By Lincoln DePradine
Measures outlined within the Metropolis of Toronto’s 2025 funds mark “some of the formidable monetary plans in our metropolis’s historical past”, in response to councilor Jamaal Myers.
“For these of you which might be struggling, aid applications can be found to help low-income seniors and residents with disabilities,” Myers stated in a written and an audio-visual message to his constituents of Scarborough North.
A company lawyer, Myers was elected to Metropolis Council in November 2022. His obligations embrace serving as chairman of the Toronto Transit Fee (TTC).
Myers, in his message, referred to what he thought of highlights of the funds, similar to spending on public transit infrastructure and the freezing of TTC fares “for the second yr in a row. This funds displays our shared priorities of affordability, transit enhancements, neighborhood providers, public security and sustainability”.
He additionally pointed to different funds proposals similar to plans for “fixing six TTC stations, together with Kennedy and Scarborough City, to make sure our stations are protected, clear and orderly”; in addition to “extending Sunday hours at 67 libraries and rising recreation facility working hours”; broadening “faculty meals applications to help 8,000 extra college students”; and “offering hire help to 300 further households”.
In Scarborough North, the “progress and investments” which were made embrace the conversion of Farquharson Park—an outdated baseball diamond —right into a cricket facility, “reflecting the rising recognition of cricket in our neighborhood”, stated Myers.
Myers and his colleagues at Metropolis Council can be voting on the funds on Tuesday, February 11.
“Whereas this funds makes historic strides in investing in our infrastructure, I acknowledge the challenges posed by this yr’s property tax enhance. A 5.4 p.c residential property tax hike, mixed with a 1.5 p.c enhance within the Metropolis Constructing Fund, interprets to six.9 p.c or an extra $19.83 per 30 days for the common Toronto home-owner,” stated Myers.
“I acknowledge that after years of underinvestment in our property and providers, this funds makes concrete strides towards repairing getting old infrastructure, sustaining important providers, and making ready for the longer term,” he added.
“Nevertheless, I additionally acknowledge, having grown up in Scarborough in a single-parent family, that each greenback counts for lots of us and that many households, together with people who personal houses, are struggling.”
A coalition of organizations, together with labour teams, is planning to rally exterior Metropolis Corridor at Nathan Phillips Sq. throughout Tuesday’s funds debate.
The intention is “to let council know that is no time for cuts”, rally organizers say.
“This yr’s proposed funds contains elevated investments into very important neighborhood providers similar to inexpensive housing, transit, and a scholar diet program; however, this funding gained’t be assured except Metropolis Council votes to help it. It’s time to ship a robust message: we have to fund a metropolis the place everybody can thrive.”
LJI reporter
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