all Torontonians.
Our animal services give people the opportunity to enhance their lives with an animal companion while protecting and improving the conditions for animals across the city.
Our parks, public spaces, and cultural institutions give every one of us the opportunity to live in a vibrant and attractive city.
These are the opportunities that Torontonians are truly interested in. As one of the deputants stated, we should not be looking at our core services without first looking at our core values.
I am concerned that the core values of thousands of Toronto residents are not being considered during this process. Almost 13,000 people took the time to fill in the online survey for the service review, hundreds attended the City's consultation sessions and meetings hosted by Councillors. Yet none of this input was considered in the consultants' reports or properly presented to the relevant committees. Once again, the overwhelming majority of people – taxpayers – who have a direct stake in the health and vibrancy of our city are speaking out in favour of these services.
This is a critical time for Toronto. We have a choice: build a city that makes us proud or allow it to be pulled down into a condition that shames us all. Although the final vote on potential service cuts rests with City Council on September 26, the final say must belong to the people of Toronto.
I urge you to contact members of Council to remind them of Toronto's core values and how municipal services deliver that vision of a great city. I also encourage you to talk to your family, friends, and co-workers about the city you want to live in and ask them to get involved. Whether it is calling or writing a Councillor, making a deputation at the Executive Committee on September 19, or getting involved in one of the organizations fighting to protect our city, the residents of Toronto must be heard.
I remain committed to building a safe, clean, green, and ambitious city for everyone. I ask you to join me in making that possible.
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2011-09-05 17:18:16
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