FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 8, 2010

Mayoral hopefuls: Stop trash talking Toronto

TORONTO – One Toronto, a citizen’s group concerned about the negative tone of this Fall’s mayoral campaign, took aim at busting key myths dominating Toronto’s municipal election.

Drawing from public statistical sources, One Toronto made the case that city spending, taxes, and finances are not out of control – contrary to the stereotype promoted by several municipal candidates.

“A factual review of the key trends in Toronto's finances thoroughly refutes the claim that the city is somehow slipping into financial chaos,” says economist Jim Stanford. “Toronto has the lowest residential property taxes in the GTA – and on a per capita basis, property taxes have only kept up with inflation.

“Torontonians are getting a bargain for living in what many rank as the best place in the world. They pay less than four per cent of their income in city residential property taxes and user fees but, in return, they gain $3,500 per person worth of essential public services such as roads, transit, emergency help and more.”

Torontonians count on those services, says Gail Nyberg, Daily Bread Food Bank.
“Coming out of a recession, the need in our community has grown but that’s not the focus in this election,” says Nyberg. “The tone of this year’s municipal campaign has taken a turn for the nasty -- but there’s two weeks to address the real problems facing Toronto, not the fake ones.”

Susan Eng, CARP Vice-President of Advocacy, worries about the toll the slash and burn tenor of the mayoral race could have on people in need.

“Older Torontonians have paid taxes all their lives and have spent years building a city we can be proud of,” says Eng. “They expect their taxes to be well spent and want the City to stay true to the values of equity and inclusiveness as well as age-friendly. The rhetoric so far is unsettling.”

Did you know?

• • The City of Toronto had a $355 million operating surplus last year, and  maintains an AA1 credit rating.
• • The city has $15 billion more assets than debt, and takes on new debt only for long-term capital projects.
• • PriceWaterhouseCoopers just named Toronto the most livable city in the world.
• • AON Consulting ranks Toronto the least risky city for employment in the world.
• • KPMG says Toronto has the fifth most competitive taxes in the world.

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For more information please contact: Jennifer Story (647) 966.6310.

Download the One Toronto PowerPoint presentation at http://www.onetoronto.ca .