Please Click Here to find recent news, events and information from CUPE Ontario.
TORONTO, ON — Residents from every corner of the City will Rally for Toronto on Monday, September 26, at 5:30 pm. Their message to City Councillors—Build Toronto, don’t destroy it.
City Councillors will be in a special session on that day to discuss the Core Services Review and the 2012 budget.
The Rally for Toronto is organized by a coalition of community and labour organizations across the City, and is the result of months of community organizing that has galvanized residents from across Toronto. Residents have united to push back against various attacks on the City’s services and jobs.
The rally follows an extraordinary week in which hundreds of Torontonians packed City Hall to oppose the City’s Executive Committee’s plans for service cuts and layoffs.
In the face of such widespread public opposition, Mayor Rob Ford’s Executive Committee postponed votes on cuts to child care, public health, community recreation, environmental programs and transit, to name just a few.
“Last week was a victory we ought to celebrate, but we also need to remind people that it was only a partial victory. The votes have been postponed until November and beyond, probably in the hopes of preventing any further damage to Tim Hudak’s Tories before the Provincial Election on October 6,” said Sandy Hudson, Chairperson of the Canadian Federation of Students.
Winnie Ng, Co-Chair of the Good Jobs for All Coalition, echoed those sentiments.
“Despite the remarkable show of solidarity by Torontonians against all kinds of cuts, this administration will try to cut hundreds, if not thousands, of city jobs. Such a large loss of income would devastate our communities and also affect local businesses,” said Ng.
“Job cuts will also decrease the quality of service that residents depend on. We need more good jobs and quality services in Toronto, not poverty wages and sub-standard city services,” she added.
Last week’s deputations at Executive Committee against the Ford agenda came on the heels of the release of the results of the largest public opinion poll ever conducted in Toronto. The Forum Research Poll revealed a majority of residents in every Ward in the City want their Councillors to protect city services and stand up to Ford.
“The people spoke loudly and clearly last week. They will speak again on Monday, and again and again until City Councillors get the message,” said Hudson.
WHAT: Rally for Toronto
WHEN: Monday, September 26, 5:30 p.m.
WHERE: Nathan Phillips Square (100 Queen Street West),
outside the City Council Meeting
WHY: To demand Toronto City Council save City services
and defend good jobs
-30-
For more information, contact:
Preethy Sivakumar, Organizer, Rally for Toronto, 416-937-9378
Kevin Wilson, Communications, Rally for Toronto, 416-821-6641
cope491/343
