City of Toronto Budget 2021
VOTE TRACKER – CITY COUNCIL BUDGET VOTE FEB 18, 2021
3A – Mike Layton’s motion to add back in funds to energy and environment budget for climate emergency action
3 B - Layton’s motion for a report on the budget implications of building 25, 50 and/or 100 km of new and upgraded bike lanes each year
3 C - Layton’s motion for a report on potentially transferring responsibility for crisis response, traffic management and parking enforcement away from the police
3D – Layton’s motion re affirming climate lens for all decisions
4 - Councillor Matlow’s motion for a report on non-police first-responders to come in Q4 of this year
|
MEMBER OF COUNCIL |
MOTION 3A BUDGET $’S
|
MOTION 3B ACCELERATE BIKE LANES |
MOTION 3C TRANSFER TASKS |
MOTION 3D CLIMATE LENS |
MOTION 4 NON-POLICE 1ST RESPONDERS
|
|
John Tory |
N |
N |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
Ainsley |
N |
N |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
Bailao |
N |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
Bradford |
N |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
Carroll |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
Colle |
N |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
Crawford |
N |
N |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
Cressy |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
Filion |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
Fletcher |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Absent |
Y |
|
Ford |
N |
N |
Y |
N |
Y |
|
Grimes |
N |
N |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
Holyday |
N |
N |
N |
Y |
N |
|
Lai |
N |
N |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
Layton |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
Mantas |
N |
N |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
Matlow |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
McKelvie |
N |
N |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
Minnan-Wong |
N |
N |
N |
N |
N |
|
Nunziata |
N |
N |
N |
Y |
Y |
|
Pasternak |
N |
N |
N |
Y |
Y |
|
Perks |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
Perruzza |
N |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
Robinson |
N |
N |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
Thompson |
N |
N |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
Wong-Tam |
Absent |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
|
Fails 18-7 |
Fails 14 - 12 |
Carries 22-4 |
Carries 23 - 2 |
Carries 24 - 2 |
Budget Report Back
Dear friends,
Thank you all so much for your great work on climate advocacy for the budget! Through the many deputations both oral and written we sent a clear message to City Council that climate matters. We called on the council for four important actions and you sent hundreds of letters and phone calls to support these asks.
WE MADE THE NEWS! THE NEED FOR CLIMATE ACTION WAS HIGHLIGHTED!
Our deputations were covered by the Star
Our message of climate urgency was carried on the CBC morning news and in a story on their website.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/toronto-climate-budget-2021-1.5914810
And ClimateFast Co-Chair Lyn Adamson’s letter was printed in the Star (below).
HOW DID WE FARE IN OUR ASKS?
Our four asks were:
Increase the budget for the Environment and Energy division by $2.5 million in order to fund the climate action necessary for Toronto to meet its goal of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.
Increase Toronto’s property tax rate by an additional 1%. There is a city building levy of 1.5% for housing and transit. However, it is a very limited amount given the needs of the City. We propose an additional 1% property tax increase to restore $30 million in needed funds for community services and programs, and funding for the Environment and Energy budget.
Create a fund for climate emergency action using part of the $30 million that will be created by the recommended property tax increase.
Shift spending from law enforcement to build the resilience of vulnerable communities (for example: housing, mental health, food security)
WE HAD SOME SUCCESSES
While City Council did not vote to restore $2.5 M in funds to the Energy and Environment budget they overwhelmingly affirmed the use of a climate lens on all city decision making which is a win for planning in this city. Energy and Environment pledged 4 staff to work on the Net Zero report and to have that back to council by the 4th Q of 2021, one year after It was originally planned for.
The city building fund is growing and being used for housing and transit. And the Council heard loud and clear the call to defund the police. Although they are not being defunded (though are held to a 0% increase) council is detasking by sending some of their responsibilities to other agencies that can better meet those needs.
Check out this briefing note for updates on the promises made in the Climate Emergency Declaration. Most are listed as ‘ongoing’ there are some signs of progress, for example Toronto is taking a lead in ESG.
AND SOME DISAPPOINTMENTS
On the active transportation front we are sorry to report that a motion to request a report to accelerate the development of bike lanes failed 14 – 12. It was not supported by the Mayor – or by several Scarborough politicians. It illustrates how close some votes can be and why lobbying is so important.
Council did not vote to raise property taxes above the rate of inflation (0.7%). Not even when people are sleeping in tents and COVID is ravaging the city shelters. Not even when there is a gaping hole greater than $600 million in the city budget with the hope that other levels of government will cover this. Not even when we are in a climate emergency. There is a need to look for new sources of revenue for the city.
We have been told that the 2022 budget will be even more difficult. We must work hard on prioritizing putting climate in the budget through the year ahead. The best way you can help this is by developing a connection with your councillor. We are putting together ward groups and can assist in developing connections in your community for increased pressure.
In 2017 we missed fully funding TransformTO by 2 votes, after a long and wonderful campaign (check out this fun 2 min video here) however in 2018 TransformTO was fully funded. In the 2020 budget we had 18 new positions to be added to TransformTO however COVID came along and the money was redirected. In 2021 let’s campaign to win the strong climate budget we need for our future!
Can you help? Please email lyn@climatefast.ca if you’d like to participate in a ward group.
Have a listen: Mike Layton spoke at our January advocacy training. In this 10 minute clip he gives his advice for building a movement that can be effective in creating the city of the future that we want and need. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQR7ASuoQaI
More videos on our youtube channel – ClimateFast Action - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClreo1EqWo4r6fcdU7-pUPg/playlists