Darren's Dozen

Give seniors who own and retire in place in their homes, tax breaks up to the full value of city property tax. This tax break would be initiated once the senior homeowner makes mobility improvements that maintain their ability to retire in place. This tax break would be equal to the cost that senior homeowners spend and help prevent financial distress that has lead to the premature sale of their homes in the recent past. As seniors transition from retiring in place to moving into care, there are costs to the city,  Also, this trend in these economic times is the one of the sources of land transfer that creates higher priced housing as they are often renovated to upscale detached dwellings or higher density developments and income properties.  Prioritize capital spending on increasing the number City of Toronto run retirement residences. We have .... and thqat is not enough as thety faried much better and were safer than for profity residence that alsways have to Also, in 2011, the City of Toronto failed when it exempted  Toronto Community Housing’s (TCHC’s) 383 buildings/50,000+ units from municipal education and property taxes. As a result, tenants, many of whom were or are seniors. in those units - were not eligible to claim the Ontario Energy and Property Tax Credit (OEPTC) under the Trillium Benefit.  I propose and would support a motion for TCHC/TSHC to give a monthly credit off the rent as tenets, again many seniors,  repay the CRA to right a wrong that is contributing to making the vulnerable live in \poverty . Respect for all our elderly is what I am about. This especially rings true for me as a number of my family members were in the Ontario health system during Covid and I witnessed its shortcomings as three of them passed and I was as helpless as the system was - to help. The care for seniors is woefully underfunded and shamefully so after all that we learned...???... about it's failure during the pandemic crisis.  When my father passed away August 16th, it was the moment I decided to run for Mayor in 2022 to seek answers and advance this agenda. Now I continue in 2023 as committed candidate for Mayor of Toronto 2023 . After all, these elders were the main reason we were locked down. We should endeavor to take care of our own any way we can in Toronto if other levels of government fail and press for more funding directly for these causes. When Torontonians are destabilised, Toronto and it's future are destabilised - we all are destabilised. 

Provide funding to train existing officers in negotiation, crisis de-escalation strategy and mental health awareness. As a touring musician who lived in the shadows of late night for many years in more countries and cities that I can shake a stick at, I can tell you one thing: Defunding the police sends a message to the criminal organizations that Toronto is an open city for crime.  The police are your shepherds that keep the wolves at bay.  I would laterally train 2,000 officers in negotiating in crisis, mental health awareness and non-lethal intervention and other de-escalation methods. Every station on every shift would have the needed number of trained officers to sub into a crisis or confrontation to reduce the unnecessary use of force. I would also increase the size of the force. I would like to expand the Toronto police drone program.  Why build any more static surveillance infrastructure in high risk areas at high costs when we can use drones in that area until no longer needed, then redeploy elsewhere. Yes, static cameras are a deterrent; but to criminals, it is just an expensive work around once identified and the public loses some measure of their expectation of privacy.  Our concern should also be the street-level constable's mental health so more funding for Police mental health support services is necessary. For the record, I oppose any future plans the Feds may have to decriminalize possession of 2.5 grams of opioids, cocaine, methamphetamine and MDMA in the City of Toronto! 

Work with the Province of Ontario and City Council to create a surcharge payable directly the City of Toronto - to reflect the real financial headroom advantage foreign investors have - the spread between the US reserve dollar and ours (approx. 30%). The province gets 20% now - we will charge the difference and 10% on top - approx. 20%. This would be Toronto's to use immediately and unlike the 20% the Province of Ontario makes off Toronto now,  we don't have to beg to get it back. We could use this to reign in our debt and service budget needs as we grant foreign investors access to our stable banking and real estate safe haven. This is one our greatest assets in the coming troubled financial times so foreign investment needs to pay respect to their partnership with the citizens of Toronto as rents soar. The extra revenue for the city will help "dress" new developments with the services that will make your city more livable - without you footing the entire bill with your taxes .  For example, they either build a community center or other public infrastructure right into their plans to the value of 20% of the project or we will need to receive a 20% surcharge before any project funded from overseas money is approved.  The Mayor should recognise that "budgetary addiction to land transfer taxes",  that allows suppression of property taxes, has to end as economic times change. As Mayor, I will find sources of revenue like this to fund the services you want. The current mayor and other candidates;  their promises, unfortunately, are hollow if they cannot point directly to the revenue they plan to use. We will be short 800 million to 1 billion, depending who you talk to,  in this current budget right now. 

I propose we create an Indigenous park right downtown that we ask Indigenous people to curate and guide in an effort to 1) learn and seek reconciliation as we ask Indigenous people from across the city, province and country to share their culture and story in our midst as we listen and 2) promote the commerce that could result from the networking of off reserve indigenous with their home nations. When elders deem appropriate, I envision not only non Indigenous Canadians experiencing Indigenous cultural events but also visitors to Canada.  The Spirit Garden at Nathan Phillips Square is a wonderful start but giving back a sizable tract of land for all indigenous nations to use as they see fit,  365 days a year,  would be a proper offering.  We have choices 1) West Island at Ontario Place has infrastructure that is not in use and has isolated green space ideal for the true isolation a  sweat lodge requires. Why is the Province thinking of a giant indoor waterpark and spa in particular for West Island. The Mayor needs to stand up and speak to a better use for the space on OUR waterfront. 2) The proposed parkland to cover the rail lands south of Front Street or 3) Port lands currently under development - surely we can negotiate for land in this sprawling redevelopment.   We have to act quickly before all land options are  consumed by development. This should only be implemented with the approval of the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee and the Wendat peoples.

Provide resident and community approved  interest free micro loans for small business and non for profit organizations that serve the local community and anchor neighborhoods in each ward. Many small entities could not benefit from the past economic bail out programs and took on massive debt.  For at least the next year, Councilors and residents can participate in saving “anchor” businesses in their neighborhoods they choose to help if they become insolvent. The real danger for debt laden small businesses will be the next 12 months as we face high interest rates and inflation. Micro loans of up to $10 000 could make the difference as they have in other countries around the world. Let's learn from others around the world what works as we are not the only people with good ideas. 

The gig-economy, through online apps, is making huge profits but they need to share and show responsibility toward citizens, workers and the safety and welfare of all people in this city as good corporate citizens.  They need to adhere to rules we have learned in public departments through decades of trial and error, accident and tragedy. We have graciously allowed them access  to our lucrative economy and they have only caused the current Mayor to lessen the regulation and oversight we built up over years.. The Taxi industry for example has much less strict oversight, thus lowering safety standards while ride sharing companies have no real oversight that is governed by you? Why? Do ride sharing gig workers even have the  appropriate insurance to cover you if you are in a catastrophic accident? Who knows? We don't. also, ride sharing gig economy companies do not contribute a percentage of thoer rides to wheel Trans as taxi companies do. Raise standards, don’t lower them. 

Control rents on a building permit level so that developers must be good corporate citizens and replace the same number of low cost units they tear down while profiting from the increased density granted - starting immediately  We should not be allowing affordable housing and reasonably priced commercial small business space to be tore down and replaced unless the developer replaces and maintains the same number of units and offers them first to the occupants being displaced. This is the better way to reduce the risk of homelessness to families and older adults. Yes, continue with provincially and federally funded initiatives to build affordable housing, but the numbers being built palki compare to the number of affordable spaces being lost to unchecked development. Is that really solving the problem,,,,,No. Preventing loss first, then building far more affordable spaces is the only way to allow a generation of Torontonians to own their own home or rent at reasonable prices.  It must be our mandate with every permit issued as we head in to uncertain economic times. 

We need performance clauses, including timelines, in contracts we issue subcontractors, and we need to act on non-performance every step of the way. Your tax dollars are guaranteed. That should be prized and respected in these troubled economic times. No matter the infraction, we should follow up as the dollars to pay for services and infrastructure will be hard to come by with Toronto's projected budgetary shortfall to rise to $1 billion.  Your tax dollars need to be spent as wisely as you would do in your household or small business. As well, all free perks from parking to free tickets at Toronto's Zoo, for elected officials, be abolished. When i recognise what my pay would be as Mayor of Toronto, it is absurd to think I could not pay full price like every other citizen of Toronto and frankly speaking - it is an insult to Torontonians in tough economic times not to do so!

All buses are to be at least hybrid or eclectic - not diesel and one type. We need more clean buses on more routes. I propose like other North American cities , we phase streetcars out to save money and increase the number of buses to carry more people.  Like San Francisco, a few tourist cars can service the downtown. Toronto’s transit still needs to coexist with bikes, cars and trucks - everyday traffic. With the new division of street traffic, streetcars block and slow traffic around them resulting in more pollution as that traffic stops, starts and idles.  From dewiring to closing the outer lane as passengers get off, they are no longer a realistic or efficient solution as much as we love the identity they lend to the city. It is inevitable that we recognise am unspoken future reality - cars and trucks will all be electric and be valid environmental independent transportation that will be sharing the road indefinably. I propose that we add conductors to TTC vehicles like buses and subway cars for safety and fare enforcement. When riders feel safe, I believe they will choose the better way more often and the TTC will financially benefit as it should, instead of shortfalls in revenue.  I would also replace Scarborough's first priority “red- bus only lanes “with lanes that also include cabs, two person carpooling and electric vehicles. An inner bike lane could be added with redivision of the roadway. 

Make garbage pickup across the City uniformly run by the City of Toronto.  No more private pick up. Corporations need to develop recycling programs that match our goals for the individual household and we need to revisit and study what amount of waste in the recycling stream is actually getting recycled. In the boundaries of Toronto, I will seek to reduce plastic by working with retailers large and small to encourage them to stock product that are packaged in glass, paper or cardboard, not plastic. Companies that package in plastic will have to participate in some form to contribute to reducing the problem at the source. We do not have to pay for all of the huge carbon footprint that is forced upon us by the convince plastic brings to producers and retailers. Vote with your dollar in the meantime and favour purchase of glass, paper fibre packaging and other 100% recyclable packaging when you shop. Having all players in mass consumption perform as partners in recycling will save immerse amounts of tax dollars, your personal effort and tons of unnecessary plastic from reaching landfill .  Right now only approximately 9% of plastic collected for recycling gets recycled. I would like to see Toronto join the list of Plastic Smart cities in the world.  

As the chair of council, the Mayor needs to ensure that there is not a disproportionate number of approvals and permits issued in the months leading up to municipal elections.  Careless decisions are part of the reason there is a housing and small business crisis in this city. As each municipal election looms the speed at which motions are approved, seems to always increase.  This fundamentally undermines your vote and is wrong governance for the Mayor - especially as that Mayor seeks re-election. Any Mayor  that fails to stop or recognise this is out of touch with the people running against the current of Democracy. 

With the savings outlined in my platform, we will have more power to negotiate with the Province. We are the economic engine of this province and are happy to share in the form of taxes, as long as we get back what we need to sustain then grow. If the province does not understand this, we need to remind them.