Tag: Economic Policy
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Olivia Chow – a Vote for Mediocrity, Evasion, and the Perpetuation of Capitalist Rule
Among the 102 candidates in the June 26 Toronto mayor by-election, former city councilor and MP Olivia Chow is certainly not the worst. Among the establishment contenders, she appears slightly to the left of Liberals Ana Bailao, Mitzie Hunter and Josh Matlow. But Olivia, who ought to know better, is treating the electorate to a virtual re-run of her failed campaign for mayor in 2014. It is marked by mind-numbing mediocrity and evasion of clear…
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Community Safety and the Failure of the Police
On April 13, Toronto Police marked the second anniversary of the release of the Report of the Independent Civilian Review into Missing Persons Investigations (Missing & Missed Report), which found that systemic discrimination against the LGBTQ+ community, new immigrant and refugees, and racialized communities, and other marginalized communities, led to significant failings of Toronto Police concerning its missing persons investigation. Socialist mayoralty candidate Kiri Vadivelu condemns Toronto Police for patting themselves on the back, despite…
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Municipal Socialist Alliance Says No to the Proposed Increase to the Toronto Police Budget
“The Municipal Socialist Alliance says No to the proposed increase to the Toronto police budget. The notion that the hike is a step towards enhanced public safety is completely ill-conceived. While most residents who addressed the recent Police Board hearing called for measures to address mental health, affordable housing and police accountability, the appointed Board members ignored them and sided with the few Business Improvement Area reps. Every dollar that goes to the police is…
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More Police and TTC Constables will not Increase Public Safety
In response to recent public safety incidents Toronto Mayor John Tory used his authority to inject millions of tax-payer dollars into the police department, which has already seen major budget increases while medical and education budgets are slashed. During a news conference, Tory admitted that he had intended to “address the issue of violence on Toronto streets” before the stabbing incidents and it seems that the recent incidents are just an opportunity to push more…
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More Workers’ Power, Not Strong Mayor Powers
Released to media on January 7, 2022 Until recently, for a motion to carry at Toronto city council, a majority vote is required. But with the Better Municipal Governance Act, mayors like Toronto’s John Tory now can pass bylaws with the support of just one third of council. It gives the mayor powers to veto budgets, committee decisions and By-Laws. Council will require a 2/3 vote to overcome the mayor’s veto. This Act passed, despite…
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Stop Military Recruitment of High School Students
Fight Climate Change Not War! Canada out of NATO! End Student Military Recruitment Notes: [1] The 2021 Budget for the Department of Defence is broken down by funding sought through the Main Estimates process (83% of total, $24.3 billion CAD) and funding sought outside of the Main Estimates process (17% of total, ~ $5 billion CAD). [2] In the 2020-2021 fiscal year, the Department of Defence reported 477 kilotonnes of greenhouse gas emissions. All federal…