Item - 2019.MM7.13
Tracking Status
- City Council adopted this item on May 14, 2019 with amendments.
MM7.13 - Impact of 2019 Provincial Budget on the City of Toronto - by Mayor John Tory, seconded by Councillor Gary Crawford
- Decision Type:
- ACTION
- Status:
- Amended
- Wards:
- All
City Council Decision
City Council on May 14 and 15, 2019, adopted the following:
1. City Council request the Province of Ontario to reverse the $177.65 million dollars in unilateral, retroactive cuts to the City of Toronto’s 2019 Budget.
2. City Council convey its willingness to meet with the Province of Ontario to discuss both governments’ budgets and the impact of retroactive, in-year cuts to the residents of Toronto.
3. City Council direct the City Manager to report to the June 6, 2019, or the July 4, 2019, Executive Committee meeting or to a special Executive Committee meeting called by the Mayor prior to the July 16 and 17 City Council meeting, on service cuts and tax changes that may be required to balance the 2019 Operating Budget, as a result of the retroactive cuts imposed by the Province, including the gender and equity impacts of any such changes.
4. City Council direct the City Manager to report to the June 6, 2019, or the July 4, 2019, Executive Committee meeting or a special Executive Committee meeting called by the Mayor prior to the July 16 and 17 City Council meeting, on the following topics:
a. economic impacts to the City of Toronto of affordable and accessible child care;
b. the potential impact on child care fees for all programs with purchase of service agreements and those centres receiving fee stabilization and general operating grants;
c. potential economic loss to the City of Toronto as a result of an epidemic;
d. economic impact of tourism to the City and the provincial economy;
e. the significance of the City of Toronto to the provincial economy; and
f. the net in-and-out flows of tax dollars from the City of Toronto to the Province of Ontario and vice-versa.
5. City Council request the Chair, Budget Committee, in consultation with the City Manager and the City Clerk, to convene Budget Committee or Budget Subcommittee meetings to allow the public to speak on the proposed provincial cuts and their impact on the City of Toronto's Budget, as necessary.
6. City Council direct the General Manager, Children's Services to inform parents on the wait list for subsidies and all parents with children at a City-run or service-contracted child care centre with the City of the impact of the proposed provincial budget cuts and to inform those parents that child care subsidies are now being evaluated and may be at risk.
7. City Council direct the City Manager to inform and educate the public regarding the nature of impact of the proposed provincial budget cuts through, but not limited to, the following methods:
a. posting notice at the entrance of all City-owned publicly accessible buildings;
b. advertising on all Astral contracted public advertising space, up to the maximum amount allowable under the contract for City advertising; and
c. using the City's social media accounts.
8. City Council direct the City Manager to distribute City Council's decision to all 57 Municipal Councils and Child Care System Managers across Ontario.
9. City Council request the City Solicitor to report back to the Executive Committee, in conjunction with the City Manager's report, on whether any of the provincial funding cuts to Toronto Public Health would violate the Canada Health Act, and on what measures the City of Toronto can take, if, in fact, the Canada Health Act is violated.
City Council Decision Advice and Other Information
City Council considered Items HL6.1 and MM7.13 together.
Background Information (City Council)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2019/mm/bgrd/backgroundfile-133069.pdf
(May 13, 2019) Report from the City Manager on 2019 Ontario Budget and Legislation Update
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2019/mm/bgrd/backgroundfile-133070.pdf
Motions (City Council)
Speaker Nunziata advised Council that the provisions of Chapter 27, Council Procedures, need to be waived to permit introduction of Motion MM7.13. A two-thirds vote of Council Members present is required to waive notice.
Vote (Waive Notice) May-14-2019 10:21 AM
| Result: Carried | Two-Thirds Required - MM7.13 - Waive notice |
|---|---|
| Total members that voted Yes: 24 | Members that voted Yes are Paul Ainslie, Ana Bailão, Brad Bradford, Shelley Carroll, Mike Colle, Gary Crawford, Joe Cressy, John Filion, Paula Fletcher, Michael Ford, Mark Grimes, Stephen Holyday, Cynthia Lai, Mike Layton, Josh Matlow, Jennifer McKelvie, Denzil Minnan-Wong, Frances Nunziata (Chair), James Pasternak, Gord Perks, Jaye Robinson, Michael Thompson, John Tory, Kristyn Wong-Tam |
| Total members that voted No: 0 | Members that voted No are |
| Total members that were Absent: 2 | Members that were absent are Jim Karygiannis, Anthony Perruzza |
Speaker Nunziata advised Council that the provisions of Chapter 27, Council Procedures, require that Motion MM7.13 be referred to the Executive Committee. A two-thirds vote of the Council Members present is required to waive referral.
Vote (Waive Referral) May-14-2019 10:21 AM
| Result: Carried | Two-Thirds Required - MM7.13 - Waive referral |
|---|---|
| Total members that voted Yes: 24 | Members that voted Yes are Paul Ainslie, Ana Bailão, Brad Bradford, Shelley Carroll, Mike Colle, Gary Crawford, Joe Cressy, John Filion, Paula Fletcher, Michael Ford, Mark Grimes, Stephen Holyday, Cynthia Lai, Mike Layton, Josh Matlow, Jennifer McKelvie, Denzil Minnan-Wong, Frances Nunziata (Chair), James Pasternak, Gord Perks, Jaye Robinson, Michael Thompson, John Tory, Kristyn Wong-Tam |
| Total members that voted No: 0 | Members that voted No are |
| Total members that were Absent: 2 | Members that were absent are Jim Karygiannis, Anthony Perruzza |
That:
1. City Council request the Province of Ontario to reverse the $177.65 million dollars in unilateral, retroactive cuts to the City of Toronto’s 2019 Budget.
2. City Council convey its willingness to meet with the Province of Ontario to discuss both governments’ budgets and the impact of retroactive, in-year cuts to the residents of Toronto.
3. City Council direct the City Manager to report to the June 6, 2019, or the July 4, 2019, Executive Committee meeting or to a special Executive Committee meeting called by the Mayor prior to the July 16 and 17 City Council meeting, on service cuts and tax changes that may be required to balance the 2019 Operating Budget, as a result of the retroactive cuts imposed by the Province, including the gender and equity impacts of any such changes.
4. City Council direct the City Manager to report to the June 6, 2019, or the July 4, 2019, Executive Committee meeting or a special Executive Committee meeting called by the Mayor prior to the July 16 and 17 City Council meeting, on the following topics:
a. economic impacts to the City of Toronto of affordable and accessible child care;
b. the potential impact on child care fees for all programs with purchase of service agreements and those centres receiving fee stabilization and general operating grants;
c. potential economic loss to the City of Toronto as a result of an epidemic;
d. economic impact of tourism to the City and the provincial economy;
e. the significance of the City of Toronto to the provincial economy; and
f. the net in-and-out flows of tax dollars from the City of Toronto to the Province of Ontario and vice-versa.
5. City Council request the Chair of the Budget Committee, in consultation with the City Manager and the City Clerk, to convene Budget Committee or Budget Subcommittee meetings to allow the public to speak on the proposed provincial cuts and their impact on the City of Toronto's Budget, as necessary.
6. City Council direct the General Manager, Children's Services to inform parents on the wait list for subsidies and all parents with children at a City-run or service-contracted child care centre with the City of the impact of the proposed provincial budget cuts and to inform those parents that child care subsidies are now being evaluated and may be at risk.
7. City Council direct the City Manager to inform and educate the public regarding the nature of impact of the proposed provincial budget cuts through, but not limited to, the following methods:
a. posting notice at the entrance of all City-owned publicly accessible buildings;
b. advertising on all Astral contracted public advertising space, up to the maximum amount allowable under the contract for City advertising; and
c. using the City's social media accounts.
8. City Council direct the City Manager to distribute City Council's decision to all 57 Municipal Councils and Child Care System Managers across Ontario.
Vote (Amend Item (Additional)) May-14-2019 3:29 PM
| Result: Carried | Majority Required - MM7.13 - motion 1 - Tory |
|---|---|
| Total members that voted Yes: 25 | Members that voted Yes are Paul Ainslie, Ana Bailão, Brad Bradford, Shelley Carroll, Mike Colle, Gary Crawford, Joe Cressy, John Filion, Paula Fletcher, Mark Grimes, Stephen Holyday, Jim Karygiannis, Cynthia Lai, Mike Layton, Josh Matlow, Jennifer McKelvie, Denzil Minnan-Wong, Frances Nunziata (Chair), James Pasternak, Gord Perks, Anthony Perruzza, Jaye Robinson, Michael Thompson, John Tory, Kristyn Wong-Tam |
| Total members that voted No: 1 | Members that voted No are Michael Ford |
| Total members that were Absent: 0 | Members that were absent are |
That City Council request the City Solicitor to report back to the Executive Committee, in conjunction with the City Manager's report, on whether any of the provincial funding cuts to Toronto Public Health would violate the Canada Health Act, and on what measures the City of Toronto can take, if, in fact, the Canada Health Act is violated.
Vote (Amend Item (Additional)) May-14-2019 3:30 PM
| Result: Carried | Majority Required - MM7.13 - motion 2 - Pasternak |
|---|---|
| Total members that voted Yes: 25 | Members that voted Yes are Paul Ainslie, Ana Bailão, Brad Bradford, Shelley Carroll, Mike Colle, Gary Crawford, Joe Cressy, John Filion, Paula Fletcher, Mark Grimes, Stephen Holyday, Jim Karygiannis, Cynthia Lai, Mike Layton, Josh Matlow, Jennifer McKelvie, Denzil Minnan-Wong, Frances Nunziata (Chair), James Pasternak, Gord Perks, Anthony Perruzza, Jaye Robinson, Michael Thompson, John Tory, Kristyn Wong-Tam |
| Total members that voted No: 1 | Members that voted No are Michael Ford |
| Total members that were Absent: 0 | Members that were absent are |
That City Council request the Provincial Government to provide the City of Toronto with a share of the provincial income tax revenue equivalent to $2.4 billion dollars to offset the provincial cuts and in future years provide the City of Toronto with an equivalent percentage of provincial income tax revenues to be controlled by City Council.
Vote (Amend Item (Additional)) May-14-2019 3:31 PM
| Result: Lost | Majority Required - MM7.13 - motion 3 - Perruzza |
|---|---|
| Total members that voted Yes: 8 | Members that voted Yes are Paul Ainslie, Ana Bailão, Joe Cressy, Paula Fletcher, Mike Layton, Jennifer McKelvie, Anthony Perruzza, Jaye Robinson |
| Total members that voted No: 18 | Members that voted No are Brad Bradford, Shelley Carroll, Mike Colle, Gary Crawford, John Filion, Michael Ford, Mark Grimes, Stephen Holyday, Jim Karygiannis, Cynthia Lai, Josh Matlow, Denzil Minnan-Wong, Frances Nunziata (Chair), James Pasternak, Gord Perks, Michael Thompson, John Tory, Kristyn Wong-Tam |
| Total members that were Absent: 0 | Members that were absent are |
Councillor Ford, rising on a Point of Privilege, stated that he didn't appreciate being heckled and that he has sat in the Chamber quietly and respectfully for all the other Members, and would appreciate the same respect.
Councillor Ford, rising on a Point of Privilege, stated that the peanut gallery should stop interrupting his speaking time.
Councillor Matlow, rising on a Point of Privilege, stated that the heckling that happened to Councillor Ford earlier was unfair and does harm to the reputation of Council. Councillor Matlow further stated that while he has significant disagreements with some of what Councillor Ford has said, Councillor Ford is nothing but respectful and articulate, and he hopes that Members' feelings about the policy decisions of Queen's Park and Premier Ford, don't affect how Councillor Ford is treated. Councillor Matlow further stated that he wished to make these remarks as a colleague, because we are Team Toronto and Councillor Ford is part of Team Toronto, too, whether he knows it or not.