Helvede

1 post1 participant0 posts today

Robert ZaichkowskiHey <a class="hashtag" href="https://bsky.app/search?q=%23BikeTO" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#BikeTO</a>! Toronto's 2025 Ride of Silence to honour fallen cyclists will be held on Wednesday, May 21. Meet 6:30 PM at Bloor and Spadina for 7:00 PM departure. <a class="hashtag" href="https://bsky.app/search?q=%23TOpoli" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#TOpoli</a> <a class="hashtag" href="https://bsky.app/search?q=%23ONpoli" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#ONpoli</a> <a class="hashtag" href="https://bsky.app/search?q=%23VisionZero" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#VisionZero</a> <a class="hashtag" href="https://bsky.app/search?q=%23YouNeverRideAlone" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#YouNeverRideAlone</a> <a href="https://facebook.com/events/s/ride-of-silence-2025/555033473737274/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">facebook.com/events/s/rid...</a> <a href="https://facebook.com/events/s/ride-of-silence-2025/555033473737274/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">RIde of Silence 2025</a>

Robert ZaichkowskiThanks <a class="mention" href="https://bsky.brid.gy/ap/did:plc:ny5w2k6brb2kdubxnevke6li" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">@brenttoderian.bsky.social</a> for spreading the word about tonight's <a class="hashtag" href="https://bsky.app/search?q=%23CriticalMass" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#CriticalMass</a> ride in Toronto. And to <a class="mention" href="https://bsky.app/profile/torontotoday.ca" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">@torontotoday.ca</a> for citing my blog post in the article. Meet 6:00 PM at Bloor and Spadina for 6:30 PM departure rain or shine! <a class="hashtag" href="https://bsky.app/search?q=%23BikeTO" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#BikeTO</a> <a class="hashtag" href="https://bsky.app/search?q=%23TOpoli" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#TOpoli</a> <a class="hashtag" href="https://bsky.app/search?q=%23ONpoli" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#ONpoli</a> <a class="hashtag" href="https://bsky.app/search?q=%23VisionZero" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#VisionZero</a> RE: <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:ny5w2k6brb2kdubxnevke6li/post/3llgs52pj4222" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:ny5w2k6brb2kdubxnevke6li/post/3llgs52pj4222</a>

nevRight, I'm going home after this to do work. Many thanks to anyone who followed along!<a href="https://bananachips.club/tags/TOpoli" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#TOpoli</a> <a href="https://bananachips.club/tags/TOcouncil" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#TOcouncil</a>

nevThompson criticizes the Ombudsman's "timidity" in not calling out the systemic racism of the City's policy. Fletcher says she wants accountability office oversight "like the CP24 Eye in the Sky". (I nobly do not make a Magnus Archives reference.) Her motion includes that "1. City Council request the City Solicitor to report directly to City Council with advice on options available to City Council when there are incorrect facts or incorrect legal advice presented to City Council by the Accountability Officers." *raises eyebrow* This should be interesting. Council is going to try to wrap this up before going for lunch. Unanimous yeses. Now, lunch. May just go home?<a href="https://bananachips.club/tags/TOcouncil" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#TOcouncil</a> <a href="https://bananachips.club/tags/TOpoli" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#TOpoli</a>

nevThe traditional ritual of showing new Council-watchers how to do Deaf applause/jazz hands so they don't get kicked out for clapping.Perks notes the many interpretations of the "right to housing" by various staff, including Tanner's statement that the Housing Charter is "aspirational". Says Bravo's motion, unlike the Ombud's report, puts in place a framework to "discuss the City’s obligations flowing from its commitment to progressively realize housing as a human right by June 30, 2025, and include updates from that discussion as part of the Council-directed reporting to Executive Committee…in the third quarter of 2025."Perks: "Nobody gets my vote this election if they say [municipalities] have to take on federal responsibilities [to house refugees]."<a href="https://bananachips.club/tags/TOcouncil" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#TOcouncil</a> <a href="https://bananachips.club/tags/TOpoli" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#TOpoli</a>

nevFriendly questions basically giving Bravo the opportunity to say this incorporates all the Ombudsman's recommendations and even goes *beyond* it. Man idk. This (lack of) reception of an Ombudsman's report is unprecedented and Hella Sus.Matlow now up. Recounting a conversation with Rev. Alexa Gilmour (now the MPP for Parkdale-High Park) one winter night, when there were people outside Peter St., feet away from a shelter that they could not get into. He called the TTC CEO about maybe sending a bus, Tanner about maybe a boardroom. But that ad hoc solution isn't a "system," he says. He says Council let down the Black community when they didn't debate the Ombudsman's report. Acknowledges the Black churches who stepped up to actually house refugees. Moise: "Beyond policy and procedures and good intentions," it was traumatizing for the refugees, for Black staff, the Black community at large, and "for me, because I had to witness it myself and could not help in a way I would like to." Says, confirmed by orgs like the 519, EGALE, and Rainbow Road, he knows many were also fleeing anti-gay persecution. He has an amendment asking for TSSS to track and meet the needs of 2SLGBTQ refugees.<a href="https://bananachips.club/tags/TOcouncil" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#TOcouncil</a> <a href="https://bananachips.club/tags/TOpoli" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#TOpoli</a>

nevA round of applause for a class from Seneca College here "to see democracy in action".Bravo now formally presents her extensive motion (<a href="https://secure.toronto.ca/council/agenda-item.do?item=2025.CC28.2" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" translate="no" target="_blank">https://secure.toronto.ca/council/agenda-item.do?item=2025.CC28.2</a>). It incorporates the recommendations in the Ombudsman's report.Bravo recalls that when this policy change became public, she, the Mayor, and many others weren't even elected. She says she found out about the policy change at a <a href="https://mastodon.social/@fcjrefugeecentre" class="u-url mention" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">@fcjrefugeecentre</a> street party. Thompson notes Bravo's motion doesn't formally adopt the Ombudsman's recommendations. She says she didn't do so because if they adopt the recommendations as-is "it becomes City policy". *presses X to doubt* <a href="https://bananachips.club/tags/TOcouncil" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#TOcouncil</a> <a href="https://bananachips.club/tags/TOPoli" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#TOPoli</a>

nevPersonal comment: obviously this is a complicated and multifaceted issue with many legal and financial aspects…but I suspect that at least a small part of the City's and Council's unprecedentedly…hostile response to the Ombudsman's report is simply due to white people feeling that they're being accused of racism and just losing their fucking minds<a href="https://bananachips.club/tags/TOcouncil" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#TOcouncil</a> <a href="https://bananachips.club/tags/TOpoli" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#TOpoli</a>

nevChow once again cites how the IHAP program is being wound down and closed, and how the eligibility requirements exclude people who haven't yet completed a refugee claim. She mentions that there is a federal election going on and hopes that every party will take the issue seriously.(Narrator: they won't) <a href="https://bananachips.club/tags/TOcouncil" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#TOcouncil</a> <a href="https://bananachips.club/tags/TOpoli" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#TOpoli</a>

nevNow the Mayor is up, with an amendment to Bravo's advance-circulated motion (<a href="https://secure.toronto.ca/council/agenda-item.do?item=2025.CC28.2" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" translate="no" target="_blank">https://secure.toronto.ca/council/agenda-item.do?item=2025.CC28.2</a>) asking for help from the federal government (and for them not to cut crucial programs). <a href="https://bananachips.club/tags/TOcouncil" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#TOcouncil</a> <a href="https://bananachips.club/tags/TOpoli" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#TOpoli</a>

nevMoise asks if Tanner is aware of an influx of LGBTQ people from Africa fleeing persecution in their home countries. Tanner says yes, and that during that time TSSS opened its first trans shelter for adults (note: did any asylum-seekers get to access it tho?).<a href="https://bananachips.club/tags/TOcouncil" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#TOcouncil</a> <a href="https://bananachips.club/tags/TOpoli" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#TOpoli</a>

nevIn response to a question from Thompson, Ombudsman says his office doesn't have to be a human rights body to make a finding of systemic discrimination—Black people *were* disproportionately affected.Ombudsman reiterates once again that it's not useful to compare this situation with how Ukrainian refugees were received (for multiple reasons, including the different programs supporting them).Holyday asks Tanner whether refugees come to Toronto because they have an impression there are more resources to help them. Tanner says yes. I am a little more dubious. Canada only has so many international airports, man. Moise asks Tanner what other jurisdictions, like Vancouver and Halifax, are doing. Tanner says he's most familiar with other cities in Ontario. Some cities have separated their programs entirely, for instance. "There must be some best practices out there," says Moise. <a href="https://bananachips.club/tags/TOcouncil" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#TOcouncil</a> <a href="https://bananachips.club/tags/TOpoli" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#TOpoli</a>

nevCheng asks how much coordination is going on with other municipalities ("some")—to put it crassly, are we pawning off as many people off on other cities as we can?Tanner says since 2023 4800(?) people have been referred to other municipalities, and a "reception centre" has been opened in Peel Region.In response to Thompson's frank question, City Manager Paul Johnson says staff didn't accept the report because it didn't seem to acknowledge that there was no federal funding at that point to support refugees, and mis-ascribed policy to staff. (However, part of the Ombudsman's report was that different staff themselves were unclear on what policy was and there were different interpretations...)<a href="https://bananachips.club/tags/TOcouncil" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#TOcouncil</a> <a href="https://bananachips.club/tags/TOpoli" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#TOpoli</a>

nevMore questions about the impending end of the program reimbursing the City for the (very high) costs of accommodating refugees in the shelter system. There will also be cuts to funding for settlement services—e. g. local organizations will be less able to coordinate efforts and work with other agencies. Tanner says TSSS will have to "scale back and reduce our footprint".Cheng asks about peak number of refugees in shelter system (6500 out of about 12000 beds). Cheng asks if non-refugees were therefore pushed out of the system. Tanner says "this work was about trying to create some balance" and that racialized people are also overrepresented in the shelter system, in encampments, etc. (The unpleasant implication in the Ombudsman's report was that refugees were denied resources out of concern they would take resources from non-refugees.)<a href="https://bananachips.club/tags/TOcouncil" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#TOcouncil</a> <a href="https://bananachips.club/tags/TOpoli" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#TOpoli</a>

nev(Note: you should also be reading <a href="https://mastodon.social/@GraphicMatt" class="u-url mention" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">@GraphicMatt</a>'s posts—neither of us are writing down *everything* people are saying, and we're not necessarily recording the same stuff.)<a href="https://bananachips.club/tags/TOcouncil" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#TOcouncil</a> <a href="https://bananachips.club/tags/TOpoli" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#TOpoli</a>

nevBravo asks the SDFA (Social Development, Finance & Administration) head about exceptions to the City's AccessTO policy (of not limiting access to city services based on immigration status). The exception is when the program depends on funding from another level of government (i.e., provincial, financial) and that level of government has immigration status as a requirement, e. g. Ontario Works. Fletcher asks TSSS's Tanner if they actually have to ask shelter users about immigration status. He says that it's a requirement of funding. According to TSSS, while staff reported that there were available beds that were not being given to refugees, the shelter system policy is to hold a small number of vacant beds in case they're needed for, e. g., referrals from 211. Burnside says AccessTO doesn't apply to refugees, it's about undocumented residents. The Ombudsman says according to staff, the implementation was considerably wider "to ensure universal access". Burnside: would it have changed things if refugees understood why City staff had to ask about their immigration status? The Ombud says that's not what it's about, his findings were specifically that the City's decision was *wrong.*<a href="https://bananachips.club/tags/TOcouncil" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#TOcouncil</a> <a href="https://bananachips.club/tags/TOpoli" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#TOpoli</a>

nevPasternak up, asking why Ombudsman reports go to City staff first, allowing staff to comment and, as Pasternak characterizes it, pre-empting Council's decision/debate. Er, okay. (In this case, staff didn't accept the report and didn't add comments or feedback.) Pasternak's line of questioning seems to be that the federal government is the one who should rightly be covering the cost of housing refugees. TSSS's Gord Tanner explain that while the feds mostly reimbursed the City, that particular program is getting severely cut and will end entirely in 2027. Wheee.<a href="https://bananachips.club/tags/TOcouncil" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#TOcouncil</a> <a href="https://bananachips.club/tags/TOpoli" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#TOpoli</a>

nevMatlow asks if there are any other City services where people have to explain their immigration status. (Not really, thanks to AccessTO: <a href="https://www.toronto.ca/city-government/accountability-operations-customer-service/long-term-vision-plans-and-strategies/access-to-city-services-for-undocumented-torontonians/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" translate="no" target="_blank">https://www.toronto.ca/city-government/accountability-operations-customer-service/long-term-vision-plans-and-strategies/access-to-city-services-for-undocumented-torontonians/</a> )Addo comments, "If there's a bed available, an individual should have it [regardless of immigration status]." Well good thing there's never beds available *laughs mirthlessly*Matlow asks Addo to comment on staff's impression that Addo was accusing them of anti-Black racism. I mean, regardless of staff's attitudes, it primarily affected asylum-seekers and refugees from Africa, soooo… (This is basically what the Ombud says too.)<a href="https://bananachips.club/tags/TOcouncil" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#TOcouncil</a> <a href="https://bananachips.club/tags/TOpoli" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#TOpoli</a>

nevNow, a talk from the Ombudsman on the current item, refugees in the shelter system. He notes that because the City did not accept the report, his staff can't track how his recommendations are implemented, or if they are at all.<a href="https://bananachips.club/tags/TOcouncil" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#TOcouncil</a> <a href="https://bananachips.club/tags/TOpoli" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#TOpoli</a>

nevDeputy Mayor Ausma Malik just wants to quickly speak about an urgent coyote plan, calling the recent frequency of encounters and coyote behaviour in the downtown core "unprecedented". <a href="https://bananachips.club/tags/TOcouncil" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#TOcouncil</a> <a href="https://bananachips.club/tags/TOpoli" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#TOpoli</a>

Recent searches

Search options

Administered by:

Server stats:

#TOpoli