Mayor Rob Ford has continued his annual tradition of voting against all six of Toronto’s community grants programs — and losing overwhelmingly on all six.
The grants programs give $16.8 million in taxpayer money to more than 200 non-government organizations. By far the largest of the six, the $14.3-million Community Service Partnerships Program, funds groups “working to improve social outcomes for vulnerable, marginalized and high-risk communities.”
Ford lost 39-2 on each of the six votes, joined only by Councillor Mike Del Grande, his former budget chief. For the third year since Ford was elected mayor, he did not offer an explanation.
He was outspoken in his opposition to the grants program as a city councillor, regularly denouncing grants as wasteful and unearned handouts. The programs, however, have been supported even by other ardent fiscal conservatives, such as Deputy Mayor Doug Holyday.
“The thing with the grants,” Holyday said, “is that there’s good ones and maybe some bad ones, but to try to pull out those bad ones is a hell of a job, so you’re stuck between helping people that really need help and looking at some of these grants and wondering why we’re giving them. I think, under the circumstances, we have to try to help those who need it.”
Councillor Shelley Carroll, a Ford opponent, said city studies have shown that the grants allow outside organizations to deliver important services that would cost the city much more money to provide directly. She said Ford is essentially voting against hundreds of millions in savings.
“We do it every year, and he votes against it every time, and then people go out and, for very little money, deliver amazing services that actually are better-delivered by community members,” Carroll said. “His inability or lack of willingness to understand that — he really should explain to the public.”
Rob Ford generally supports grants to arts organizations and to major festivals. Those are considered separately from the grants to community groups.
Ford and Del Grande also voted against:
The Access, Equity and Human Rights Investment Program, which gives $799,000 to groups that “help achieve a positive race relations and human rights climate in Toronto”;
The Community Safety Investment Program, which gives $683,750 to “community-led efforts to respond to local safety issues help create opportunities for people to work together to build stronger communities and prevent violence”;
The Community Recreation Investment Program, which gives $449,800 to “projects that contribute to the city’s goal of increasing participation in recreation activities that support social and physical development”;
The Community Festivals and Special Events Investment Program, which gives $103,750 to “help small and medium-scale community-based not-for-profit festivals and events start or grow”; and
The Service Development Investment Program, which gives $433,090 to help “non-traditional” or fledgling groups in priority neighbourhoods develop their ability to respond to local needs.
Ford actually fared better in this year’s votes than last year’s: he lost 34-1, 34-1, 33-1, 34-1, 35-1, and 35-1 in 2012.
The organizations that receive grants represent numerous demographic groups and all parts of the city, though they are concentrated in low-income areas and focused on the most needy people.
Recipients include: Hospice Toronto; Malvern Safety Committee; FCJ Refugee Centre; Jane Finch Crisis Support Network; Council of Agencies Serving South Asians; Tropicana Community Services Organization; Bloor Ossington Folk Festival; Don Mills Family Health Team; and Victoria Park Cricket Club.
Original Article
Source: thestar.com
Author: Daniel Dale
The grants programs give $16.8 million in taxpayer money to more than 200 non-government organizations. By far the largest of the six, the $14.3-million Community Service Partnerships Program, funds groups “working to improve social outcomes for vulnerable, marginalized and high-risk communities.”
Ford lost 39-2 on each of the six votes, joined only by Councillor Mike Del Grande, his former budget chief. For the third year since Ford was elected mayor, he did not offer an explanation.
He was outspoken in his opposition to the grants program as a city councillor, regularly denouncing grants as wasteful and unearned handouts. The programs, however, have been supported even by other ardent fiscal conservatives, such as Deputy Mayor Doug Holyday.
“The thing with the grants,” Holyday said, “is that there’s good ones and maybe some bad ones, but to try to pull out those bad ones is a hell of a job, so you’re stuck between helping people that really need help and looking at some of these grants and wondering why we’re giving them. I think, under the circumstances, we have to try to help those who need it.”
Councillor Shelley Carroll, a Ford opponent, said city studies have shown that the grants allow outside organizations to deliver important services that would cost the city much more money to provide directly. She said Ford is essentially voting against hundreds of millions in savings.
“We do it every year, and he votes against it every time, and then people go out and, for very little money, deliver amazing services that actually are better-delivered by community members,” Carroll said. “His inability or lack of willingness to understand that — he really should explain to the public.”
Rob Ford generally supports grants to arts organizations and to major festivals. Those are considered separately from the grants to community groups.
Ford and Del Grande also voted against:
The Access, Equity and Human Rights Investment Program, which gives $799,000 to groups that “help achieve a positive race relations and human rights climate in Toronto”;
The Community Safety Investment Program, which gives $683,750 to “community-led efforts to respond to local safety issues help create opportunities for people to work together to build stronger communities and prevent violence”;
The Community Recreation Investment Program, which gives $449,800 to “projects that contribute to the city’s goal of increasing participation in recreation activities that support social and physical development”;
The Community Festivals and Special Events Investment Program, which gives $103,750 to “help small and medium-scale community-based not-for-profit festivals and events start or grow”; and
The Service Development Investment Program, which gives $433,090 to help “non-traditional” or fledgling groups in priority neighbourhoods develop their ability to respond to local needs.
Ford actually fared better in this year’s votes than last year’s: he lost 34-1, 34-1, 33-1, 34-1, 35-1, and 35-1 in 2012.
The organizations that receive grants represent numerous demographic groups and all parts of the city, though they are concentrated in low-income areas and focused on the most needy people.
Recipients include: Hospice Toronto; Malvern Safety Committee; FCJ Refugee Centre; Jane Finch Crisis Support Network; Council of Agencies Serving South Asians; Tropicana Community Services Organization; Bloor Ossington Folk Festival; Don Mills Family Health Team; and Victoria Park Cricket Club.
Original Article
Source: thestar.com
Author: Daniel Dale
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