December 31, 2009
MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAPPY NEW YEAR
My best wishes to all in Etobicoke and across Toronto this Christmas season. As we at City Hall say goodbye to 2009 and welcome 2010, I would like to see us (as Councillor's and elected officials) achieve a more collegial City Council, where the diverse views of Councillors are respected and incorporated into the decision making process. I also look forward to the election of a new Mayor for the City of Toronto, who will bring a sound approach to the management of the City, as well as champion solutions to the region's, not just the City's, transportation challenges. Whoever the residents of Toronto elect as our new Mayor, I believe it is in our best interest to work together.
Please stay in touch with my office and watch for monthly e-news updates. I will do my best to keep you well informed on all Etobicoke as well as City issues of concern to you.
Your continued feedback is most welcomed.
November 23, 2009
TTC FARE INCREASE ANNOUNCED
At the TTC meeting of Tuesday November 17 an increase in TTC Fares was approved. The new fares will be in effect as of January 3, 2010.
The TTC Commission discussed and decided to reduce the originally proposed fare increase and in particular minimize the impact on adult pass users, seniors and students. Depending on fare type the increases range between about 7-11%. The last TTC fare increase was in November of 2007 (26 months will have passed between fare increases).
New Fares APPROVED
Adult Senior/Student Child
Cash $ 3.00 $ 2.00 $ 0.75
Token/Ticket $ 2.50 $ 1.65 $ 0.55
Weekly Pass $ 36.00 $ 28.00
Reg. Metropass $121.00 $ 99.00
VIP Pass $107.00
(Volume Incentive Program)
MDP Pass $111.00 $ 89.00
(Metropass Discount Plan - 12 month preauthorized)
Day Pass $ 10.00
GTA Pass $ 28.00
Will this increase impact transit users? Yes. The Commission members did however take a number of steps to mitigate this impact. For the first time ever all Students over 18 and Post-Secondary Students will benefit from a reduced rate Metropass.
While fare increases of any amount are never well received, it is important that transit users and all Torontonians understand the entire context within which this decision has had to be made. Over the last three years there have been a number of service improvements (to match all surface routes to subway operating hours and increase frequency on virtually all routes). Any improvement to services also increases costs.
In addition, there has been general inflationary cost pressures on wages, fuel, and materials. Wages for TTC unionized employees will rise by 3% per year, however, Senior Management wages have been frozen. Overall costs rise by close to 7% due to higher increases in energy costs, vehicles, parts, and other materials.
TTC Operating Budget Overview
(Projected including fare increase revenues - all figures in millions)
2009 2010 Change
Expenses $ 1,298 $ 1,391 +$ 93
Revenues $ 904 $ 955 +$ 51
(Farebox, Advertising, & Misc.)
Subsidy $ 394 $ 394 +$ 0
(City of Toronto + Gas Tax)
Remaining Shortfall to be addressed $ 42
The TTC continues to be the least subsidised major Transit service in North America. In 2010, 68% of the operating cost of the TTC will be paid by riders.
The TTC will be implementing a minimum of $20 million in cost reductions, and will seek an increase in the subsidy. If the increase in subsidy is not forthcoming then the remaining $22 million will have to be achieved with cuts at the TTC.
The real issue is the level of government subsidy or taxes applied to the funding of Public Transit. Below is a table showing you the fares recovery rates, and rates of subsidy of Public Transit. This data clearly demonstrates that the level of tax funded support for the TTC, is lower (by a wide margin) compared to any of our peer cities.
TRANSIT SYSTEM COMPARISIONS:
(Latest comparable data 2007)
CITY FAREBOX REVENUE RATIO SUBSIDY PER RIDER
TTC 75% $ 0.59
Mississauga 54% $ 1.63
Brampton 49% $ 2.25
York Region 40% $ 4.55
Calgary 55% $ 1.07
Vancouver 55% $ 2.40
Montreal 59% $ 0.83
Ottawa 50% $ 1.76
Chicago 33% $ 2.37
New York 55% $ 1.71
Philadelphia 36% $ 2.93
Over the next decade as new and improved Transit facilities are opened across Toronto, ridership will continue to rise, as will costs and the need for ever greater subsidies. Transit systems in other Provinces benefit from higher Provincial subsidies, and in the United States transit systems depend on significantly higher State and even Federal subsidies. This is also the case for Public Transit systems throughout Europe, Asia and Australia.
It's also not realistic for property taxes to continuously rise at a high rate, in an attempt to keep up with the costs of Public Transit. The rate of TTC fare increases are in keeping with other transit systems - but the rate of subsidy is not.
November 23, 2009
NEW CITY- WIDE Harmonized Sign By-law
Over the last number of years there has been an increasing proliferation of billboards, murals and all other manner of outdoor advertising throughout the City.
There are currently approximately 4100 third-party billboards approved in the City (a third-party billboard is one that advertises products or services that are not related to the property or business at that address) however almost half of them have either no municipal approvals or have been altered against what was initially approved by Council. The problem with the increase in illegal signs happened due to lack of enforcement by the City, and confusing or contradictory policies inherited from pre-amalgamated municipalities. It became clear that a new approach was needed.
After several years of work and extensive consultation, staff have brought forward a new proposed Sign By-law with clear and consistent rules for the entire City. With this new By-law a stronger approach to enforcement will also be ushered in. Some of the highlights of the new by-law are a prohibition on roof-top third party billboards, strict separation distances between billboards, a 400 metre setback from all highways, and a limit on the percentage of window/wall space of a business that may be covered in advertising.
A related component of the By-law is a new Third Party Billboard Tax which will be payable annually by the sign company, based upon the size and type of sign. The tax will be used to fund the enforcement of the new By-law (rather than paid for from Property Taxes), and the balance of revenues can be used to fund other City programmes. Many on Council want this revenue directed to local arts groups. I believe the Tax revenue should be used to reduce the impact on Property Tax payers.
I believe the new By-law will finally bring order to the issue of billboard signage in the City.
November 23, 2009
NEW Harmonized Zoning By-law
For the last six years City Staff have been working on the complex web of current Zoning-Bylaws inherited from the former municipalities in to determine the best way to harmonize their definitions and practices, all of which varied between former municipalities. I opposed this work being done as I did not view it as a high priority project. I was, and continue to be concerned, about the unforeseen implications of any changes to the Zoning By-laws.
City staff have presented an early working version of the new By-law. A key benefit of the new approach is a digital version of the By-law that will make it easy to determine the Zoning of every property in the City on the web.
However there appears to be push modify a number of specific local variations on heights, setbacks, and building size. I believe this goes beyond the mandate given to Staff and I am fighting against this.
Additionally, Barbara Hall the Province's Human Rights Commissioner, is leading a charge under Human Rights/Anti-Discrimination laws and policies to require the City of Toronto to permit rooming houses everywhere throughout the City. I do not feel that this is an appropriate use of a Zoning By-law. The City's Zoning By-laws should regulate land uses, intensity, and various development standards related to rooming houses just as with any other type of development.
The other grave concern that arises from the new proposals is the integration of rules around the storage and use of chemicals in commercial and industrial areas. This is in part in response to last year's Sunrise Propane explosion however the approach Staff are recommending could put virtually every business in the City at risk of non-compliance with the Zoning By-laws.
I and other members of City Council have serious concerns about a number of aspects of this current proposal. We have asked Staff to revisit much of the new scheme. At this point I would simply reject the new proposed By-law and allow the existing By-laws to remain. In the new year I will be bringing this matter to the Community, and host an open forum to get your input and comments.
October 21, 2009
