Mayor Rob Ford speaks to the Don Bosco Eagles, the high school football team he coaches, on Thursday, October 25, 2012. (Don Peat/Toronto Sun)
Managed to snag a copy of the talking points Mayor Rob Ford’s office sent out as the mayor hits the two-year mark since he was elected.
Here’s what they want to focus on when talking about the anniversary of Ford’s 2010 election:
Key Message: At the half way point of his first term of office, Mayor Ford has already accomplished much of what he said he would do.
Reducing the Size and Cost of Government
- Eliminated the Personal Vehicle Tax (PVT)
- Put $64 million back into the pockets of taxpayers.
- Reduced Council Budgets
- Leading by Example!
- Froze Mayor & Councillor salaries.
- Reduced Mayor’s Budget by $700,000 and Councillor Expense budgets to save $900,000.
- Reduced travel and non-essential expenses (catering) for Council.
- Contracted out Garbage Collection
- Contracted out curb-side garbage pick-up west of Yonge St.
- Will save $11.5 million per year for seven years.
- Will avoid future public sector garbage strikes in west Toronto.
- 2011-2012 Budgets – Rebuilding our Fiscal Foundation
- Stopped out-of-control spending growth at City Hall.
- Accelerated budget process to bring more control to our spending.
- 2011: 0% Property Tax increase.
- 2012: Property tax increase less than inflation.
- Changed the trend line – 2012 gross operating budget will be lower than 2011!
- Found $336 million in permanent savings.
- Almost eliminated structural deficit by reducing reliance on 1-time surplus funds.
- More public consultation in 2011/2012 budget process than ever before.
- For the first time ever, spent less money in 2012 than the year before.
- New Collective Agreement with full and part-time workers
- Negotiated collective agreements that will provide the City with the flexibility to improve customer service, while giving taxpayers the best value for their tax dollars.
- $150 million in savings over the next four years.
- $35 million in productivity gains from improved efficiency (L416)
- $54 million in savings from reductions to the city’s liabilities for post-age 65 retiree benefits (L416)
- Ensures management can run divisions, departments and sections more efficiently.
- No labour disruption.
- Labour stability for the next four years during many upcoming major events, including the 2015 Pan Am Games.
- Set a bargaining standard for other governments to follow.
- Eliminated the 5-cent bag tax
- Ensures that retailers have a choice in charging for plastic bags.
- Gives the consumer the option of shopping at establishments that don’t charge a fee.
- Avoiding Debt
- Sold City’s shares in Enwave Energy Corp. to generate almost $170 million that will help pay for $700 million unfunded street car order to avoid adding to City’s debt.
- Committed operating variances to capital costs to avoid new debt.
Making Government more Transparent and Accountable
- Made Council more Transparent & Accountable
- All council votes and councillor attendance now recorded and online.
- Council & Committee Agendas, records of decision, most reports online.
- Posted More Expenses Online
- Got control of City employee MasterCard purchasing cards.
- Purchasing Card expenses now online.
- Senior Managers’ expenses online.
- Reduced Council Speaking times to speed up Council business.
- Adopted Whistleblower Protection By-law
Customer Service Excellence
- Introduced a Customer Service Reception Desk in City Hall
- Made Nathan Phillips Square Safe and Inviting for Citizens
- Ended over half a decade of encampments in Nathan Phillips Square.
- Nathan Phillips Square is now safe and inviting for people to visit at night.
- Renewed public faith in TCHC
- Replaced a board of directors that had lost public confidence.
- Replaced senior management.
- Approved the sale of 78 stand alone units that will generate funds to address the $751 million in repair backlogs.
- (First sale 22 units will generate more than $.14.8 million. Second sale of 56 units will generate over $19 million).
- The sale of TCHC homes will benefit over 8000 tenant households.
- Introduced changes in purchasing that saved $3.5 million in just three months.
(e.g. TCHC was buying batteries for $3.50 from a hardware store, now buy through city shared purchasing program for just $0.95!!).
- Secured base funding for Police TAVIS program
- Worked with Premier and Police Chief to get province to make TAVIS funding permanent instead of year-to-year.
Transportation
- Made TTC an Essential Service
- TTC is essential to our economy.
- Riders now protected from transit strikes like the one that crippled York Region.
- Resolved Occupy Toronto.
- Found a resolution to the protests in a timely manner without violence.
- Focused public debate on how to build subways as a long-term rapid transit strategy
- Launched a comprehensive bicycle strategy
- Building Toronto’s first on-street separated bicycle lanes.
- Council approved a network of on-street separated bicycle lanes in downtown core.
- Fighting Gridlock
- Launched comprehensive downtown traffic study.
- Restoring traffic capacity on Jarvis.
Moving Forward
The Mayor has launched a major new Economic Development Strategy process that will focus on growing employment in the City.
- Economic Strategy
- Launched a comprehensive review of Toronto’s Economic Strategy.
- 2011 Economic Roundtable – brought business and key stakeholders together to focus on Toronto’s long-term economic strategy.
- Chicago Business Mission
- Led the largest delegation of Toronto leaders on a business mission.
- Reaffirmed Partnership Agreement with Mayor Rahm Emmanuel.
- Will continue to help foster business on both sides of the border that is good for Toronto.
- Taking a Leadership Role with GTA Mayors
- First Toronto mayor to participate in a Civic Action GTA Mayor’s Caucus meeting.
OFFICE OF THE MAYOR
Mayor Ford’s Four Priorities:
1 Customer Service Excellence
2 Transparent & Accountable Government
3 Reduced Cost and Size of Government
4 Transportation City
Categories: General