Libraries, child nutrition, Toronto Zoo: Final report suggests deepest cuts yet

The final consultant’s report on city services suggests massive cuts to arm’s-length agencies, including closing libraries, cutting public health programs for AIDS prevention and student nutrition, eliminating $47 million in grants to arts and public health, and selling the Toronto Zoo.

Also on the block are Exhibition Place, the $20 million Toronto Atmospheric Fund that provides environmental grants, TTC routes including night bus service, and public housing improvement loans.

Even if city council votes for a fraction of the several hundred millions of dollars in suggested cuts, the cuts suggested by city-hired consultants KPMG could transform the city.

Mayor Rob Ford declined to use the words “service cuts” when asked about the suggestions shortly after release of the report, which goes to his executive committee next Thursday.

“We’re finding efficiencies, that’s what the taxpayers want,” the mayor told reporters during unveiling of the new TTC “Rocket” trains at Downsview subway station. “Taxpayers have given me direction and they don’t want us to increase their taxes by 20 per cent.”

Ford declined to pinpoint any specific services that would be reduced, saying it’s “very early in the process.”

Zoo chief executive John Tracogna welcomed a conversation about cutting direct ties between City Hall and the zoo.

“The report is clear in that more independence is the direction many zoos are following,” he said. “If you look at some of the best zoos and aquariums in North America, they are almost all run by separate organizations.”

Suggestions in the latest of the eight reports covering all city services and agencies include:

 • “Rationalize the footprint of libraries to reduce service levels, closing some branches” to save up to $13.3 million. Also, reduce daily hours and days of operations for all branches.

 •  Eliminate public health’s $6.2-million Community Partnership and Investments Program, and with it 685 student nutrition programs which provides meal subsidies for low-income children, 42 AIDS prevention programs and 38 community drug prevention projects.

 •  Eliminate the dental health program.

 •  Consider reducing or eliminating all of the city’s $47 million in grants, including those for arts programs and community safety programs. Such a move, KPMG wrote, would “potentially” hurt “vulnerable individuals.” Ford annually votes against the grants.

 •  Sell Exhibition Place or privatize its operations.

 •  Negotiate into the contract with Toronto police officers the ability to have “one-officer patrols (and) reduced salary and benefits, retirement benefits and shift overlap.” Also freeze police hiring and entice older officers to take buyouts.

 •  Privatize some TTC bus routes, roll back service improvements on crowding standards and frequency of arrivals, consider eliminating “Blue Night” overnight bus service or charging a premium fare, contract out more Wheel Trans service and/or make criteria stricter for it so fewer disabled people qualify. Also sell off TTC parking lots.

 •  Reduce or eliminate the capacity to develop new affordable housing given the low level of senior government funding.

 •  Consider selling or leasing city-owned “Green P” parking lots. Install a system so drivers can pay through a cellphone.

 •  Consider eliminating Housing Improvement Loans program or delivering through third party or community agency.

 •  Run the city’s theatres — Sony Centre, St. Lawrence Centre and Toronto Centre for the Arts — through a single board, and consider selling one or more. KPMG singles out the Centre for the Arts for sale.

 •  Integrate the Waterfront Secretariat’s work with city planning

With files from Paul Moloney, Daniel Dale and Donovan Vincent

Consider reducing or eliminating all of the city’s $47 million in grants, including those for arts programs and community safety programs. Such a move, KPMG wrote, would “potentially” hurt “vulnerable individuals.” Ford annually votes against the grants, which he derides as “free money,” though he has frequently been the only member of council to oppose them.

Origin
Source: Toronto Star