Mayor Olivia Chow's Toronto

[DSC]

A few more items from Budget Committee Report https://secure.toronto.ca/council/agenda-item.do?item=2023.EX7.1

16. City Council inform the Province of Ontario that the City is unable to implement the previously announced 978 new long-term care home beds in the City in the absence of a revised funding model, currently planned for introduction in future years.

17. City Council direct the City Manager to continue discussions with the Province of Ontario and Metrolinx regarding the urgent need for funding transit operations and maintenance for Eglinton Crosstown (Line 5) and Finch West (Line 6) in recognition of the City’s immediate financial challenges.

18. City Council inform the Province of Ontario, that in the absence of a new funding model for transit operations in the City of Toronto commensurate with the scope and demands of the largest public transit system in Canada, the City will pause negotiation of further funding agreements for the Provincial Priority Transit Projects and any future provincial transit expansion projects.

19. City Council request the Province of Ontario upload the responsibility and costs associated with the continued construction and maintenance of the Frederick G. Gardiner Expressway and the Don Valley Parkway, including any future capital and operating costs.

25. City Council request the City Manager further engage business and industry stakeholders on new revenue tools including, but not limited to the hospitality industry and small businesses.

26. City Council request the City Manager to investigate the feasibility for a potential tax levy per passenger from Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport payable to the City of Toronto and report back to the Executive Committee during the Budget Consultation process.

27. City Council request the City Manager to provide a comprehensive report detailing the necessary steps and governmental approvals required to establish a municipal lottery within our jurisdiction.

28. City Council request the City Manager to provide an analysis of the potential revenues that could be generated through the implementation of such a lottery.

 

[Northern Light]

The Star's first budget piece is up; it adds little substance except to say that Councillor Burnside has decided to align w/Cllr. Holyday as a contrarian:

From: https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/to...cle_a093c35e-af2d-11ee-a7b7-2706a05486c7.html

 

[Admiral Beez]

17. City Council direct the City Manager to continue discussions with the Province of Ontario and Metrolinx regarding the urgent need for funding transit operations and maintenance for Eglinton Crosstown (Line 5) and Finch West (Line 6) in recognition of the City’s immediate financial challenges.

So the province in partnership with Toronto built a new transit line with no means of how to operate it?

 

[Northern Light]

A few more items from Budget Committee Report https://secure.toronto.ca/council/agenda-item.do?item=2023.EX7.1

16. City Council inform the Province of Ontario that the City is unable to implement the previously announced 978 new long-term care home beds in the City in the absence of a revised funding model, currently planned for introduction in future years.

17. City Council direct the City Manager to continue discussions with the Province of Ontario and Metrolinx regarding the urgent need for funding transit operations and maintenance for Eglinton Crosstown (Line 5) and Finch West (Line 6) in recognition of the City’s immediate financial challenges.

18. City Council inform the Province of Ontario, that in the absence of a new funding model for transit operations in the City of Toronto commensurate with the scope and demands of the largest public transit system in Canada, the City will pause negotiation of further funding agreements for the Provincial Priority Transit Projects and any future provincial transit expansion projects.

19. City Council request the Province of Ontario upload the responsibility and costs associated with the continued construction and maintenance of the Frederick G. Gardiner Expressway and the Don Valley Parkway, including any future capital and operating costs.

25. City Council request the City Manager further engage business and industry stakeholders on new revenue tools including, but not limited to the hospitality industry and small businesses.

26. City Council request the City Manager to investigate the feasibility for a potential tax levy per passenger from Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport payable to the City of Toronto and report back to the Executive Committee during the Budget Consultation process.

27. City Council request the City Manager to provide a comprehensive report detailing the necessary steps and governmental approvals required to establish a municipal lottery within our jurisdiction.

28. City Council request the City Manager to provide an analysis of the potential revenues that could be generated through the implementation of such a lottery.

I'm confused, your link does not go to budget ctte; it goes to a report from last summer to Executive Ctte.

These rec's are prior to the 'new deal' with the province.

 

[Northern Light]

So the province in partnership with Toronto built a new transit line with no means of how to operate it?

This is old, its from a report last summer. The City and province have subsequently arrived at a deal. But yet, as the time, of the report, last summer, the operating agreement had not been worked out.

 

[Eug]

The Star's first budget piece is up; it adds little substance except to say that Councillor Burnside has decided to align w/Cllr. Holyday as a contrarian:

View attachment 532371

From: https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/to...cle_a093c35e-af2d-11ee-a7b7-2706a05486c7.html

Yeah, I'd have to say that at least this part is a reasonable guess:

Coun. Jon Burnside (Ward 16, Don Valley East) has praised Chow's leadership during the early months of her tenure. But he predicted residents will "lose their mind" when they see the tax bill.

 

[DSC]

I'm confused, your link does not go to budget ctte; it goes to a report from last summer to Executive Ctte.

These rec's are prior to the 'new deal' with the province.

You are seldom confused .... I posted it because it is listed in today's City PR on how the Budget was 'concocted' It says:

News Release

January 10, 2024

Proposed 2024 City of Toronto Budget protects core services and invests in transit, shelters and community safety

Today, the City of Toronto launched the 2024 Budget process with a staff prepared budget that protects core services and makes investments in transit, shelters and community safety. The budget aims to set the City up to achieve financial stability and sustainability through a new multi-year approach.

The Budget Committee was presented with the staff prepared rate and tax-supported operating budget of $17 billion and the 2024-2033 capital budget and plan of $49.8 billion for consideration, review and recommendation.

The 2024 staff prepared budget reflects feedback from the November 2023 Budget Consultations and furthers the actions of the City’s Long Term Financial Plan (LTFP) (https://can01.safelinks.protection....QmU+FtxsTHajYa8X3ze0ERor7u/sWjuE8=&reserved=0) and the Ontario-Toronto New Deal Agreement. (https://can01.safelinks.protection....OEvlOAEElDZSfGhSDSeVWrClX/Woli5tw=&reserved=0).

 

[Northern Light]

You are seldom confused .... I posted it because it is listed in today's City PR on how the Budget was 'concocted' It says:

News Release

January 10, 2024

Proposed 2024 City of Toronto Budget protects core services and invests in transit, shelters and community safety

Today, the City of Toronto launched the 2024 Budget process with a staff prepared budget that protects core services and makes investments in transit, shelters and community safety. The budget aims to set the City up to achieve financial stability and sustainability through a new multi-year approach.

The Budget Committee was presented with the staff prepared rate and tax-supported operating budget of $17 billion and the 2024-2033 capital budget and plan of $49.8 billion for consideration, review and recommendation.

The 2024 staff prepared budget reflects feedback from the November 2023 Budget Consultations and furthers the actions of the City’s Long Term Financial Plan (LTFP) (https://can01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https://secure.toronto.ca/council/agenda-item.do?item=2023.EX7.1&data=05|02|david.crawford@mcgill.ca|fd58b029c6d94d458dce08dc11ead060|cd31967152e74a68afa9fcf8f89f09ea|0|0|638404949097788576|Unknown|TWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0=|3000|||&sdata=YSVt8IJrGRQmU+FtxsTHajYa8X3ze0ERor7u/sWjuE8=&reserved=0) and the Ontario-Toronto New Deal Agreement. (https://can01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https://secure.toronto.ca/council/agenda-item.do?item=2023.CC13.2&data=05|02|david.crawford@mcgill.ca|fd58b029c6d94d458dce08dc11ead060|cd31967152e74a68afa9fcf8f89f09ea|0|0|638404949097788576|Unknown|TWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0=|3000|||&sdata=rkE/Fp35VFOEvlOAEElDZSfGhSDSeVWrClX/Woli5tw=&reserved=0).

I see where you got it now; though it does read as confusing in the context of this thread, because several of those Rec's have now been addressed. See The Admiral's comment above.

 

[concrete_and_light]

The Star's first budget piece is up; it adds little substance except to say that Councillor Burnside has decided to align w/Cllr. Holyday as a contrarian:

View attachment 532371

From: https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/to...cle_a093c35e-af2d-11ee-a7b7-2706a05486c7.html

Maybe the province and federal government should be running these things like long term care homes and shelter spaces, but what is Burnside advocating for here? That we immediately close shelters and long term care homes and throw people out on the street in order to bridge the financial gap in this next budget?

Please he should feel free to advocate to the provincial government, the federal government, and voters to have the province and federal government take on these responsibilities if he wants, that's all cool, but what is he practically suggesting here? The discussion is the immediate budget requirements. Cutting these services for this coming year without a replacement and putting people out on the street is not really an option.

I'd be interested to see someone ask him specifically what he is suggesting we do from a practical perspective.

 

[Northern Light]

Maybe the province and federal government should be running these things like long term care homes and shelter spaces.....

Just for clarity, the province does pay the City a per diem fee for LTC residents and for shelter users.

The challenge is the difference between the fee and what it actually costs the City to build/operate said facilities.

The main difference is actually on the capital side, because the way the funding model works, the cost of construction is recovered over time through the per diem.

But the province uses a standardize rate across Ontario that does not reflect the cost of land/construction in the City.

 

[EddyMCD]

Zero chance the Feds pony up that $250 mil. Chow should just bus all the refugees claimants to Ottawa, let them camp out on Parliament Hill.

 

[Northern Light]

A couple of budget notes from The Star, here:

Key take-aways from the 2024 Toronto budget plan

The highlights from the proposed 2024 Toronto budget released Wednesday.

www.thestar.com

Comment: I too am underwhelmed. The value for money on TPL is exceptionally good and for very low sums of money one can achieve a lot in service increase, this can and should be more ambitious.

AND

Comment: The suburbanites on Council will not like this at all; I will bemusedly call it the new TTC ridership growth strategy, if you can't be bothered shoveling your own driveway at the road, then you'll have to take TTC.

 

[Admiral Beez]

Zero chance the Feds pony up that $250 mil. Chow should just bus all the refugees claimants to Ottawa, let them camp out on Parliament Hill.

They'd just jam up Ottawa's shelters once the RCMP pushed them off the Hill property, same as they do here. It's not the City of Ottawa's fault anymore than it's Toronto's.

Here's what should happen: refugee arrives at Pearson or wherever. CBSA turns them over to IRCC at the point of entry, where any refugee claimants deemed releasable are sent to one of two channels. First, those who have family or friends in Canada that will contractually promise to house and feed them, are physically passed onto these people and sent on their way to await their IRCC hearing. Second, those who have no one to house or feed them are assigned to a government refugee centre to await their hearing. THAT's what we're missing, family friendly refugee centres to house the thousands of claimants arriving each year. We could build these on Federal land across the country, sometimes using underutilized buildings or something new. And no, I'm not suggesting an Australian-like detention centre on Baffin Island, but a means to keep people sheltered and safe while they await their application.

 

[Richard White]

They'd just jam up Ottawa's shelters once the RCMP pushed them off the Hill property, same as they do here. It's not the City of Ottawa's fault anymore than it's Toronto's.

Here's what should happen: refugee arrives at Pearson or wherever. CBSA turns them over to IRCC at the point of entry, where any refugee claimants deemed releasable are sent to one of two channels. First, those who have family or friends in Canada that will contractually promise to house and feed them, are physically passed onto these people and sent on their way to await their IRCC hearing. Second, those who have no one to house or feed them are assigned to a government refugee centre to await their hearing. THAT's what we're missing, family friendly refugee centres to house the thousands of claimants arriving each year. We could build these on Federal land across the country, sometimes using underutilized buildings or something new. And no, I'm not suggesting an Australian-like https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_immigration_detention_facilities but a means to keep people sheltered and safe while they await their application.

When my Grandmother was a Hungarian refugee in 1958 she was sent to a camp in Austria where she was processed and housed until she could be sent to the Bonegilla Migrant Facility in Wodonga, Australia.

Something similar needs to be done here where they house refugees and pair them with employers. They would be allowed to stay in the country *IF* they find permanent work.

 

[picard102]

When my Grandmother was a Hungarian refugee in 1958 she was sent to a camp in Austria where she was processed and housed until she could be sent to the Bonegilla Migrant Facility in Wodonga, Australia.

Something similar needs to be done here where they house refugees and pair them with employers. They would be allowed to stay in the country *IF* they find permanent work.

Where would you send a refugee if they couldn't find work?