Murray’s community action plan set to launch: funding unsure

By Josh Bailie –

Glen Murray’s community action plan is a go.

Since his 2010 byelection win, the Liberal Toronto-Centre MPP developed neighbourhood improvement strategies with stakeholders in his riding, from regular citizens to health officials. Making these plans reality, however, was held in the lurch of what looked would be an unpredictable 2011 provincial election.

The election wasn’t so, and the ex-Winnipeg mayor took his riding handily while the Liberals were one seat shy of a majority government. Now, he and his team are back to work on what they’ve dubbed “the CAP.”

“The next step in the CAP is to build on the momentum and success that was seen in the first phases of the process,” said Matthew Edwards, lead community planning assistant for Murray.

Edwards described a number of tactics going forward. The project is getting a comprehensive website, long-term goals will be the subjects of studies and further citizen debates, and short-term goals are already being acted upon.

An example of a long-term goal, Edwards specified, would be revitalizing Dundas between Church and Parliament Streets. A short-term project already in progress is cleaning up the Gerrard and Ontario Streets Beer Store – literally and figuratively. Edwards said the president of Brewers Retail has already implemented garbage pickup around the property and a strengthened presence of paid-duty police.

“While not all of the issues have been resolved, we are continuing discussions with The Beer Store on how there can be greater harmony between the store and residents,” he said.

Several other issues, both short- and long-term were expressed to Murray over the course of 18 neighbourhood meetings last year. For example, Moss Park residents would like to diversify their transit options and Rosedale residents want to explore the area’s sustainable energy potential.

The website-in-progress aims to compile all this information and emerge as Toronto-Centre’s central information source, said Edwards, adding that it should be completed by March.

At community meetings before the election, Murray warned residents a minority government may affect constituency funding, but Edwards maintained the CAP is designed so that money can come from several pockets.

“Our individual office is simply looking to be just one small piece to this overall process,” he said. “By including local universities, health agencies, the City of Toronto, and other organizations in the riding, we are acting as only one resource in the greater picture of the CAP.”

In four community meetings The Bulletin attended, neither councillors Pam McConnell or Kristyn Wong-Tam were in attendance despite the moniker of project partners. Edwards noted Murray’s office has taken the lead, but at this point he is very well the face of these ambitious plans and however they go—for the present and future.