With Toronto’s financial woes are continuing on unabated, and the provincial government merely using the opportunity for some pre-election politicking, Torontonians are taking matters into their own hands at a local level.
While citizen and lobby groups in Toronto are lobbying hard on both sides, LA is here to provide information on saving TPL and other essential community services from the chopping block.
A website has been launched by the city to provide more information on the proposed tax. Here are a few highlights from the fairtaxes.ca.
Every major city in the world has fair taxes that grow with the economy — except Toronto
For every dollar of taxes Torontonians pay (income, sales, property taxes and other taxes), only 6 cents goes to your municipal government
Toronto recently ranked fifth as the world’s most livable city (1)
The average Toronto household buys and sells a home once every 15 to 20 years (or five to seven per cent of the population at any given time) (2)
Toronto’s housing market is at an all time high, with record sales and homes selling in record time (3)
The City of Toronto has the lowest municipal property tax rates in the Greater Toronto Area (2)
Municipal property taxes provide 24-hour, 7-day services like police, fire, ambulance, road repair and parks as well as libraries, recreation programs, and community centres, at a cost of about $180 a month for the average Toronto household. (2) That same household may spend $200 a month for car insurance and $150 a month for phone, Internet and television services
Sources:
1. The Economist Magazine (August, 2007)
2. City of Toronto
3. Toronto Real Estate Board press release (August 17, 2007)
Just to recap, after Mayor Miller’s proposed land transfer and vehicle registration taxes were deferred for further consideration at the first vote, libraries were the first to be hit up for service cuts which went into effect this month. TPL has posted this on their website regarding the services cuts. The ‘high priority’ neighbourhoods will continue to open on Sundays .
These TPL cuts are just the tip of the iceberg compared to what may be coming, as community centres closed on Monday earlier this week. And let’s not forget about the smaller, less-likely-to-grab-a-headline players in the arts and culture communities. The Toronto Arts Coalition - a new organization whose mission is to raise the profile of the role and importance of the arts in Toronto - while not explicitly supporting the new taxes, is providing some advocacy tools to lobby the various levels of government to support the arts. Is it just me, or does is not make your life a bit easier when folks like this give you a helping hand with your advocacy tasks?
So what you can do:
If you’re in favour of supporting the new taxes at the October 22nd council vote, here’s who you want to drop an email to:
clerk AT toronto DOT ca
In the subject line write:
“Yes to land transfer tax. Please copy to Mayor and City Councillors (arts and libraries)”
cc’d to:
dmcguinty.mpp.co AT liberal.ola.org
hhampton-qp AT ndp.on.ca
john.tory AT pc.ola.org
Include a paragraph (such as this one) into the body of the email (or make up your own):
“Dear Mayor Miller and City Councillors:
My Toronto includes:
the arts
libraries
community centres
recreation programs
public health services
museums
and the TTC
To protect my city, I support the land transfer tax as an immediate solution to Toronto’s financial crisis.
your name
address
postal code
Even MORE quick and dirty is the email form provided through Miller’s recently launched website, fairtaxes.ca. There is still room for your comments, like how community services are the bread and butter of social inclusion and a liveable, vibrant, cosmopolitan city.
thanks, Siue Moffat for forwarding the draft email and arts links
-PC-
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