ACTRA Toronto Votes: Mayoral Candidate Comparison Source: Toronto Star s Mayoral Election Promise Tracker Arts, Culture & Festivals ARTS FUNDING Increase arts funding to $25 per capita per year MUSIC OFFICE/CULTURAL CLUSTERS Establish a city music office and support the development of cultural clusters and emerging cultural scenes CULTURAL SPACES Ensure access to affordable, sustainable cultural spaces SUPPORT CULTURAL SECTOR Promote our cultural sector as a key pillar of our economy, and make the mayor s office an active participant in building on the sector and positioning the city as a leading global competitor Attend the Pride parade ARTS FUNDING Voted against giving city money to Pride, Toronto International Film Festival, Art Gallery of Ontario, Caribbean Carnival, Canadian Opera Company and National Ballet of Canada. COMMUNITY FESTIVALS AND SPECIAL EVENTS Voted against city grants to help small and mediumscale community-based not-for-profit festivals and events PERFORMANCE SPACES Advocated for the sell-off of City-owned performance spaces including Sony Centre, the Toronto Centre for the Performing Arts and the St. Lawrence Centre Decline to attend the Pride parade CULTURE Responsible for the creation of Toronto s Poet Laureate Attend the Pride parade Attend the Pride parade MUSIC OFFICE Support the creation of a stand-alone Music Office LIVE MUSIC Work with the live music community to attract more music tourists to Toronto OUTDOOR FESTIVALS Work with the Music Community to Create a Plan for a more active Outdoor Festival Schedule Attend the Pride parade
City Programs, Services, Assets, Gun Control Defer development charges on affordable housing units for 10 years or longer to encourage their construction; fast-track new building on vacant land on existing tower sites; launch pilot project to have seniors housing be run by a stakeholder-governed corporation rather than the Toronto Community Housing Corp. Expand after-school recreation and care (ARC) program to cover at least 1,200 more children EAST OF YONGE ST Do not proceed immediately with outsourcing garbage collection east of Yonge St.; a few years of analysis required to assess private collection west of Yonge Oppose sale of Toronto Hydro EAST OF YONGE ST Outsource garbage collection east of Yonge St., as council did west under his leadership Support the sale of 10 per cent of Toronto Hydro, no more Do not push for handgun ban, since police already have the resources to effectively fight crime. Supports developers including affordable housing units in larger development projects EAST OF YONGE ST Outsource garbage collection in half of the territory east of Yonge St., have city employees continue to collect in the other half Says Hydro lease would not be good idea but supported partial sale while on council and calls it a fair idea ; no other position/proposals yet Do not push for handgun ban, since they have not proven effective elsewhere. Supports developers including affordable housing units in larger development projects Lease school board properties that may be put up for sale, then borrow money to improve sports fields that are in poor condition; outsource the field-permit process EAST OF YONGE ST. Sell a majority stake in Toronto Hydro Do not push for handgun ban, since council already asked the federal government to impose such a ban during the last term of council No proposals/positions yet. EAST OF YONGE ST. Outsource garbage collection east of Yonge St. Says he is wary of fire sales, and views Hydro sale in that category; no other position/proposals yet Do not push for handgun ban, since handguns are already tightly regulated Ask the federal government to ban handguns
Fiscal Policy, Economy, Jobs Retain the land transfer tax Keep property tax increases in line with or around the rate of inflation; reduce small-business tax rates by 2.5 per cent by 2020 Create 5,000 jobs by requiring businesses involved in capital projects that cost $50 million or more to sign community benefits agreements to hire Toronto residents under the age of 24; approach the business community to ask employers to match the city s efforts to create jobs for young people Create regional economic development body called Global Toronto, which would incorporate the current Invest Toronto; launch Mayor s Council on the Economy and Jobs; create program to help immigrant entrepreneurs launch businesses and help existing businesses export. (See also: Red Tape, Youth Cut the land transfer tax Keep property tax increases a lot lower than the rate of inflation. (See also: Red Tape, Youth Reform the land transfer tax by indexing the tax brackets to inflation in housing prices, thereby reducing the tax burden if prices continue to rise Continue reducing apartment and commercial tax rates past the scheduled 2015 end date for the reductions; proceed until rates are competitive with neighbouring municipalities Copy San Francisco s entrepreneur-inresidence program, matching eight technology startups per year with city departments to solve specific problems; improve and formalize regional cooperation, including by sharing services with other municipalities; convene productivity summit to hasten infrastructure construction; endorse cluster-focused approach, have city councillors embed with particular industries. (See also: Red Tape, Youth Reduce the burden of the land transfer tax by raising the threshold levels at which the escalating rates apply Keep property tax increases within the rate of inflation Persuade the provincial government to abolish tax rebate for vacant commercial and industrial properties; create an Office of the Development Facilitator to resolve development disputes before they end up at the Ontario Municipal Board; create a Mayor s Office of the Toronto Ambassador to work with immigrant professionals and entrepreneurs; merge four city-owned entities into one entrepreneur-focused agency, Start Up Toronto (See also: Red Tape, Youth Retain the land transfer tax Keep residential property tax increases at or below the rate of inflation; continue reducing the ratio of commercial taxes to residential taxes Work to double the number of companies participating in the Partnership to Advance Youth Employment (PAYE) program; personally act as youth employment ambassador Create special investment zone along new Scarborough subway, reducing property taxes for 10 years to encourage businesses to locate there; continue reducing apartment and commercial tax rates past the scheduled 2015 end date for the reductions; support major proposed office development on East Don Lands, which is contingent on realignment of Gardiner Expressway; merge Invest Toronto, the Greater Toronto Marketing Alliance, and the city s economic development department. (See also: Red Tape, Youth
Planning & Development Reject the Porter Airlines proposal for jets and an expanded runway at the island airport Support the Eglinton Connects street renovation project Plant 100,000 trees per year, with the cost covered by increasing the amount of money the city charges businesses for treating discharges of nitrogen, phosphorous; allow people to get parks permits online; help Friends Of parks groups, including by waiving fees for their fundraising events; establish public art foundation to raise money from private individuals and companies Approve the Porter Airlines proposal for jets and an expanded runway at the island airport Cancel the Eglinton Connects street renovation project Support the Porter Airlines proposal if certain conditions are met Support the Eglinton Connects street renovation project Consider turning Dentonia golf course into a public park with cricket pitch; eliminate need for permits for Friends Of parks groups; identify locations for alternative parks; promote the creation of park conservancies, non-profit corporations dedicated to specific parks; stick to existing Downsview Park plan Support island airport expansion if certain conditions are met, won t comment on jets. (Previously rejected the proposals for jets and runway expansion.) Support the Eglinton Connects street renovation project Opposed immediate decision on Porter Airlines proposal for jets and an expanded runway at the island airport; says dozens of key questions remain unanswered Calls the Eglinton Connects street renovation project a non-starter because it may increase traffic congestion on adjacent streets Spend up to $7 million more per year on city treeplanting, for a total of $14 million by 2019, and have the city and other groups plant a total of 3.8 million trees over 10 years Accessibility REDUCED TTC FARE Create a reduced TTC fare for people receiving Ontario Disability Support Program funds, if the province provides increases funding for TTC operations REDUCED TTC FARE Find the money to make all TTC stations accessible; create a reduced TTC fare for students, elderly and people receiving Ontario Disability Support Program funds ACCESSIBLE TTC Put elevators in every TTC subway station by 2025 Act to eliminate barriers faced by city employees who have disabilities ACCESSIBLE TTC Build fully accessible stations for the Scarborough extension to the Bloor-Danforth subway Create a reduced TTC fare for people receiving Ontario Disability Support Program funds
Accessibility WHEEL-TRANS Purchase more Wheel- Trans buses DISABILITY ISSUES COMMITTEE Increase frequency of meetings of Disability Issues Committee; meet directly twice a year PLAIN LANGUAGE Use plain language and plain design in city hall communications DISABILITY ISSUES COMMITTEE Have minutes from Disability Issues Committee go directly to city council PLAIN LANGUAGE Use plain language in city hall communications PLAIN LANGUAGE Use plain language in city hall communications PLAIN LANGUAGE Use plain language in city hall communications Transit Cancel the councilapproved and fully funded three-stop Scarborough RT, cancel the related tax increase, and build the cheaper and fully-funded seven-stop overground rail extension that was originally planned Expand bus service by 10 per cent at rush hour; build a downtown relief line subway. (Says dedicated property tax levy, like the 1.6 per cent levy Ford imposed for the Scarborough subway, could pay for the city s portion of the relief line.) Build the council-approved and fully funded three-stop Scarborough RT Extend the Sheppard Ave. subway rather than build the council-endorsed light rail line, then build a subway on Finch Ave. rather than the councilendorsed light rail line, then build a downtown relief line subway. (Has not explained funding plan.) Cancel the councilapproved and fully funded three-stop Scarborough RT, cancel the related tax increase, and build the cheaper and fully-funded seven-stop light rail extension that was originally planned. Devote money saved by the subway cancellation to the downtown relief line subway (which he calls the commuter relief line ) and other transit projects. (Says he would fund the rest of the city s portion of the project with a dedicated property tax levy if necessary.) Build the council-approved and fully funded three-stop Scarborough RT Build a downtown relief line subway. (Says eastern portion of the line can be funded through sale of Toronto Hydro, $3 levy on parking in downtown Green P garages, $700 million from parking authority revenue, $330 million from traffic-enforcement revenue) Build the council-approved and fully funded three-stop Scarborough RT Create a 53-kilometre, 22-stop, $8-billion surface rail line, the SmartTrack, largely on existing GO Transit tracks. (Says at least $2.5 billion would be raised through tax increment financing, in which money is raised through borrowing and paid back from increases in property taxes on land near the stations.)
Transportation & Traffic Explore hybrid proposal to reconfigure the eastern Gardiner Expressway rather than tear it down or preserve the existing expressway; says proposal is promising Supports Open Streets events for which roads are closed to cars on certain summer days. Would launch Target Zero effort to try to eliminate pedestrian deaths. Make improvements to all 100 of the city s most dangerous intersections for pedestrians; allow entire neighbourhoods, not just individual streets, to request 10 km/h reductions to the speed limit Preserve the eastern Gardiner Expressway rather than tearing it down Opposes Open Streets events for which roads are closed to cars on certain summer days. No proposals yet.. Says he accepts bike lanes downtown, but not in the suburbs Says he would suggest maintaining the east Gardiner until funded transit is available in the area ; also willing to consider the hybrid proposal reconfigure the expressway rather than tear it down or maintain the existing expressway Supports Open Streets events for which roads are closed to cars on certain summer days. No proposals yet. Allow free transit trips between 6 am and 7 am; eliminate on-street parking on major downtown streets like Bloor, College, and University, and build up to eight parking garages on city-owned lots to compensate for loss of on-street parking; hire a veteran of the construction industry as a policy advisor on infrastructure, road repairs and transit construction; create a single council transportation committee, hire a Chief Transportation Officer; test proof-ofpayment boarding on buses and streetcars Pursue hybrid proposal to reconfigure the eastern Gardiner Expressway rather than tear it down or preserve the existing expressway Invest $38.5 million over five years to install U of T-developed intelligent traffic light system on half of the city s lights; appoint a single czar to oversee transportation issues. Says the city should build a network of bike lanes Pursue hybrid proposal to reconfigure the eastern Gardiner Expressway rather than tear it down or preserve the existing expressway No proposals/positions yet Create queue-jumping bus lanes outside downtown; implement zero tolerance towing policy for delivery trucks parking at curb during rush hour; explore use of water taxis on Lake Ontario; add new express buses; test U of T-developed intelligent traffic light system on 10 congested streets; redeploy residential parking enforcement officers downtown during rush hour; create a major route construction coordination committee to combat overlapping road work; consider 24/7 construction contracts to shorten construction period.. Says he opposes anything that will increase drivers commute times, supports separated bike lanes where practical
Transportation & Traffic Deploy smart traffic lights at 10 more intersections; crack down on drivers blocking intersections; reduce road-lane closures by requiring companies to pay increasing fees the longer the work continues, fining companies for blocking lanes when no work is occurring; hire a traffic liaison in the mayor s office Double bike lane funding, accelerate completion of current 10-year plan; accelerate construction by using pilot projects, tendering environmental assessments in bulk, other methods; add $3 million to budget every year to improve the city s 100 hotspots for safety incidents; increase availability of bike parking Build 200 kilometres of bike lanes in four years; fast-track pilot projects for separated bike lanes downtown; add bike parking at transit stations; urge Transport Canada to make side guards mandatory on trucks; in second half of mayoral term, add $1 million per year to capital budget to improve trails in parks and ravines Elections & Governance End campaign-donation rebates to non-residents, in time for the 2018 election Oppose ranked ballots for municipal elections Support ranked ballots for municipal elections Support ranked ballots for municipal elections No firm position; very open to the discussion
Elections & Governance Allow businesses to obtain licenses online rather than only at single East York office Improve business licensing system: allow businesses to pay fee after one year rather than at registration; eliminate obsolete or unnecessary license categories; allow businesses to register online or at additional locations Release full schedule of public events, voluntarily report any absences from work; lead the world in data transparency by releasing more government data sets than any other city by 2018. Increase funding to city watchdogs (such as integrity commissioner and ombudsman); develop inspector-general system that would work with existing watchdogs, help speed up urgent investigations Outsource sports-fieldpermit process, which she says will make it easier to obtain permits; merge transportation-related departments into one new agency Cut in half the time it takes to secure approvals for foreign investment project; reduce unspecified business regulations by 20 per cent; support creation of standalone city music office to make it easier for the industry to deal with city hall; issue report card on red tape Make schedule public, hold media availabilities at least weekly. Annually double the number of data sets made available through the city s open-data