toronto residents panel final report 1up

8/3/2019 Toronto Residents Panel Final Report 1up

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Taking Dialogue Deeper

In 2011, Diaspora Dialogues was ortunate to receive rom the Metcal

Foundation a grant to launch a series o ideas-based programming

which we called Deeper Dialogues. The series was designed to provide

innovative spaces or residents to explore, debate, and discuss the

citys diverse artistic, cultural, political, and historical landscapes.

We wanted to draw together writers, artists, curators, cultural commentators, academ-

ics, citizens and others to explore the intersection o sustainability, social justice and

culture and how they might work together to build a oronto that was prosperous,

vibrant and inclusive.

Future City has been a oundation project or Deeper Dialogues. Tis rst

dialogue, Te oronto Residents Reerence Panel on Household Income, asked

residents to grapple with dicult decisions about how revenues are raised and how

they are spent, and what priorities should guide government in the ormulation opolicies to deal with the threat that growing income disparity poses to a healthy econo-

my and society.

orontonians responded enthusiastically. We were impressed and deeply moved by

how many were willing to engage in the serious and respectul debate. Not everyone

agreed. Not all conversations were comortable. Democracy can be messy, ater all. But

these 44 residents devoted precious time three weekends at a very busy time o year

without nancial recompense to engage with each other, with complex and conicting

concepts, and they did it with grace.We are deeply grateul to them or their participation, or the hard work, and or the

recommendations they have put orth. We are also grateul because, without knowing

it, they have rearmed our belie that Canadians care about the communities in which

they live, and when given a chance, provide a thoughtul voice in the shared uture o

our society.

Tat voice deserves to be heard. We hope you listen.

Helen WalshPresident,Diaspora Dialogues


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The Peoples Panel

The Toronto Residents Reerence Panel on Household Income

is a rst-o-its-kind eort to bring together a randomly selected

representative group o Torontonians to look deeply at the growing

economic divide within the city. Its ndings are instructive and

provocative. They speak to the growing sense o social and economic

anxiety elt by many Torontonians who worry about their ability to

provide or their amilies and maintain a moderate standard o living.

Over the course o three Saturdays in November and December 2011, the 44 panel

members talked openly about their experience o living in the city and how they sense

their city is changing. While all could agree that oronto in 2011 is more vibrant,

diverse, and outwardly prosperous than at any time beore, they were also unanimous

in their concern that unless signicant steps are taken, orontos uture as an inclusive,

diverse, and liveable city is threatened.

Te report that ollows is divided into two sections. Te rst section explains the

context or this project, based on research rom the University o orontos CitiesCentre, and the process the panellists ollowed. Te second section, which begins

shortly ater, records the panellists recommendations in their own words.

Tere is nothing about this report that is exhaustive or authoritative. Any one o the

panellists seven areas o ocus could well have been the basis or careul study by a

dedicated panel running ar longer than just three weekends. Nevertheless, when taken

as a whole, the work o the oronto Residents Reerence Panel on Household Income

deserves to be read careully by government, as well as by the many public and commu-

nity agencies that serve the citys residents. Teir recommendations provide impor-tant guidance concerning the priorities and perspectives o a representative group o

oronto residents who have taken the time to think purposeully about the uture o

their city.

Te report also demonstrates the considerable and rarely tapped capacity o individ-

ual citizens to play an inormed role in the development o public policy as well as

the willingness and ability o orontonians to engage in dicult conversations that

at times challenge their own belies and assumptions. In a time o deep cuts to public

budgets and economic uncertainty, this alone is warming and welcome news.

Peter MacLeodPrincipal,MASS LBP


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How This Started

The Toronto Residents Reerence Panel on Household Income is

a project developed by Diaspora Dialogues Future City initiative, a

year-long program to encourage public conversation on the uture o

Toronto that has been unded as part o the Metcal Foundations 50th

anniversary celebrations.

MASS LBP, a local company that special-izes in the design o public engagementprograms, led the panel, which was basedon recent research rom the University oorontos Cities Centre.

Planning or the oronto Residents

Reerence Panel on Household Incomebegan in late spring, many monthsbeore the Occupy protests erupted incities throughout North America andEurope and concern over growing incomeinequality captured the interest o thepress and began to dominate headlines.Tough entirely unanticipated, theseevents underscore the timeliness o thisexercise, as well as the prescience oProessor David Hulchanskis landmarkstudy concerning growing economicsegregation in oronto. Te Universityo orontos Tree Cities report, basedon 35 years o census data and releasedin November 2010, is a denitive studythat shows the erosion o orontos vastmiddle class and the sorting out o thecitys households into three distinctcities based on income.

According to Hulchanski, orontos

middle-income earners have been undersustained pressure since the 1970s, andthe sharp reduction in their number a phenomenon that is equally truethroughout the Greater oronto Area(GA) has created a city that isincreasingly polarized between high-and low-income earners.

While Hulchanskis ndings likelymatch the intuition and lived experi-

ence o many oronto residents, theimplications and extent o this economicshit has yet to enter public debate or beproperly understood by policy-makers.

What We Learned

Te panellists were very conscientiousin their deliberations, examining a widerange o issues afecting the liveabilityand afordability o the city.

Notably, the panel did not endorse anymove to cut taxes and lower city revenues,instead arguing or the reinstatement othe citys vehicle registration ee and alsoaugmenting ederal revenues by adding anew income tax bracket or high earners.

Tough they avoured these additionalsources o revenue, they recognized thatsubstantial increases to the citys propertytax would increase pressure on low- andmiddle-income earners.

Tey also encouraged the provincialand ederal governments to modernizeemployment insurance and review otherincome supports in light o the needs opart-time, exible, and contract workerswho make up a growing share o theworkorce and are underserved by exist-ing programs.

Te panel directed a number o recom-mendations toward improving the citystransit system, including directing agreater share o the gas tax toward publictransit and encouraging all three levels ogovernment to reach an accord concern-ing long-term, stable transit undingthat would bring greater predictability


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to transit expansion and operations.Tey also recommended that the cityrestore the neighbourhood connectivityenvisioned by the ransit City plan andaccelerate the adoption o Presto, theregion-wide integrated are system.

Concerning housing, the panel

recommended that the city continue toencourage greater density and mixed-usedevelopments and to match other NorthAmerican cities that have introducedinclusionary housing policies to ensurethat new housing developments includemixed-income options. Somewhatdramatically, they also recommended theintroduction o income-based supportsor amilies in precarious housing spend-ing more than 30% o their gross incomeon rent.

Seeking greater collaboration amongmunicipalities, the panel imagined anew biennial 416-905 Summit to promotegreater regional integration, as well asnew partnerships to improve streetscapesand support enhanced settlementservices or newcomers. Teir recommen-dations also contain important ideas orimproving health services, the environ-

ment, and education.ogether the recommendations ofer a

range o sensible approaches or address-ing a complex problem. Signicantlythey reject the binary logic o blaminggovernment or business and are notpersuaded by proposals that wouldsimply slash or ratchet up taxes. Tepanel recognizes that there are manycontributing actors to the deepening o

income inequality in oronto. No onerecommendation or set o recommenda-tions can reverse this trend.

Te panellists volunteered their timebecause they take pride in their city andits many achievements. Tey also knowthat these achievements are rare andcant be taken or granted. I incomeinequality continues to deepen anddivide the city, they worry that attitudeswill coarsen and that the citys lasting

public consensus concerning investmentsin public education, health, transit, and,most provocatively, multiculturalism willerode. Teir recommendations should beread in the spirit o one groups eforts toensure that oronto remains a competi-tive, liveable, and inclusive city.

Understanding the Panel Process

Te oronto Residents Reerence Panelon Household Income consisted o 44randomly selected oronto residents.Over three Saturdays in November andDecember 2011, the panel met to learnabout the growing income gap, understand

the challenges and consider the choices we willneed to make to ensure that oronto remains acompetitive, liveable, and inclusive city.

Te panel completed their work inthree phases. Te learning phase wasdesigned so that each panellist had theopportunity to become betterinormed about the impact o changingeconomic trends on the well-being ooronto residents. en experts including

Proessor David Hulchanski, ormer PCleader John ory, and Conerence Boardpresident Anne Golden, made presen-tations covering a range o issues romtransportation, to housing, to privatesector competitiveness. Each presentationwas ollowed by a lively question-and-answer session.

Next, the panellists were asked toidentiy the issues they elt were mostpressing and propose ideas that couldhelp to address them. A nal delib-eration phase required the panelliststo weigh the easibility and possibleconsequences o their ideas and developbroad recommendations agree-able to allmembers o the panel.

A seven-member advisory boardmade up o several o Ontarios leadingresearchers, business, and communityleaders guided the development o the

panel process and curriculum. Teyvolunteered their time to oversee theprocess and ensure that it was ocused,balanced, and air.


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The Civic Lottery

Te oronto Residents Reerence Panelmembers were selected by MASS LBPsCivic Lottery process, in which 7,500invitations were sent to randomly selectedhouseholds across the city. ranserableto any member wo the household

over the age o 18, the invitation askedresidents to volunteer three ull Saturdayso their time to learn about changingincomes in oronto and provide aninormed public perspective.

More than 350 people responded tothe invitation, either volunteering tobe part o the panel or regretting theirinability to participate but requestingto be kept inormed about the process.

From among the pool o volunteers, 44residents were selected in a blind drawdesigned to ensure that the participantswould broadly match the age and genderbalance o the city. Te draw also ensuredthat there would be equal representa-tion rom each o the ormer cities thatcomprise oronto. Additional attributessuch as ethnicity, income or educationalattainment were not specically identi-ed in the selection process. Instead,these and other attributes reliably appearamong the volunteers who are ultimatelyselected in numbers roughly proportion-ate to the general population In short, thepanel was composed in such a way as todeliver good demographic diversity andto ensure that it was broadly representa-tive o all oronto residents.

Project Advisory Board

Helen Walsh, advisory boardco-chair; president, Diaspora

Dialogues David Hulchanski, advisory

board co-chair; associatedirector, Cities Centre, Universityof Toronto

Richard Joy, vice president,public policy and governmentrelations, Toronto Board of Trade

Gillian Hewitt-Smith, executive

director and CEO, Institute forCanadian Citizenship

Sheila Block, director, economicanalysis, Wellesley Institute

Israt Ahmed, community planner,Social Planning Toronto

Mitzie Hunter, CEO, Civic Action


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Session One:November 5, 2011

The panel met or the rst time at the Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute,

next to St. Michaels Hospital, in downtown Toronto. As panellists arrived,

each was welcomed by the panel coordinators and given a binder that

contained inormation about the program as well as copies o theUniversity o Torontos Three Cities report and the Toronto Community

Foundations Vital Signs report. Each document was reerred to by

many o the speakers, and provided useul background inormation.

Each panellist was asked to sign a PublicService Pledge, arming their commit-ment to work diligently on behal o allorontonians. Six vertical banners based

on the Tree Cities report hung in the oyer,and as panellists waited or the morningto begin, they chatted with one another.

Once everyone arrived, they werewelcomed by Peter MacLeod whoserved as the panels moderator, andHelen Walsh, president o DiasporaDialogues and co-chair o the advisoryboard. MacLeod brieed the panel abouttheir task and reviewed the process. Hecautioned the panellists that they couldexpect long days and hard work. Terewas a lot o material to cover, and haltheir time would be spent interactingwith ten guest speakers who had beenselected to present inormation that couldbe useul to their deliberations. MacLeodwas clear that the panellists would poten-tially disagree with or even dislike someo the ideas they were going to hear, buthe encouraged them to weigh all perspec-

tives and try not to dismiss anythingimmeidately out o hand.Te panellists then spread out across

the oyer to introduce themselves, stand-ing in rough proximity to one anotheras they pretended the room was a giantmap o the city. As they introducedthemselves, they also discussed why theyhad volunteered.

Some panellists said they had noticedchanges in their neighbourhoods overseveral years and wanted to understandmore about the Tree Cities phenom-

enon. Others had been born in countrieswhere inequality was more pronouncedand were concerned that Canada mightgo down the wrong track. Many o thepanellists said they had volunteered outo a sense o civic responsibility andexpressed their desire to give back totheir city and contribute to an importantpublic discussion.

Having become acquainted with theprocess and one another, the panel beganan intensive study session.

Understanding Inequality

Te panels learning phase began witha presentation rom Anne Golden,president and CEO o the ConerenceBoard o Canada. Golden presentedhighlights o the Conerence Boardsrecent research comparing inequal-ity among OECD countries. Te panel

learned that among all OECD countries,Canada is in the middle o the pack,but that the country is trending in thewrong direction. In act, according toGolden, Canada is growing more unequalaster than every other OECD countryexcept Germany. She also noted thatwhile inequality has always risen duringeconomic downturns, over the pastseveral decades inequality has increased


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steadily in good times as well. Goldenstressed that denitive studies have oundno conclusive evidence that inequalityis an inevitable, or an unavoidable, sideefect o economic competitiveness. Inact, she argued that the ar-reaching

social efects o income inequality couldproduce a signicant drain on a countryseconomic resources.

Next, Proessor David Hulchanski,the author o the Tree Cities report anda co-chair o the panel advisory board,presented his research. He argued thatwhile middle-income earners were oncepredominant, since the 1970s the city hasbecome increasingly divided by dispari-ties in income. Perhaps not surpris-ingly, City Tree, where incomes aremore than 20% lower than the city-wideaverage, is home to a disproportionatenumber o the citys immigrants, peopleo colour, and low-income residents. Healso pointed out that City Tree hasaccess to ar ewer public services, transitroutes, and employment opportunities.Hulchanski warned that i his projectionsare accurate, City Tree will expand

as more people and neighbourhoods allbehind, with serious consequences or thecitys uture.

Completing the mornings presenta-tions, Dr. Arjumand Siddiqi, a socialepidemiologist at the University ooronto, discussed how a citys socialenvironment afects the health o itsresidents. Her presentation demonstratedthat increased inequality is strongly

correlated with the prevalence o a widevariety o diseases, including obesity anddiabetes, as well as chronic stress. Manypanellists were surprised to learn thatwhile the poor are most afected by theseproblems, even the rich in unequal societ-ies show poorer health outcomes thantheir peers in more equal societies.

Ater lunch, the panel heard romthe rst o three Issues Panels. MichaelShapcott, director o afordable housing

and social innovation at the WellesleyInstitute, Dr. Michael Rachlis, a healthsystem consultant and associate proes-sor at the Dalla Lana School o PublicHealth, and Jef Evenson, rom theCanadian Urban Institute, each spokeabout one major acet o public policyafecting equality. First, Shapcott spokeabout housing policy in oronto, notingafordability, supply, standards, and

support are each major challenges thatthe city must overcome. Dr. Rachlisthen discussed the vicious cycle betweenpoverty and ill health. He argued that byshiting our ocus to improving popula-tion health preventing illness and

promoting wellness the health systemcould help break this cycle. Evensonconcluded by echoing Hulchanskisconcern regarding the number o peoplein oronto who do not have adequateaccess to transit. As a result o isolationand immobility, many orontonians areless able to nd jobs and be ull membersin the social lie o the city.

Following this presentation, the panel-lists began to discuss their neighbour-hoods and compared their individualexperiences as oronto residents. Teycited rising housing prices, demographicchange, rustrating transit experiences,and the poor repair o many rentalproperties among many o their concerns.Panellists also discussed whetherdivisions between the Tree Cities hadchanged the way orontonians thinkabout themselves and one another.

Choosing Values

In their nal activity o the day, thepanel began to consider the values thatwould provide the ramework or theirrecommendations. Tey were asked todecide which values should guide thedevelopment o oronto over the nextten years. In small groups, they sharedtheir aspirations or the panel process

and their hopes or the city. Each table opanelists came up with a list o the mostimportant values and then shared theirlist in plenary. While there was someduplication between the tables, togetherthe panel produced a lengthy list o 42values, which where soon consolidatedinto a more manageable list o eight.Tese values are listed in the recommen-dations section o this report.

Te panellists then adjourned or atwo-week break but not without rstbeing assigned to speak with theirriends, colleagues, and neighboursabout the Tree Cities phenomenon inoronto and to get their perspective onchanging neighbourhoods in the city.Participants were also asked to review theTree Cities and Vital Signs reports.


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Session Two:November 19, 2011

The panellists met or their second session at 918 Bathurst, an arts

and education centre located in Torontos Annex neighbourhood, the

edge o which matched the socio-economic prole o City Two. As

the panellists arrived, they began talking with one another about theirconversations with riends and neighbours during the break. Several

people were eager to pass around copies o newspaper clippings and

reports they had ound online and thought might be relevant. Far rom

being daunted by the complexity o the issue, the panellists were ready

to share what had learned.

Once again, MacLeod welcomed the

group and reminded them o their task.He reviewed what they had learnedduring their previous Saturday together.He also shared some o the eedback hehad heard during a special Nuit Blancheinstallation based on Hulchanskisresearch that preceeded the panel. Hethen opened up the oor and invited thepanellists to share what they had heardwhen they raised the topic o the panel

with their colleagues, riends and amilymembers over the break. Te panel-lists had no shortage o anecdotes toshare, and they relayed a wide range oopinions. Clearly the topic touched animportant nerve. Finally, MacLeod setout the agenda or the day, which wouldinclude the nal two Issues Panels and anextensive brainstorming exercise to beginidentiying and sorting the many issuesafecting changing household incomes.

Concluding the Issues Panels

rish Hennessy, the director o theCanadian Centre or Policy Alternatives(CCPA) income inequality project,spoke to the group about the changesin the labour market over the past 40years. Hennessy identied globaliza-tion, technology, and the decline o

labour unions as important contribut-

ing causes to rising inequality. She alsopresented data showing that Canadaslowest income earners are alling behind.According to Hennessy, stronger unions,equal pay legislation, and the develop-ment o a jobs strategy ocussed on youthemployment are each essential to revers-ing the trend.

Judith Tompson, a prominentplaywright, brought a diferent angle to

the days discussion. She explained tothe panellists why she has always workedto rankly portray class divides on thestage a decision that has oten mademembers o her audience uncomortable.From her rst play about a strugglingcouple rom the wrong side o the tracks,to her most recent play about a middle-class suburban woman trying to keep upappearances, Tompson has long chron-icled the economic tensions in Canadian

society. She also discussed the impor-tance o the arts typically unding iscut during economic downturns inpromoting a societys ability to reect onitsel and evaluate its priorities.

Following lunch, the panellists heardrom the nal Issues Panel. John Staple-ton, principal o Open Policy, and Johnory, chair o Civic Action and the


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ormer provincial PC leader, discussedeconomic competitiveness and changes tothe provinces social policies.

Stapleton used a series o graphs toshow the decline in welare payments andthe diculties Canadians have accessing

employment insurance. Te panellistswere surprised to learn that many supportprograms have been around much longerthan they assumed; Workers Compensa-tion Insurance, or example, is alreadymore than a century old. Stapletonargued that despite the diculty in doingso, Canada and Ontario must modern-ize and integrate their social supportprograms to better meet the needs o amodern economy.

John ory drew on his extensiveexperience as a senior executive andpolitical leader. He reminded thepanellists that while corporations haveimportant social responsibilities, they areprincipally accountable to their share-holders. But according to ory, the dividebetween the interests o shareholders andsociety isnt as sharp as many assume.Good, successul businesses benet

enormously rom the public investmentsthat make possible a well-educated andprosperous society. ory suggested twoareas in which oronto needs to do betterto encourage enterprise: cultivating newentrepreneurs and quickly integratingskilled newcomers with oreign creden-tials into the Canadian economy.

Ater a lengthy question-and-answersession with Stapleton and ory, the

panellists completed a short group activ-ity to cement what they had alreadylearned. Panellists worked together toanswer a series o questions about theroles o the various organizations thatinuence and implement public policy.Tey consistently expressed surprise atthe wide range o actors and the complex-ity o their work.

Identifying the Issues

With their learning phase complete,the panellists turned their attention tomaking sense o their own experience asorontonians as well as what they hadlearned. In small groups, the panellistscompiled a list o issues they elt weremost signicant. Every time a table opanellists decided on an issue, they wroteit on a card. Soon, the cards piled up into

stacks on the tables as the panel consid-ered the broad range o actors inuenc-ing income inequality in oronto. Eachtable chose a representative to presenttheir list. Working together, they groupedtheir issues under seven broad themes,

adding one Wildcard group o issues tocatch those issues that didnt comortablyt with the others.

From Issues to Ideas

Next, each table was assigned a themeand given a corresponding stack o issuecards. Te panellists were encouragedto join the table with the theme thatinterested them most or else to move

rom table-to-table over the course o theaternoon. For the next two hours, thepanellists worked through the cards ateach o the tables, debating the merits oeach issue and cancelling out duplicates.Once they had worked up a revised listo issues at their table, they shited gearsand started thinking about how eachissue could be addressed. Now they wereinto the heart o the exercise askingquestions and discussing with one anoth-er surprisingly technical subjects. Whichlevel o government was responsible?Who should be accountable? When wasit air to impose a cost on many, when itwould only benet a ew? Te questionskept coming as the panellists dug intoeach issue. Otherwise mundane policytopics were examined with a real senseo urgency as each member o the panelcontributed their ideas.

By the end o the aternoon, eachgroup still had many issues let to cover.Representatives rom each table tookturns presenting their work to theirpeers rom other groups. Te panellistsapplauded one another as they sharedtheir top results. Everyone was impressedwith the volume o work they had accom-plished many recommendations werestarting to take shape. MacLeod assuredthem they had made great strides andpromised that they would receive typed-up results rom the day by mid-week. Tistime their homework was to review theirwork as well as any remaining issues,so that each group would arrive or thenal Saturday ready to get on with thebusiness o drating and agreeing to theirnal recommendations.


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Session Three:December 3, 2011

The nal session o the Toronto Residents Reerence Panel was held

in a newly constructed Toronto Community Housing building in Regent

Park, a downtown neighbourhood in City Three that is undergoing a

signicant transormation. The panellists arrived ready to get to work.They were keenly aware that they had only one more day to complete

their recommendations.

MacLeod welcomed the group andexplained the program or their thirdand nal day. First, each table needed tonish working through its list o issues.Once the panellists at each table were

comortable that they had zeroed-in onthe most important issues and had agreedamongst themselves how to respond,they needed to nd the right language toexpress their ideas as concrete recom-mendations that could be included in thisreport. Tis was the game plan but beorethey got to work, MacLeod suggestedthat they take a moment to reect on theprocess and their progress.

One panellist said that ater two weeks,he was still rustrated by John oryscomments and elt that business wasntdoing enough to provide good jobsand invest in the city. Another panel-list replied, reminding the group thatbusiness shouldnt be expected to solveevery problem. Tis started a spirited,riendly debate as the panellists discussedhow to they would write their recommen-dations and strike the right tone. Aboveall they agreed that their report shouldbe read as a constructive contributionand not as an explicit critique o eithergovernment or business. Teir valuespointed the way: they could be ambitious,but each panellist agreed that theirprincipal goal was to drat recommenda-tions that were realistic and achievable.

Back in their smaller groups, thepanellists returned to their work romthe previous meeting. Tis rst exerciseturned into many long hours as eachgroup rened and revised their responses

to the issues they had identied. Withthe long lists o outstanding issues nowresolved, they were ready to start dratingtheir recommendations.

Drafting the ReportWhile each table had broadly agreedto the issues they believed were mostimportant and how they might beaddressed, they still had to agree to theexact wording that would appear in thisreport. Tey also had to get the agree-ment o every other panellist beore theirrecommendations would be accepted.Each table started by clustering theirissues under a premise. Each premiseis a statement o concern drated by thepanelists so that the reader o the reportwill understand more exactly the issueor concern their recommendations areintended to address.

Now came hours o careul reectionand negotiation as the panellists renedtheir recommendations, and wrote theirreport in long-hand, page by page.

Periodically through the morning andaternoon, the moderator would call atime-out and invite each group to presenttheir section or discussion and eedback.Tese presentations helped each groupgauge how well their recommendations


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were resonating with the panel, andproviding an opportunity or each panel-list to ask questions o the group.

Based on the eedback each groupreceived they continued revising theirrecommendations. Occasionally, it

became dicult to avoid duplication:Did a recommendation concerning ater-school programs belong with the commu-nity development group or the educationgroup? Could proposals or better publictransit not also be considered an econom-ic or environmental issue? Tese wereimportant discussions, and the panellistswere quick to realize that many publicpolicies are closely inter-connected.

By mid-aternoon, several panellistsagreed to orm a new group to write apreable to their recommendations. Othersmoved between the diferent tables,helping to complete as many recommen-dations as possible.

At 4 p.m., it was time or each groupto make their nal plenary presenta-tion. Work would continue by email orseveral weeks as the panellists urtherrened their recommendations, but or

the moment, it was time to take stock owhat the panel had accomplished. Eachgroup took a turn updating their earlierpresentations, explaining changes theyhad made or new recommendations theyhad added and earning applause rom

their peers.A long and exhausting day was nearlydone. Beore the panel adjourned,MacLeod asked the panellists or theirreections on the process. Tey respond-ed warmly, expressing only some regretthat they didnt have more time together.David Hulchanski and Helen Walshthanked the panellists or their work, andastonishing success in synthesizing somuch material. Tey assured them thatcopies o their report would be sent tolocal politicians and community organi-zations, as well as to the media.

Tey also presented each panellist witha Certicate o Public Service recogiz-ing each panellists eforts to representthe people o oronto, and produce thisreport. With a sense o pride or theiraccomplishments, the panel adjourned itsnal deliberation.


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The Report

What ollows is the report o the Toronto Residents Reerence Panel on

Household Income. The rst drat was written during the panels nal

meeting. Subsequent drats were sent to each panellist or comment

and revision. In this way, it has been veried by the panellists as anaccurate account o their ndings and recommendations.

Who we are: We are orty-our very dierent Torontonians. We live in dierent parts o

the city, come rom dierent backgrounds, and have had dierent lie experiences. What

drew us together? We care about our city and its uture. We volunteered to participate

in the Toronto Residents Reerence Panel on Household Income. Among ourselves

through spirited, respectul discussion we developed a comprehensive series o recom-

mendations to address issues arising rom increased income inequality in our city. Since

the 1970s there has been a startling rise in the economic disparities that separate thecitys households. This divide will have serious consequences or the quality o lie o all

Torontonians. It will aect our health, social cohesion, competitiveness, and the right to

call Toronto one o the most liveable cities in the world.

We agreed upon the ollowing values to guide our deliberations and shape our

recommendations:

Achievable and Sustainable: We seek realistic recommendations that ensure social,

economic, and environmental sustainability.

Inclusive and Equitable: We support recommendations that take into account the

needs o all Torontonians; recommendations should recognize the right and ability o all

Torontonians to better themselves and participate more ully in their community.

Healthy and Safe: Our recommendations reect the right o all Torontonians to live in

healthy and sae communities.

Visionary and Competitive: Our recommendations recognize that all Torontonians

have a role in creating a orward-thinking.


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TransitCity Three lacks adequate access torapid transit services.We ask that government:

1. Respect Transit Citys attempt toimprove connectivity and mobility toand within City Three.

2. Restore Transit City or produce asimilar plan that signifcantly improvestransit accessibility to and rom CityThree. In the interim, work to urgentlyimplement a bus-based rapid transitsystem. The creation o dedicated bus

lanes is needed to enable residentso City Three to better connect toemployment hubs, health services,educational opportunities, as well as tosocial and cultural activities.

3. Immediately introduce a transit passsubsidy or low-income households.

The current state o transportationconnectivity in the GTA is grosslyinadequate and will get worse as theregion grows.

We ask that government:

4. Aggressively expedite the implemen-tation o an integrated region-wideapproach to transit and accelerate theroll-out o Presto to acilitate a singlepayment system within a more region-ally integrated transit system.

5. Provide commuters with more oppor-tunities to combine car travel andpublic transit, such as through theexpansion o car parks at transit hubs.

6. Encourage large corporations toprovide shuttle services or employeesto connect to rapid transit acilitieswhen there are none within walkingdistance.

7. Use social media and web technology

to promote transportation options suchas carpooling and car sharing.

Current TTC unding is not practical orsustainable.


8. Collaborate more eectively to developa predictable, long-term operationaland capital unding model proportional

to population, including a dedicatedportion o gas tax and dierentialdevelopment levies.

9. Create and empower a tripartite panel(public, private, and non-proft) torecommend alternative unding models

such as public-private partnerships tofnance transit construction and delivertransit services. Any alternative modelmust, however, ensure that transitremains under public control.

10. Act collaboratively to map out a strate-gy or transits long-term sustainabilityin the interest o commuters who workin and need easy access to communi-ties across the region.

Inadequate unding or public transit iscaused, in part, by a poor understand-ing o the impact that public transit hason the citys competitiveness, liveabil-ity, and inclusivity.

We ask that:

11. Inuential entities such as theConerence Board o Canada andCivicAction make the case to govern-

ment concerning the positive econom-ic impact o good public transit.

12. Researchers compare the revenueand expenditure details o local transitproviders to similar jurisdictions, sharethe results to highlight the unding gapthat exists in the GTA, and create politi-cal pressure on all levels o govern-ment to increase transit unding.

13. The business community and transitauthorities orm partnerships topromote a public awareness campaignregarding the economic impact oinvestment in efcient transportationoptions.

14. Public agencies promote the accom-plishments o local transit provid-ers (e.g., service increases, ridershipincreases) with a view to establish andenhance public confdence.

15. Transportation service providersincrease their proessionalism amongsta and improve communicationsbetween sta and customers.


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Taxation,Economy, &EmploymentEmployment and labour policies do notadequately protect low-income earners.


16. Adjust the minimum wage annually tomatch the rate o ination.

17. Work to modernize employment insur-ance, public pensions, and other socialsupports to better reect the needs

o part-time, temporary, exible, andcontract employees.

18. Publicly recognize and applaudcompanies that enact living wagestandards or their lowest paidemployees.

Current tax policies do not raise su-cient revenue to support the entirecitys needs.


19. Pursue new revenues at the munici-pal level in order to und local inra-structure. For instance, increase thegasoline tax and reinstate the vehiclelicence ee and use these and othernew revenues to support public transit.

20. Create a more progressive income taxsystem, with higher marginal tax rates

or high income earners in order togenerate dedicated revenue that canbe shared among Canadian cities.

21. Reduce property and business taxesor employers who hire youth, recentlyarrived immigrants, people withdisabilities, and other disadvantagedgroups.

Many issues acing Torontonianspertain in equal measure to residents

o the Greater Toronto Area (GTA).The current scope o Torontos citygovernment limits cooperation withits surrounding municipalities, andrestricts the ability o all GTA munici-pal governments to provide moreintegrated services.

We ask that:

22. Mayors and regional chairs rom the416 and 905 municipalities establisha semi-annual summit to address andadopt a more coordinated approach tothe issues o transportation, housing,

health, and employment. Preliminarydiscussions could include ideas orgreater service integration, revenue-sharing, and a common strategy orpursuing increased ederal and provin-cial support.

23. Provincial and ederal governmentsincrease unding, on a consistent anddedicated basis, or the maintenanceand improvement o municipal inra-

structure across the GTA.

The economic policies o the municipal,provincial, and ederal governmentsdo not adequately promote innovativeentrepreneurial growth.


24. Promote the growth o small business-es by developing property tax incen-tives that would encourage real estateowners to rent their premises togrowing sectors o the small businesssector, such as creative knowledge-based industries.

25. Increase unding to community organi-zations, earmarked or the purpose oassessing, approving, and providingsmall entrepreneurial business loanswithin the city.

CommunityDevelopment, &ServicesThere is insucient nancial andadministrative support rom all levelso government or integrated commu-nity hubs, which draw together

services, people, and inormation romacross Toronto.

We ask that:

26. The school board optimize itsacilities or use by community-basedprograms, services, and organizations.

27. City Hall, at minimum, maintain existingsupport or Torontos library system.


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28. In the longer term, the municipalgovernment should develop a strategythat will ensure all libraries oer anequally high standard o services,though we recognize that branchesvary in size and number o patrons.

Residents eel discouraged aboutparticipating in civic lie. Incomeinequality and lack o knowledgeacross cultures have eroded commu-nity cohesion in Toronto.We ask that:

29. The City develop and implement anengagement policy that will acilitatecitizen participation in priority-setting,

zoning, budgeting, and other aspectso municipal governance.

30. All levels o government und andpromote programs intended to ostercross-cultural exchange includingthe promotion o cultural literacy andcustoms, as well as artistic expression.

31. The Toronto District School Boardcontinue to broaden the range ocultural representation through theincreased availability o cross-culturalcurriculum, events, organizations, andextracurricular activities.

32. Media outlets and community organi-zations actively promote global issuesthat aect people rom all levelso income whether through theproduction o special events such asTorontos Earth Hour or by coveringimportant social issues like growing

income inequality.

Internationally trained proession-als lack sucient transition supportservices.


33. Strengthen support or organizationslike the Toronto Region ImmigrantEmployment Council (TRIEC), and

other associations that seek to connectemployers with internationally trainedproessionals and skilled labourers.

34. Increase provincial and ederal undingor programs within proessionalorganizations designed to provideretraining or internationally trainedproessionals.

35. Expand programs oered by commu-nity organizations and all levels ogovernment, with increased unding orESL support and technical training tomeet demand.

Cuts to school budgets aect artsunding more drastically than otherprograms, and this reduction in artseducation disproportionately aectsthe cultural engagement o studentswho are unable to aord exposure tothe arts through other means.

We ask that the school board:

36. Continue unding programs such asmusic, dance, and visual arts regard-

less o economic pressure to limit orotherwise diminish the availability othese programs.

37. Continue to welcome and acilitate theassistance o various arts and culturegroups, and support these programsby oering access to acilities, equip-ment, and unding.

Residents lack easy and aordable

access to commercial, social, cultural,health-care, and recreational programsand services.

We ask that City Hall:

38. Use existing zoning by-laws, chang-ing them where it is appropriate, toencourage mixed-use developmentand increase access to employmentprograms and services.

HealthHealthy ood is inaccessible to manypeople in Toronto because o its lack oaordability and availability.


39. Work to identiy ood deserts and makereasonable access to resh groceries

an essential component o zoning andplanning decisions, relating both tonew residential developments and tothe renewal o existing communities.

40. Support charitable and governmentunding agencies to provide seedunds to small grocers in underservedareas, on condition that they oer anappropriate range o healthy products.


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41. Expand transportation and assistanceprograms or those who are not physi-cally able to get to supermarkets.

42. Ask community organizations toexpand community gardens and oodmarkets in targeted areas.

43. Strongly encourage the prolierationo programs such as Food Share andSecond Harvest.

44. Assist school boards to develop andimplement healthy eating programswhere ood is provided by the schoolsand prepared by students, frst intargeted areas and then expandedacross the GTA.

The programs available to the citizenso this city do not suciently encour-age active living.


45. Strongly support revitalizationprograms to improve the walk-ability oour streets, particularly in dead cityareas. All levels o government andpublic-private partnerships should

be involved.

46. Invest in ater-school programs thatemphasize physical activity. Besteorts should be made to expandthese programs in low-income areasso that more children can participate.

Our healthcare system is ocused moreon treatment than on health promotionand well-being.

We ask that:

47. Health-care proessionals rom variousdisciplines collaborate more eectivelyto educate patients and support theirhealthy living.

48. Health care proessionals putgreater emphasis on health promo-tion. Strategies should be holisticand include non-traditional health

practitioners.

49. Local Health Integration Networks(LHINs) create more amily andcommunity health centres, whichbetter combine primary care withhealth promotion activities.

50. The province amend physician paystructures to provide incentives basedon overall patient care and wellness

rather than the current ee-or-servicemodel.

Too ew Ontarians have access toprimary caregivers due to shortages oamily doctors, nurse practitioners, andintegrated community health services.We ask that government:

51. Partner with the Ontario HospitalAssociation, the College o Physiciansand Surgeons, and other proessionalassociations to take aggressive actionto expand residency programs or,and certifcation o, internationallyeducated doctors and other health-care proessionals.

52. Develop incentive programs thatencourage amily doctors and nursepractitioners to work in underservicedurban areas.

53. Immediately expand community healthcentres in City Three together withappropriate outreach programs.

54. Use the 2014 ederal-provincial healthaccord as an opportunity to implement

changes that will improve access or all.

Immigration,Diversity, &CultureThe current settlement process or

newcomers lacks clarity and coher-ence, specically with regard to theavailability and location o programsand services; this results in conu-sion or people trying to access theseimportant services.

We ask that the ederal government:

55. Provide more accessible, realistic,and honest inormation to newcomers

about what they can expect in Canada.This includes, but is not limited to,inormation concerning employment,bridging and training programs, legalissues, social services, and housing.

Skilled and proessional immigrantsoten nd it dicult to obtain employ-ment in their elds.


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We ask that:

56. Government increase oversight oprivate colleges and institutions toensure that they meet proessionaland trade standards or education andaccreditation.

57. Government require where possiblethat proessional or trade accredita-tion is initiated prior to the newcomersarrival, to ensure that newcomersreceive appropriate and timely employ-ment, avoid fnancial and emotionalstress ater arrival, and reduce duplica-tion o required documentation.

58. Government encourage the develop-ment o more English as a SecondLanguage (ESL) curricula geared tothe specialized requirements o manytechnological and proessional felds.

59. Businesses continue to deliberatelymentor newcomers or the Canadianemployment market, regarding thecultural and proessional expectationso their new environment.

60. Employers develop a air way to assess

and value international work experienc-es and education in order to acilitatethe employment o newcomers.

The city thrives on cultural and linguis-tic exchange. Its a source o pride orall residents, who are committed tosustaining communication and partici-pation throughout the city.

We ask that:

61. Government actively promote theresponsibilities that come withCanadian citizenship.

62. The Ministry o Education ensure thatthe relevant sections o elementary andsecondary school curricula encour-age students to study and embracecultural and religious diversity and thatthese curricula model strategies orconstructive dialogue or discussing

cultural and religious dierences.

63. School boards embrace cultural andreligious traditions in an equitable waythat promotes rather than discouragesconstructive dialogue about culturaland religious dierences.

64. Police and local government ofcialsengage in regular and direct dialogue

with a diverse range o residents andcommunity groups.

65. Community organizations host andsponsor multicultural events andcelebrations that are more acces-sible to residents rom dierent

backgrounds.

66. Local business communities andcommunity organizations sponsorcultural walks, such as Move-In TOto motivate potential renters andhomeowners to move into and exploreother neighbourhoods.

67. The Canadian Radio andTelecommunications Commissionexamine the easibility o requir-ing major Canadian media outletsto promote regional cultural events;meanwhile, media organizations shouldstep orward to provide aordableassistance in advertising such events.

HousingThere is an insucient supply oaordable housing in Toronto, whichdrives up prices or renting apartmentsand purchasing homes; as a result,mid- to low-income residents areincreasingly vulnerable.

We ask that City Hall:

68. Apply zoning and fnancial incentivesto encourage high density, high-, mid-,and low-rise developments and redevel-opment, including in-fll housing.

69. Intensiy mid-level residential andcommercial development on arterialroads as proposed by the AvenueStudy to support vibrant communities.

70. Reduce red tape or mid-levelresidential and commercial develop-ment to encourage more mid-leveldensity and provide services inproportion to the needs and density othe area.

Too many residents o Toronto spendan unsustainably high percentage (i.e.,more than 30%) o their annual incomeon housing. This spending trendcreates precarious conditions or thephysical health and nancial well-beingo individuals and communities.


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71. Pass enabling legislation so thatToronto can implement inclusionaryzoning requirements to mandate aproportion o aordable housing in allnew developments.

72. Use varied incentives to motivatedevelopers to create more aordablehousing: oer HST rebates, waive orreduce development ees, providebonuses or the development o heightand density, grant interest ree loans,and waive or reduce land-use applica-tion ees, park levies and hook-up ees.

73. In recognition o Torontos HousingFirst oundation o city-unded servicesand programs, persuade private devel-opers to support a revision o section37 o the Planning Act to earmark asignifcant percentage o those eesearned rom variations permitted in theheight and/or density o zoning by-lawsto a city-wide und or repair and devel-opment o aordable housing acrossthe city.

The tight housing market in Torontoand restrictive zoning laws contributeto create economically segregatedcommunities that oster isolationamong their residents.


74. Rezone existing tower-in-the-parkdevelopments to encourage mixed-income housing, retail, and commercialdevelopments to support a policy o

complete communities.

75. Introduce a means-tested rent subsidyor low-income Toronto residentsspending in excess o 30% o theirgross income on housing thethreshold o aordability as recog-nized by the Canada Mortgage andHousing Corporation.

Too many Torontonians live in substan-

dard and poorly maintained housing,creating stress and strain on amilies,as well as poor health outcomes orindividuals and communities.


76. Pass enabling legislation so Torontocan implement inclusionary zoningrequirements to mandate a propor-

tion o aordable housing in all newdevelopments.

77. Promote and continue to invest inTorontos Tower Renewal Program.

78. Rezone existing tower-in-the-park

developments to encourage mixed-income housing, retail, and commercialdevelopments to support a policy ocomplete communities.

79. Create a new municipal und to beused when rental properties are oundto be in violation o code. In suchcases, tenants will continue to paytheir rent but into the new munici-pal und rather than to the landlord.Property renovations and repairs willbe fnanced through this und, and anyremaining monies, less administrativeees, will be reunded to the landlordonce the unit has passed inspection.

Vulnerable populations are notadequately served by the current stocko housing in Toronto.


80. Establish partnerships to create moreaccessible housing or aging-in-place that meets the needs o thecitys aging population and respectsthe Accessibility or Ontarians withDisabilities Act.

81. Allow non-proft organizations to usetheir expertise and advocate or thecreation o more aordable, acces-sible, and appropriately designed

housing units, which would includesuch eatures within the unit as adjust-able kitchen counter and cookingsurace heights, in addition to basicmobility eatures such as suitablewheelchair access into the unit.


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Education &EquityStudents do not consistentlyand accurately see their identi-

ties refected in the curriculumcontent, delivery method, or in theirinstructors. We are also concernedwith growing economic dispari-ties between schools in dierentneighbourhoods.We ask that the Ministry o Education:

82. Support current initiatives to addressthe dropout rates at the secondary

level. We advise that data rom exist-ing studies concerning high schooldropout rates be used to createcommunity specifc programming orelementary students to address theseissues at an earlier stage.

83. Oer courses tailored to local schools,such as language and heritage classesand culturally-specifc art and literatureprograms, to better reect the diversity

o dierent neighbourhoods.84. Allow instructors with lie and/or job

experience to teach credit coursesin secondary schools. Alternatively,instructors might be paired with teach-ers to serve as role models rom dier-ent backgrounds and to provide morepractical instruction and mentorship.

85. Continue to advance classroom strate-gies that encourage the development o

innovation, critical thinking, creativity,and entrepreneurship in students K12.

Community spaces, elementary andsecondary schools could be used moreeectively to oster civic engagement.

We ask that schools:

86. Develop more ater-school hubssuch as Beyond 3:30, the Lawrence

Heights Middle School programeatured in the Vital Signs report.

87. Oer weekend programming oramilies, and or adults and newcomersto conduct skills-based training.

88. Coordinate adult education and skillsprogramming with colleges, business-es and community organizations,and trade associations that build on

existing adult education openings(e.g., TDSB/YMCA etc.).

89. Community organizations developpopular short courses and discussionopportunities on issues that aectthe daily lives o citizens, such as the

environment, transit, citizenship andhealth.

There is a lack o educational equity.Although the curriculum is standard-ized, schools have uneven access tounds, undraising capacity, extra-curricular activities, resources, andtechnology. City One schools haveadvantages that City Three schoolsdo not.


90. Support eorts to identiy areas oduplication o services and programswithin the separate and public schoolboards and encourage the boardsto work more closely together toprovide programs and acilities toincrease educational opportunities orstudents. In the long-term, we hope

that the provincial government willexplore the consolidation o the twopublicly unded school boards (andconsider the recent example set byNewoundland) in order to provideequitable unding and resources orall students.

91. Press the provincial government toprovide additional resources under itsunding ormula or schools in neigh-borhoods with pronounced socio-economic needs.

92. Create partnerships between groupso have and have not schools tocollaborate or undraising purposesin order to ensure that unds areallocated equally. This will guaran-tee that school-based extracurricularactivities, music and art programs,and technology are accessible to allstudents equally.

Too many students and amiliesmisjudge the range o job optionsavailable in todays job market. Thesemisinterpretations are connected tothe availability o educational choices.Less emphasis and prestige is placedon practical lie skills, trades, andtechnical skills at the K12 level.


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Funding or skills-based courses isdecreasing and the need is rising.


93. Work with industry partners to developa series o compulsory credit mini-

courses that allow students (grades712) to explore technical skills andtrades and to develop more practicallie skills such as home maintenance,nutritional awareness, and fnancialliteracy, including inormation aboutsubmitting tax returns, budgeting, andfnancial planning.

94. Actively promote employment andcareer opportunities with businesses

and trade associations alongsideuniversity and colleges via airs andschool visits. Furthermore, we recom-mend that these groups partner withpre-existing courses and programs tocreate more co-op spaces or studentsinterested in joining the next genera-tion o skilled workers.

95. Encourage guidance counsellors,parents, and teachers to advise youtho the ull range o job options (bothknowledge and skills-based) to instilappreciation or all jobs, careers, andtalents.

96. Make mandatory volunteer hoursmore meaningul and relevant bydirecting them to students interestsand career goals and provide bettersupport and instruction or thoseoering the placements.

97. Extend Take your kids to work daybeyond grade nine, so students willhave ongoing opportunities throughouttheir high school careers to broadentheir exposure to the workplace;businesses and community organi-zations should be encouraged towelcome students more enthusiastical-ly, so students can visit the workplaceo extended amily members andriends as well as that o a parent or

guardian.


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The Panel Members

Together, the members o the Toronto Residents Reerence Panel

on Household Income broadly match Torontos demographic prole.

Below you can read about each member, in his or her own words.

Andrea AlbertI am a frst-year student at the Universityo Toronto who has always been interestedin the media and politics. I was born andraised in Toronto. I love travelling, music,social networks, and every other thing anineteen-year-old could love. TV, movies,and ashion sidetrack my time, whichshould be more wisely used to read. I hopeI can learn a lot rom this and give my bestinput into the activities.

David BarryA resident o Toronto since I was a toddler,I grew up in northwest Etobicoke, thoughI was born in Saint John, New Brunswick.While attending the University o Toronto,I moved downtown, where I have livedever since. While fnishing my BA in politi-cal science and history, I became deeplyinvolved in student journalism. Upon gradu-ation, however, I returned to my frst loveo working with seniors (I volunteered ata nursing home while in high school andworked there part-time while in universityto help pay or school). For the past thirteenyears, I have worked in the recreationdepartment o another nursing home, asmall, amily-owned acility. I currentlyreside in Riverdale with my partner oourteen years, Alison. We share a passionor reading, attending cultural events(literary readings, opera, theatre, musicconcerts), and going or jaunts in our neigh-bourhood as well as adjoining parts o thecity. I am also an avid baseball an.

Mae BelvettI have been a resident o Toronto ormore than 30 years and currently live inScarborough. Presently, I am an admis-sions advisor or an academic institution

that oers graduate programs online, andI previously worked as a senior technicalanalyst at the Toronto Stock Exchange ormore than 18 years.

Maize BlanchardI have been living in the Jane-Finchneighbourhood or more than 20 years. I am60 years old. Im a community activist withACORN Canada, and a co-chair person othe organization. I also work with RTF andJane-Finch on the Move.

Sandra CarterI was born in Duluth, Minnesota, in1936. Most o my education was done inMinnesota. I taught at the University oMinnesota in the Department o MedicalTechnology (BS degree program) rom1964 through 1984. My husband and Imoved to Toronto in 1984 and lived in anapartment at Keele and Bloor. In 1986, webought our condo on Yonge at Davenport,and we still live there. I frst volunteered atSt. Christopher House in 1984, deliveringMeals on Wheels. Then I began volunteer-ing at the Kidney Foundation o Canada,which evolved into a ull-time job. Thiswas general ofce work and working withvolunteers on various projects. From1987 to 1996, I worked at the MichenerInstitute. I was production coordina-tor in the department o educationaldevelopment. Ater retirement I startedtaking classes in ACT II Studio, which ispart o Ryerson Universitys ContinuingEducation Department.

Helen ChangI was born in Seoul, South Korea. Myamily immigrated to Canada when I was ababy. I am now working as an operations


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coordinator but plan to open my ownbusiness in the uture. I have lived all overthe GTA, and lived abroad as well. I love totravel, read, and spend time with riendsand amily.

Roxana ChiriacI am a 21-year-old college student bornand raised in Bucharest, Romania. At tenyears old, I moved and settled with myamily in Toronto, Canada, where I obtainedmy Canadian citizenship. Im currentlyenrolled at Centennial College, where Icompleted my frst degree in communi-cations & media oundations, and I amnow studying Journalism. My calling is towrite. I aspire to be an author and journal-ist engaged in producing articles, books,scripts, novels, and photojournalism.My main ocus is theology; however, mymission includes supporting and enhancingactivist movements, non-proft organiza-tions, and raising awareness and changeagainst issues such as poverty, starvation,and exploitation, among other injustices. Ibelieve and ollow the teachings o Jesus,the Son o God. At the present moment Iam trying to get wocksee.com, my website,o the ground.

Marco CoviI am a graduate o the University oTorontos environmental policy program. Iam deeply involved in politics, especiallyas it pertains to Toronto and its well-beingas a city. I was born and raised in Torontoand eel a personal connection to theplight o the immigrant working class inthe inner suburbs, having grown up in animmigrant household and having livedin the west end (Jane/Sheppard) or halo my lie. I am deeply passionate aboutsocial justice issues. I was a consultantor Klippensteins Barristers & Solicitors,working on international and domesticmining issues with Aboriginal communi-ties. I hope one day to get my masters inurban planning, and I am deeply passion-ate about inrastructure and transit.

Luisa R. DouradoI was born in Mozambique, Arica, andcame to Canada in 1991. I moved to Torontoin 1993 and live in the Bathurst and St. ClairWest area. I am passionate about commu-nity health-care issues and have volun-teered or many non-proft organizations.

Steve FrieswickBorn in 1952, I moved to Toronto in 2002.I work as a teacher in outreach to the

immigrant community in west Toronto. I ampassionately committed to bringing hopeand a uture to the immigrant community othe west end. I am a riend o Jesus.

Avinash GardeBorn and raised in India, where I studied tobecome an architect, I worked in Singaporebeore deciding to move to Canada adecade ago. Unlike a lot o oreign-trainedproessionals in other felds, I have beenortunate to prosper in my chosen proes-sion. Along with my wie, who was born inTaiwan, I am proud to call Toronto home,a city whose population mirrors our ownmulticultural diversity. I am a sel-proessedpolitical junkie and passionate about urbanplanning and urban design and its impacton our society and social policy.

Stephen GilmoreI am a frst-generation Canadian oJamaican heritage, born and raised inToronto. My childhood was spent in therelatively new neighbourhood o Don Millsat a time when Toronto was somewhat lessdiverse. I currently work or the Provinceo Ontario as an IT manager. My interestsinclude music, photography, and martialarts, and I am the married ather o a recenthigh school graduate.

Manred W. GittBorn in Berlin, Germany, in 1933,I immigrated to Canada in 1953. Aterworking or several years, in 1957 I enrolledin the School o Architecture at theUniversity o Manitoba, where I obtaineda bachelor o architecture degree in 1962.From 1962 to 1965, I worked in Winnipegon residential and institutional projects. In1965, I moved to Toronto, where I designeda number o residential, commercial, andinstitutional projects including the GuelphUniversity Centre. Between 1969 and 1971,while living in Georgetown, Guyana, I devel-oped a construction system or secondaryschools and designed six schools basedon that system. From 1976 to 1978, whileliving in England, I designed a new univer-sity in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, and in 1979,while living in Kaduna, Nigeria, I devel-oped a master plan or the Nigeria DeenceAcademy. In 1982, I joined the OntarioMinistry o Government Services, whereI held several positions until I retired assenior consultant, ofce & interior design,in 1998. I am married and have one son.


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Carol GordonBorn in Newoundland, I currentlylive in North York with my husband,daughter, and son. I am a winner o theGovernor Generals Medal or AcademicAchievement. My career is in fnancialservices, and currently I am the vicepresident, audit services, at the OntarioTeachers Pension Plan. I am a charteredaccountant (CA) and a chartered fnancialanalyst (CFA).

Mario GranozioI was born and raised in Toronto by Italianimmigrants. I have been living all my lie onMontrose Avenue and College Street. Since1956, I have seen many changes. I wentto school up to grade 12 in the 905 area.Also at a young age my parents put me inItalian and music school. I now have theprivilege o speaking Italian and Spanishuently. Then I met my wie on holiday inMexico in 1983. I married her and had a sonin 1990. Since I fnished school, I have beensel-employed in our dierent businesses.I also owned and managed three propertiesor 20 years. I am currently on a fve-yeardisability pension.

Chris GreenBorn in Oakville, Ontario, in 1956, I movedto Toronto when I was 19 and have lived invarious neighbourhoods o Toronto overthe subsequent 35 years. I have workedin a group home, partnered a renovationcompany, and ended up in the engineeringproession. I started my education at theUniversity o Toronto in liberal arts, study-ing philosophy and sociology, but eventu-ally switched to engineering to obtain mydegree. I am now director o advancedengineering in an alternative uels automo-tive company. I am a lucky husband, theproud ather o two sons, and have beenthe servant to a number o dogs that Ithought I was the master o. I am currentlyliving in North Toronto.

Parviz HabibI was born and raised in Nairobi, Kenya,and am a mother o two adult sons. In 2009,I made Toronto my home ater living inDar es Salaam, Tanzania. I am a qualifedcommunity services worker with a passionor working with seniors.

Karen HeiszI am a part-time secondary school scienceteacher with the TCDSB, and I volunteerwith the Toronto Region ConservationAuthority, Rouge Park, and my community

association. I am close to completing theSustainable Urban Horticulture certif-cate program oered by the Universityo Guelph and believe that everyone canimprove our city by creating and savinggreen spaces, planting native plants toimprove biodiversity, and reconnecting kidsto nature. I also love sewing, needlework,and gardening.

Margaret Jackson(No biography submitted)

Mina LadewigI was born in Mexico City, the EternalSpring city. I came to Toronto becauseI got married, and I have lived here oralmost three years. I believe in communi-cation and justice. I wrote a book aboutThe Tonalpohualli, better known as theAztec calendar. I have a deep respector Mayan and Aztec knowledge, andall kind o cultures. I fnished a courseabout Profciency in Spanish Languageand Culture at Centennial College. Iwould like to have another career inorganizational communication. My feldis related to education and languages. Iam a tourist guide as well; I can explainall the Mayan archaeological sites. I amvery interested in sel-development andimprovement, motivation, and leadership.I love reading about the Vedic culture,especially the Bhagavad Gita and theSrimad Bhagavatam. I have two wonder-ul daughters: the eldest is a psychologistand the youngest a communicator. I knowthat amily and values are the oundationo society, and we need to work hard todevelop respect, equity, and understandingin a multicultural city.

Vivian LowI am in my fnal year at Ryerson Universityor business management. I am a womensrights advocate and animal lover, I volunteeror the universitys womens Centre, and Iregularly attend events held by the TorontoVegetarian Association. My interestsinclude gaming and (writer) Alan Moore.

Heather MacKayI am a transplanted Maritimer who cameor a job, met and married my husbandhere, and stayed to make Toronto my homeand to establish my amily. I have a variedbackground in the private practice o lawand now in a large public sector organiza-tion. My education encompasses degreesin science, business, and law. My passions


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include eco-riendly gardening, gourmetcooking with local ood, environmental andurban issues, and enjoying all this city hasto oer! I had been looking or an opportu-nity to directly contribute to better my city,so when the invite came to our home orthis panels work, I was eager to volunteer.Working with my ellow citizens throughoutthis process has been an amazing experi-ence. For me, it has demonstrated thecapacity o citizens to grapple with toughissues, to provide thoughtul, holistic, andresponsible recommendations that canvasa variety o approaches and ideas withoutgetting bogged down with partisan politi-cal agendas or special interests. I hope weset an example or more eective citizenengagement going orward.

Richard (Rick) MackenzieI originally moved to Toronto rom Ottawain 1968 to attend the University o Toronto.Apart rom a brie absence to completemy law degree in Ottawa, I have lived inToronto ever since. I pursued a careerin law, practising frst with a couple odowntown law frms and subsequentlywith a ew large Canadian companies. In2010, I retired rom the Bank o Montrealater 25 years o service, where I was vicepresident, law & associate general counsel,responsible or the banks legal services ona global basis. I have subsequently ocusedon charitable activities and currently sit onthe boards and related committees or theCanadian Red Cross, St. John Ambulance,and the Art o Time Ensemble. Through mywork with the Red Cross I have becomeincreasingly knowledgeable and involvedin health-care issues aecting Canadians.While in Toronto I have owned three homesand currently live with my wie in an apart-ment near the Humber River. I have a stronginterest in community aairs and remain anactive supporter o the arts in Toronto.

Majid MehdizadehjaariI am originally rom Iran. I have been inToronto or about two years. Beore, I waseducated in the United States. I am attend-ing this program to learn. While I dont knowi I have been useul, I hope that I have.

Ian S. MillerI was born and raised in Montreal, Quebec.Ater graduating rom McGill University witha bachelor o commerce degree, I qualifedas a chartered accountant in 1962. Over a40-plus year career with IBM, Royal Banko Canada, Canada Mortgage and HousingCorporation, and Bank o Nova Scotia, I

specialized in fnancial inormation systems.My personal interests include spendingtime with amily especially at our cottage participating in community activi-ties, public speaking via ToastmastersInternational, and travelling the world. Iam currently board chair o NewtonbrookUnited Church and a long-time membero the Silverview Community Association.With my wie, Edna, I have three childrenand seven grandchildren.

Jonathan MousleyI was born to immigrant parents and raisedin the Don Mills area o Toronto. I currentlyreside near Don Mills and Sheppard andcommute by subway downtown, whereI work as a senior economist and managerwith the Ontario government. I have longbeen active in the local community, servingas vice president o Don Mills ResidentsInc., Torontos largest residents associa-tion. I am also chair o the new Don MillsFamily Health Team, a growing non-proftinterdisciplinary health team. It comprisesseveral physicians, along with other health-care proessionals, all working under oneroo to deliver primary health-care servicesto the residents o Don Mills and area. I alsoserve as chair o Manantial NeighbourhoodServices, a non-proft charitable organi-zation that provides crisis interventionand newcomer integration services toLatin American immigrants in northwestToronto. Manantial is particularly ocusedon serving the needs o youth and womenvictims o domestic and other violence,as well as providing leadership programsand activities or youth and seniors. I wasalso ounder and chair o the frst HeritageConservation District in the Riverdale areao Toronto, where I used to live. I have anabiding interest in making Torontoa better city!

Roumiana Moutaova(No biography submitted)

Matthew MoyaI am in my third year at RyersonUniversity, studying Business TechnologyManagement. I hope to work towards anMBA ater this is done, preerably overseas.In the uture I would love to ulfll my child-hood dream o becoming a high-schoolteacher. I am passionate about businessmanagement, and the opportunities thatthe Ted Rogers School o Managementhas presented me with endless possibili-ties. One o these opportunities is beinga student in the schools Co-operative


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Education Program, which has allowedme to experience working with the AllstateCanada Group, and the Toronto TransitCommission. I was born and raised in thiswonderul city, and I hope to broaden myknowledge and understanding o it byalways being involved in my community.I applied to join the Toronto ResidentsReerence Panel to learn more about thecity and the issues it aces today. Theseissues are becoming increasingly impor-tant to me because Ill soon have my ownhousehold income. By taking part in a panellike this, I hoped to listen to the opinionso others in the community and gain aresh perspective o the city I call home.Ultimately, I hope to participate in solvingthe issues that aect the most people.

Nadia NaqviI am a 31-year-old Pakistani Canadian. Iwas born and raised in Scarborough andhave lived there or almost all my lie. Irecently purchased my own home in NorthYork just over a year ago. I completed myBA rom the University o Toronto, ocusingon employment relations and English. I ampresently an HR manager or Home Depotand truly enjoy my occupation! My personalinterests include lots o reading, eating,shopping, and spending time with myamily and riends. I love the city o Torontoand eel very lucky to be Canadian. I lookorward to fnally getting more involved inthe community and social issues and justbeing more inormed o whats going on inour city!

Basil OnyenanuI was born 41 years ago in Nigeria andmoved to Canada two years ago. I ammarried, have a degree in business admin-istration, and love meeting people, readinghistory, and listening to the news. I also lovemusic, sports activities, and charity work.I am an active member o Grace CovenantChapel International in the department oprayer and usher.

Bob PapadopoulosI am a resident o Toronto (Leslieville) ormore than 12 years and a sel-employedproessional engineer. I enjoy exercisingand painting (oils and acrylics) during myspare time. My avourite book is The Iliad byHomer, and I can walk on my hands.

Maria PintoI have been a resident o Toronto my entirelie. My parents were both born in Italy andmoved to Canada when they were young.

I am a frst-generation Canadian and wasraised in Etobicoke. I am currently enrolledat Mohawk College in Hamilton, Ontario, inthe urban and regional planning technician-GIS program. Additionally, I graduatedrom McMaster University with a bachelorshonours degree in human geography. Icurrently commute to Hamilton every dayvia GO train. I have been employed atZellers as a oor associate since 2004 andin 20102011 worked as a receptionist at adental ofce.

Portia SantucciI was born in Hamilton, Ontario, grew upin Ancaster, and then moved to Torontoto attend university at the University oToronto. In 2002, I graduated with anhonours BA in cultural anthropology andenvironmental science. Upon graduationI began working with recent immigrantsand reugees in the GTA, which led me toearn a Teachers o English as a SecondLanguage certifcate. For several yearsI worked in every aspect o ESL teach-ing, including teaching or the LanguageInternational program, teaching internation-al students and proessionals, and workingas a language coach or business execu-tives. During this time, I was also studyingtraditional Chinese medicine at the TorontoSchool o Traditional Chinese Medicine,and in June 2011 I graduated with a diplomao acupuncture and certifcates in herbalmedicine and tui na massage. I currentlywork as a traditional Chinese medicinepractitioner in both Toronto and Hamilton.

Bill Surgenor(No biography submitted)

Brandie WeikleI am a ull-time working mother o twoboys. I live in the west end and workor TheToronto Staras the parentingand relationships editor or the Liesection and editor o TheStars parentingwebsite, parentcentral.ca.

Cara WorthingtonI am a registered nurse, now retired, andhave lived in Toronto since the early 1950s.Ater working at a ew hospitals, I joinedthe Victorian Order o Nurses (VON) andseemed to fnd my niche: a combinationo nursing and social work, with a glimpseo the changes in immigration that were totransorm the city. When my husband andI married, we moved to Willowdale, wherewe raised our three children, and havelived or 50 years. We were both involved


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in community activities, such as Brownies,Cubs, Girl Guides, Home and School, andRatepayers. We encouraged our children toplay various sports and we were happy orour one daughter when she was selectedor the Canadian Olympic team. I returnedto nursing part-time, and also some teach-ing as the nursing profle began to change.Since retirement, I have been able to enjoytraveling and observing other cultures,always with a nurses eye, and volunteeropportunities such as Hope Air, a charitythat helps getting Canadians to gettingbetter by ying clients rom remote areasto larger medical acilities or treatment. Iam still involved with our local Ratepayers,hoping to keep our part o Willowdale aliveable area or amilies. I enjoyed myparticipation in the group, and meeting theother interesting participants, and o coursethe sta rom MASS LBP.

Irene YeomansI am 76 years o age and a mother o three,with nine grandchildren and one great-grandson. I am retired but am an activevolunteer in my church community and Iwork with people who have low vision.


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Consenting Opinions

At the conclusion o the program, each panellist was invited to submit

a personal statement concerning any point o view or recommendation

they wished to see included in the report. The ollowing statements do

not represent the views o the panel.

Heather MacKayFinancial incentives or new developmentneed to be scaled against a multiacetedset o criteria, which would ensure thatdevelopment charges appropriately coveradditional inrastructure burdens relativeto increased residential density.

The municipal government would needto careully design any incentive programsto encourage developers to expand thestock o aordable housing. Incentivespolicies used in other cities should beexamined. These policies should also betargeted in a way that motivates develop-ers to provide aordable housing or bothmiddle- and low-income earners in bothCity Two and City Three. Co-ordinationo both planning and fnancial aspectsacross municipal departments would becrucial. In addition, the municipal govern-ment could examine whether some oits existing social housing budget mightbe leveraged to und some portion othis incentive approach to conserve city

revenues.

Concerning civic engagement,I would

like to recommend that:

1. Municipal government and city sta

establish better mechanisms or earlyand eective citizen engagementon signifcant civic initiatives, policyand program reorms, and budgetaryplanning.

2. Citizen panel processes such as theone rom which this report arose i.e.,randomly selected real citizens vs.political insiders/special interest groups

be adopted by government andused more regularly.

3. Hold public consultations at dierenthours o weekdays i.e., meetingsoutside o 9 a.m.5 p.m.

4. Use social media and digital surveytools more eectively to gather citizeneedback rom other avenues.

Richard MacKenzieBoth o the ollowing minority opinions arerooted in the Inclusive and Equity valuesexpressed by the panel to guide its delib-erations and shape its recommendations.

As a member o the group respon-sible or addressing issues relating to theEconomy, Taxation, and Employment,I ound there to be insufcient time todebate and reach a consensus on manyo the recommendations relating to thiscategory o municipal challenges. WhileI agree with the premise that states,Current tax policies do not raise sufcientrevenue to support the entire citys needs,and the resulting recommendations, Iwould encourage the recommendations togo urther. Recommendation #1 calls orthe ederal and provincial governments tocreate a more progressive tax system asthe solution to generate more tax revenuethat would ultimately be allocated down tothe provinces municipalities. Even i thisis possible, I do not agree that it is eitherrealistic or achievable or the municipalgovernment to always look to other levelso government to solve its revenue short-alls. While increased user ees and roadtolls are two o several possible means o


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raising tax revenue, the major source ocity tax revenue remains property taxes. IToronto needs additional revenue to meetits obligations, it should not hesitate toraise property taxes directly or indirectlythrough improvements to the market valueassessment system. Ater all, propertytaxes represent another orm o progres-sive taxation in that wealthy residentstypically own more expensive homes andshould be prepared to pay more in taxesor that privilege. I also think the marketvalue assessment system should beimproved so that the assessment cycle isshortened and people in older homes donot continue to beneft by paying taxeson a lower tax base when compared topeople owning newer homes. Everyoneshould be treated equally.

Another part o the solution to themunicipal governments unding require-ments is its public sector employees. Formany years now, municipal politicianshave been buying peace by agreeing towage and beneft settlements that are bothexcessive when compared to the privatesector and unsustainable given Torontostax base. I would recommend that thecitys management and unions equallyrecognize that they also bear responsibil-ity or the citys fnancial problems andagree to adopt a more reasonable andconstrained position in their uture wageand beneft demands on the city andits taxpayers.

On Education and EquityThere are a number o excellent recom-mendations made under each o thereports discussion points. I do haveconcerns, however, with several o therecommendations relating to changes tothe citys public school curriculum andcalendar involving cultural and religiousdiversity, traditional holidays, customs,and cross-cultural events. Studies onculture and religion are appropriate withina larger curriculum on world religion andculture, which should expose everyoneequally to issues o diversity and multi-culturalism. I the concerns expressedare that specifc cultures and religions arenot adequately represented within thiscurriculum, then it should be reviewedand improved. However, I do not think thepublic school system should be used tobeneft certain religious or cultural groupsat the expense o others.

Cara WorthingtonThe need to maintain and grow the GTAas a more environmentally sustainable cityremains urgent.

I would like to recommend that:

5. Government work to reduce gridlockand its attendant pollution by incen-tivizing drivers to take public transit.Drivers should be encouraged byincentives rather than dissuaded bypenalties although road pricing (asimplemented in London, U.K.) mightalso be considered.

6. The City should immediately addmore and saer bike lanes, making

use o hydro corridors, parks, andneighbourhood routes, in addition tomajor roadways.

7. New transit should prioritize environ-mentally responsible alternatives, suchas hybrid buses and streetcars, anduse renewable uel sources.

8. The City improve existing recyclingand composting programs,and expandthem to high-

toronto residents panel final report 1up

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