Mental health supports and investments in social services must be prioritized.
2023 Budget: Police Budget and Warming Centres Update
One of the most common themes in this year's budget was the Toronto Police Service (TPS) with the Mayor's proposed increase of $48 million to the TPS bringing the total budget to $1.1 billion, the single largest expense to the city each year. The increase was juxtaposed with the reluctance of City Council to fund 24/7 warming centres for the city's most vulnerable.
At the meeting, Councillor Alejandra Bravo moved a motion to reallocate 0.09% of the police budget towards the provision of drop-in spaces for individuals experiencing homelessness. This would have left an increase of over $47 million to the Toronto Police, and would have given people currently sleeping on the street, or on the TTC, a safe and welcoming alternative - the same folks the police are being asked to remove from TTC premises.
After learning that TPS management has spent over $300,000 on a podcast series and that 86 senior command officers have fully covered company cars - costing $700,000 per year - I believe that this reduction could have been easily accommodated.
I supported this motion but unfortunately it was defeated at City Council by a vote of 17-8.
Toronto is a caring city and I will continue to support an approach to community safety that prioritizes mental health supports and investments in social services.
Learn more about the 2023 city budget here.
