TORONTO—Protest is already mounting in Toronto over an auditing firm’s report that proposes cutting city services to balance the 2012 budget.
KPMG’s Core Service Review, a non-binding report that examined areas where city services could be cut, offers ways reduce the $774 million budget deficit projected for 2012.
It was the first of three reports under the Toronto Service Review Program. City council committees met July 18 to July 28 to discuss the report’s contents.
KPMG presented some controversial possibilities, which were hotly debated and heavily criticized. The audit company notes that it was not offering recommendations, only presenting budget reduction opportunities for the city to consider.
Reaction to possibilities
KPMG’s mention of reducing library hours or closing certain locations has spawned a petition of protest at ourpubliclibrary.to.
Canadian author Margaret Atwood supports the campaign on her Twitter, which has over 227,000 followers. The petition has gathered 25,466 signatures as of Tuesday, with the site crashing at one point due to the number of visitors.
The petition website also cited the results of a random selection telephone poll conducted by Forum Research Inc. on July 4. The poll, sampling from 1,061 Toronto residents, showed that 74 percent of Torontonians disagreed with closing library branches and 71 percent disagreed with privatizing library services.
“If these proposed cuts proceed, Torontonians should expect dirtier air, more illnesses, higher energy costs, and a crippled economy,” said Franz Hartmann, Executive Director of TEA, in a press release.
The possible closure of Cabbagetown’s Riverdale Farm, which will be threatened if zoos and parks are eliminated, has drawn concern from city councillor Pam McConnell of Ward 28 (Rosedale).
In a press release, McConnell describes Riverdale Farm as “an educational opportunity for children and parents to experience a farm and farm animals and to learn where our food comes from.”
Riverdale Farm supporter Anne Pastuszak started a petition opposing the closure of the farm. The petition has gathered over 7,200 signatures, which were brought before City Hall on July 21.
The executive committee will meet Sept. 19 to consider the recommendations of the standing committees as well as a summary report from the City Manager.
City council will review the executive committee’s report on Sept. 27-28. Final 2012 budget decisions will be made in October.
