Community Consultation Deficit

Incomprehensibly, in 2009, Toronto City Councillors decided to deny public consultation with regard to all "State of Good Repair" (SOGR) projects. This shocking decision shuts down community input into priorities, changes, or modifications of facilities related to Parks, Forestry and Recreation.

This circumvention of democracy, this blocking of public involvement, was deemed necessary to ensure that projects are completed quickly and within a fiscal budget. In my opinion, expediency at the expense of local involvement is the exact opposite of citizen expectations and assumptions.

Efficiencies are not achieved by shutting down community involvement. Any economic gains are negated by reduced popularity of facilities, demoralized citizen's groups, abandonment of community involvement, cynicism.

Community involvement is most needed and most appropriate at the exact point when infrastructure comes due for renewal or redevelopment. At this precise time, city officials, community reps and invited consultants have an optimal opportunity to examine facilities and decide how community needs have changed, demographics have changed, and how to redesign infrastructure for coming decades.

By shutting out community leaders at crucial junctures in the life of facilities, the City is blindsiding itself to its most precious resource - its own citizens! If elected I will work to change this ordinance as fast as possible before more money is wasted and more damage is done to community moral.