Talking to the City of Toronto
The City of Toronto plays a large role in the life of its residents, delivering a wide range of services and programs from police and fire services to housing, parks and social services. There are also new opportunities and priorities from a new relationship with other orders of government, to the rejuvenation of Toronto’s waterfront, to a city-wide architectural and cultural renaissance. Everything hinges on reinvesting in the public realm, including transit, affordable housing, and programs that build strong, safe communities. There are a number of ideas of how you can enhance your organization’s ability to engage the new administration.
1. Why talk to the City of Toronto?
The City of Toronto is the fifth largest government by population in North America and has a $10 billion dollar impact on the economy through its annual operating and capital budget. The City of Toronto under the new mayor, has made a commitment to a number of new approaches to engage the residents of Toronto, for example, the recently announced Roundtable on a Beautiful City and the ‘Listening to Toronto’ budget participation sessions. In addition to the new mayor, twenty-five per cent of City Council councillors were newly elected in 2003. The city is in the process of securing new revenue sources and new powers through a ‘new deal’ with the federal and provincial governments. As part of this vision, the City is seen as an essential “connector” between the other orders of government and the community and as a result, the city’s role and influence will expand and grow over time.
2. What are the City’s priorities?
There are currently three priorities, which have been established by City Council for the next several years:
- Creating a clean and beautiful city
- Strengthening the city’s neighbourhoods
- Increasing public engagement
These priorities are being reflected in some major city initiatives such as the revitalization of the Waterfront and the regeneration of Regent Park. In approaching city hall, use these priorities as ‘guide-posts’ or reference points, linking your priorities with the city’s stated priorities.
3. Who do you talk to?
Toronto City Council is elected every three years. The Council is composed of the mayor, who is elected at large, and 44 councillors who are elected in 44 wards across the city. Each member of Council has support staff that help him or her run their city hall offices and handle constituency work. The Mayor is the head of Council and in this capacity provides leadership on key issues and priorities and directs the business of Council. Council decides on the appointment for the positions of Deputy Mayor, the chairs and members of the standing committees of Council. These appointments are made on an 18 month basis; new appointments will be made in June 2005.
City staff, of whom there are over 30,000, provide day to day service to the public. The Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), has the responsibility for the coordination of work within city departments, corporate performance and intergovernmental relations. A City of Toronto Telephone Directory, listing all city departments, staff and phone numbers is published yearly in January and is available by calling Access Toronto at 416-338-0338.
Getting to know how city hall works takes time and patience. Engage city staff in the issues that concern you and your organization and work with them directly. Seek out and speak with elected officials. If you need to speak with them personally, it is often effective to drop by a Committee or Council meeting and speak with them directly, or speak with their staff. When asking for help on something, also offer to help in return and propose creative and innovative solutions through collaboration. Most people, including politicians, are keen to participate in actions that are solution-driven.
When advocating an issue at city hall, be informed of what other issues are priorities; pick your timing and line up your support. There are champions of many issues at city hall both within the political sphere and within the civil service. Take the time to learn who these champions are in the particular area in which you work, seek them out and have them become acquainted with your organization.
4. How can you best engage in the work of City Hall?
If you have an innovative idea that helps bring creative solutions to the city’s priorities, you have a more credible chance of success. Some examples of these approaches are:
- The community safety plan (to address the issue of crime and gang violence in three city neighbourhoods, the city partnership with four provincial ministries and the community, to create the Jobs for Youth program which resulted in employment and skills training for youth;
- The profession-to-profession mentoring pilot project (to address the difficulties of qualified newcomers finding jobs in Toronto, the city worked with community agencies and The Maytree Foundation to link city employees and internationally trained professionals in a mentoring program;
- The strong communities housing allowance pilot project (to address the issue of affordable housing, the Toronto Community Foundation, the Toronto Community Housing Corporation and the Ministry of Municipal Affairs are providing reduced rents to households on the municipal waiting list
5. When do you approach the City?
The first step in seeking help from city hall is to determine who the decision-makers are. Many decisions are delegated to staff and can be made without going through the city council process. Generally large decisions involving money and new programs require the approval of City Council. City Council conducts its business in public with the exception of personnel and real estate issues. A meeting schedule, agendas and minutes for all committee and council meetings are available at http://www.city.toronto.on.ca/council/index.htm. Council meets once a month, with meetings lasting three days. Given the timelines for issues to be reported to a standing committee and Council, it can take several months for an issue to be considered and decided upon.
Understand the city’s annual budget cycle. You can maximize your chance of success if you present your request when something can be done about it! The budget cycle generally starts in the summer with staff working on department by department requests. The public process generally begins in December and in the new year, standing committees have public hearings prior to Council approving the final budget in February.
Information about the city’s community grants process is available online at http://www.city.toronto.on.ca/grants/csgp/index.htm. The city does not provide multi-year funding. Get to know the grants review officer and understand the appeal process, if your grant application is not successful. In preparing a community grant application, understand the city’s priorities and address what impact your organization will have on these priorities.
Good Resources on Talking to the City of Toronto
City of Toronto
Toronto Community Housing
Toronto Vital Signs 2004, Report of the Toronto Community Foundation
The Other Map of Toronto
Book: Toronto – No Mean City by Eric Arthur, 1964