Recap: Toronto Centre All Candidates' Debate, 25 November 2013

Photo taken from http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/toronto-centre-by-election-debate-puts-income-inequality-at-centre-stage/article15542550/

Wednesday’s Toronto Centre All Candidates’ Debate at Jarvis Collegiate was mostly a refreshing change of pace from the political action of late.  The candidates were cordial and engaged, with only a pinch of contention and some audience jeers.  The event drew some 600 people to the audience – a turnout Liberal Party candidate, Chrystia Freeland, noted as a testament to democracy. 

The debate got off to a bit of a raucous start when Independent candidate, John “The Engineer” Turmel, turned up without invitation and refused to leave the stage until police came to escort him out.  The interruption was consistent with the previous Toronto Centre debates (follow the link for a video of Independent Candidate, Kevin Clarke, at the November 17^th debate).   Note that not all the Toronto Centre Candidates were invited to the debate, only those leading in the polls.  See below for the list of all candidates.  Familiarize yourself with the candidates and their platforms and get out to vote on Monday! If you missed the debate, make sure to read on for some insight into your leading candidates.

The debate questions were collected and submitted by the various resident groups from Toronto Centre neighbourhoods, with RPNI representing Regent Park.  Questions covered a broad range of issues including youth engagement, expansion of the Canadian Pension Plan, the Keystone XL pipeline and environmentalism, crime, harm reduction strategies, affordable housing, public transit, etc.  Candidates’ answers to all questions seemed consistent with their respective party platforms.

Conservative Party candidate, Geoff Pollock, relying on the popularity of Stephen Harper as Federal Leader, committed to continuing the Conservative agenda; Linda McQuaig of the NDP maintained her commitment to tackling the income gap through more equitable taxes, and job creation; Liberal Party candidate, Chrystia Freeland,  reiterated her concern about the shrinking middle class, stating the “middle class squeeze is an issue for us all”; John Deverell of the Green Party stressed his commitment to reforming our voting system to proportional representation.

Though candidates took different strategies for each issue, all candidates were united at least on the priority of job creation.  On this topic, NDP candidate McQuaig, confronted Liberal Party candidate Freeland on her choice to outsource 25 American jobs to India when Editor of Reuters, which Freeland justified as part of a larger trend of “shrinking news rooms.”

McQuaig also faced criticism in the debate when she avoided a yea or nay on the Keystone XL pipeline. McQuaig instead stressed the importance of a thorough environmental review before expressing support or not for such contentious projects.  Both the Conservative and Liberal Party candidates expressed support for the pipeline.  Green Party candidate, John Deverell, again emphasized a desire to examine our intentions for growth and the effects on the environment before pursuing the Keystone pipeline or any other projects potentially damaging to the environment.

Other hot topics of the debate included the question of Canadian Pension Plan expansion.  Candidates in support of CPP expansion (including all but the Conservative Party candidate, Geoff Pollock) won generous applause from the audience.  Pollock’s resistance to CPP expansion invited booing from the audience.  The CPP was clearly a unifying issue.

The question of CPP expansion led candidates to discuss their economic positions, with Conservative and Liberal Party candidates both emphasizing a desire to not increase taxes.  Freeland asserted that with economic growth so “anaemic,” the focus should not be on promoting public-private partnerships to encourage business investment instead of raising taxes.  Pollock celebrated the nine free trade agreements created under Conservative government and touted these as promoting economic growth.  For McQuaig, it clear that a fairer tax system is key to economic growth, arguing the need to restore corporate tax cuts and citing Former Bank of Canada Governor, Mark Carney’s, statement that Canada has $500 billion of “dead money” tied up in business.

The last point of agreement for the candidate panel seemed to be support for a national transit strategy, though candidates appeared resistant to explicitly express this support.  On this point, Deverell stressed the importance of a consistent strategy and autonomous spending decisions from the municipalities.  McQuaig also stressed the importance of municipal decisions with regard to transit spending, but all were in agreement that some overarching federal strategy is a priority.

The debate was lively though respectful, the audience thoroughly engaged, offering applause and jeers for the issues deemed most important.  The discussion covered many of these important issues, though there is certainly more at hand.  We encourage you to do some research and make informed voting decisions.  Most important though, get out and vote!

http://www.elections.ca/content.aspx?section=ele&document=index&dir=2013/35093/vote&lang=e

November 25^th Toronto Centre By-Election Candidates:

Dorian Baxter
Progressive Canadian Party

Leslie Bory
Independent    

Kevin Clarke
Independent    

John Deverell

Green Party of Canada

Judi Falardeau
Libertarian Party of Canada

Chrystia Freeland

Liberal Party of Canada

               

Linda McQuaig

NDP Party

Michael Nicula
Online Party of Canada

Geoff Pollock

Conservative Party of Canada

John "The Engineer" Turmel
Independent

Bahman Yazdanfar
Independent

City of Toronto Department of Planning and Toronto Community Housing Corporation Follow-Up Community Consultation Recap - Sept. 17th, 2013

What will Regent Park look like after redevelopment is complete?

For more slides from the consultation, visit www.toronto.ca/planning/regentpark/pdf/regentpark_2013-09-09_slides_city.pdf

Regent Park has a rich history of community activism. Residents pushed for the Revitalization of Regent Park and have had continued involvement throughout its progression. As the redevelopment plans for the community change, Regent Park residents continue to participate in these conversations. On June 10^th 2013, the City of Toronto Department of Planning and Toronto Community Housing Corporation (TCHC) held a consultation to inform the community of the recent Regent Park development plan amendments proposed by TCHC. Nearly 300 people came out and raised important questions for the planning body. For many, this was the first time they heard the revised plans for their changing neighbourhood. True to Regent Park’s advocating history, residents had a lot to say about the proposal. If you missed the June meeting, please check out our July edition of Community Knewz for a more information.

On September 17^th, 2013, the City of Toronto Department of Planning and Toronto Community Housing Corporation (TCHC) held a follow-up consultation with the Regent Park community on yet more proposed amendments to the TCHC development plan, this time, presenting a renewed proposal influenced by the desires of the residents. For most, it seems TCHC's response to resident concerns was encouraging.

At the previous consultation, there was apprehension voiced about the proposed heights of buildings, specifically, the proposal to build a nearly 40 storey tower on the south-east corner of Gerrard St. and Parliament St. Thanks to resident feedback, the tower is now proposed at 20 storeys high, set back from the corner. Other proposed changes include varied building heights along housing at the north side of the big park, decrease in heights of housing along Gerrard St., back-to-back housing facing onto the athletic grounds and street.

 

For more slides from the consultation, visit www.toronto.ca/planning/regentpark/pdf/regentpark_2013-09-09_slides_city.pdf

Still of concern for some residents are the towers proposed along River St. The newest proposal places four towers along River, even though concern was expressed at the June consultation over the heights of then a three towers layout. Though residents were assured at the recent consultation that the tower heights had been decreased, specific tower heights were not given. It appears from the artist rendering above that they would be shorter than the existing towers on the opposite side of River St. at Oak St. Podiums would be built as a step-back from the sidewalk so that buildings are not as intrusive. According to the planning body, River is intended to act as a commercial spine, with retail occupying some space in the towers. In response to resident concerns over these towers, City Planner Angela Stea stressed that the plan would not be approved until these concerns were addressed.

The City continues to insist on maintaining 14 Blevins Place as a heritage building, despite TCHC's request to have it  included in the redevelopment plan and despite overwhelming resident support for its demolition. Many spoke out at the September consultation to say '14 Blevins has to go,' but the City stance is unfettered. Councillor Pam McConnell assured residents that if they wish to see the building demolished, she will ensure that City Council makes this happen.

Throughout the consultation, TCHC stressed that while the specific building plans for Regent Park may change, the principles of redevelopment stay the same; they will continue to build integrated buildings, and replace ALL RGI (TCHC rent geared to income) units demolished. With the proposed changes, population proportions will be 25% RGI units (all replaced units) and 5% additional affordable rental units (where rent is determined at or below 100% of the “average rent” in Toronto). The market units will make up 70% of the population. Of that 70%, 30% of market units are 2 bedroom units, 5% are 3 bedroom units, and 12% are offered with some form of assisted home-ownership programs. When concerns were raised over whether this development plan would result in lower income families and higher income singles/couples, Regent Park resident Kate Sellar suggested that family compositions are changing and not to assume residents in market units are not having families.

During the consultation, we paused to celebrate the unexpected and positive developments of phase 2, including the Aquatic Centre being deemed a priority centre, the new Community Centre being built at double the size originally planned, the Regent Park Athletic Grounds and the additional hectare of space, and the addition of one new daycare in the community (in addition to the two already planned). Residents consistently expressed support for the revitalization project, while not remaining silent about what can be improved upon.

What will Regent Park look like after redevelopment is complete? A seamlessly blended mix of market rental and subsidized housing units is the consistent goal for Regent Park’s Revitalization. However, the specific details of this plan are still being negotiated thanks to an active and engaged community.

The Community Council Meeting will be held November 19^th and the City Council Meeting (where the plan gets final approval) will be held December 16^th. City Councillor Pam McConnell will represent Regent Park; make sure to communicate with her about your feelings on this development plan (see our services page for her contact information). If you’re interested in attending, please contact Debra at debra@rpni.ca

Our Regent Park Timeline

Regent Park has a very rich history, which is still being written. This is a community that has always demonstrated resilience and determination, exemplified in a culture of activism and artistic expression.

These media continue to express the diversity of the community. Regent Park’s true story is that of the many residents who have called this place home. We are therefore looking for your help to tell this community’s true history.

How has Regent Park changed throughout the years and how has it changed you? Who made up the community for you and what makes Regent Park feel like home?

We want to hear these stories: everything from the day you first arrived here, to your youthful shenanigans in Stinky’s park, to your dreams and hopes for the future.

Let’s not forget the great roots of this vastly evolving neighbourhood, where all this growth started.

Send us these stories and we will post them on our website. To see what sorts of stories your neighbours are already telling visit our history page.

Regent Park Relocation, Return, Resettle

We’ve been a part of many discussions lately concerning the Revitalization of Regent Park, and often the conversation ends up centring on the relocation processes, so we thought that we would try to help sort out the issues and challenges that folks have been living with, in hopes to provide some clarity.

Relocation (Temporary Unit)

Relocation is required in order to demolish the existing buildings in Regent Park. Families living in units slated for redevelopment will be directed to move from their current home to another Toronto Community Housing Corporation (TCHC) unit. This unit may be located in Regent Park, slated for later redevelopment, or in another community in the City. Residents will stay in their relocation unit until their new home is built, which can be anywhere between 2 and 5 years.

About a year before your move from your original location, you will receive a notice, called a Demolition Notice, from TCHC telling you that demolition of your existing home will happen in approximately one year.

Within 3-9 months after you receive that notice, you will be invited to attend a meeting where you will be assigned a number that is selected via a random draw. This number will be the order in which a relocation unit will be offered to you. After that   you will get a package indicating the available units in the unit size for which your household is eligible. You will then be asked to set a one-on-one meeting with a member of TCHC’s Relocation Office. 

Your family will have a few days to discuss the options for relocation, and you will then identify your top choices for relocation units by filling out a form at the one-on-one meeting with the Relocation Staff.  Once all the eligible residents’ one-on-one meetings are held, and everyone has made their relocation choices, TCHC will make offers of units to residents in the order of their random draw number. TCHC will continue to work with you to find a new home that meets your family’s needs through the “family composition” process (numbers and ages of family members in the dwelling determine how many rooms you are entitled to). If there are no suitable units available at the time of the first round of offers, TCHC will schedule additional meetings with you to find a unit that works for your family.

Once you’ve selected your new home, TCHC will work with you to ensure you have boxes available for packing. TCHC will also pay certain fees related to your move, including disconnect/reconnect fees with utility or cable companies,  postal fees for forwarding mail, as well as providing professional movers to move your belongings into your new home.

At the lease signing of your temporary new unit, you will also sign a “Relocation Agreement,” which means that when the new housing is built in Regent Park, you will have the right to come back. 

Return (Regent Park Unit)

If moving back to Regent Park doesn’t work for you when you receive notice that a new building is ready, you may waive the right to return to Regent Park and stay in your relocation unit instead. In some cases, you have the right to defer your return to a later date or the next phase.

When a new building is almost ready to have tenants move in, TCHC will hold another random draw meeting that you will be invited to attend. Your name will again be selected in another random draw along with other families’ names also waiting return. Your random number will assign the order in which your family will be offered a new unit in Regent Park. At the unit selection meeting, TCHC will provide floor plans of options for new units, and set up a one-on-one meeting with your family to determine your needs and which options of units you would like to select. Once everyone in this phase of return has had their one-on-one meeting, TCHC will offer units to residents based on the order of the random draw, and you will have an opportunity to accept or decline this offer.

What you should know is that during the return process, you will again go through the “family composition” processes to determine how many bedrooms your family requires, based on the number and ages of family members living with you. This is the same process you would have gone through when you first applied for housing, and again when you relocated to your temporary home.

You should also know that the architectural designs of today differ greatly from those used in the 1940s, which means that homes are smaller, but typically much more efficient in their layout, so you may not have the same amount of square footage in your new home as was in your old home.  Additionally, more high-rises are being built as opposed to townhouses or low-rises, so your new Regent Park home may be in a different building type than your old Regent Park home.

Once you have confirmed your offer of a new home and your return to Regent Park, TCHC will once again make sure that you have boxes, and a moving company to assist you in your move. TCHC will again reimburse you for any utility, cable, or postal fees related to your move.

Resettle

You’ll come back to a community that has changed and neighbours that you’ve never met before. It will take you some time to figure out what’s going on and where things are happening, so we encourage you to stay as connected as possible through the Regent Park Neighbourhood Initiative on our website, facebook or twitter account, so that you’re up to date with all things Regent Park.

If you have any questions or concerns about the process as described, please contact Debra at debra@rpni.ca.