John Tory, facing Scarborough business owners, again pledges Eglinton East rail line and municipal jobs

Thestar.com
July 25, 2022

It’s tradition now in Scarborough that community leaders and business owners gather annually to see Mayor John Tory and ask him for things they feel Scarborough needs.

People at such gatherings have asked Tory to move thousands of municipal jobs to Scarborough, for $2.5 million to study a Living Arts Centre proposal, and for a Scarborough economic plan.

On July 15, however, members of the Scarborough Business Association didn’t ask that much from Tory, who’s widely expected to win a third term this fall.

When the mayor finished speaking at the Grand Cinnamon Banquet Hall, hundreds stood and applauded.

Tory presented himself as a mayor who achieved “world-leading” vaccination numbers during the pandemic while making decisions with “wartime speed,” and as the responsible leader the city needs to recover economically.

Billions in transit investment, he said, is coming to Scarborough for the first time since amalgamation, and Tory suggested there was “more pride arising in this community” as a result.

The mayor was speaking not just about the Scarborough Subway extension but the Eglinton East Light-Rail-Transit line, now stalled without provincial support.

Tory, who’s promised to build both projects since 2016, pledged again EELRT will be built: “It’s going to finally connect Malvern and people who live there.”

The mayor said a year ago he would support Scarborough Health Network’s Love, Scarborough campaign. The campaign is near its initial goal, and Tory told the SBA he found ways to help the hospital.

Tory also said “hundreds” of municipal jobs would move to Scarborough Civic Centre following renovations there. The Scarborough Community Renewal Organization initially asked Tory to move 3,000 jobs to the former borough’s municipal building, and Tory has promised to move some city jobs there since 2015.

The mayor said two out of every three Scarborough commercial properties will qualify for a 15-per-cent small-business municipal tax cut.

He joked the SBA should find him an apartment in Scarborough, “because I’ve been here five of the last seven days” attending events.

During time for questions, Raymund Guiste, from the back of the hall, told the mayor Scarborough youth face barriers to career pathways.

Executive director of Tropicana Community Services, Guiste wanted to hear how the city could remove such barriers, particularly for racialized youth.

After Tory responded by naming existing resources, including youth hubs, job fairs and summer employment programs, Guiste said he was pleased with Tory’s answer.

Tropicana receives significant funds from the city, but it’s important to support youth on pathways to viable careers, including apprenticeships, he said.

Guiste was reminded Tory had promised to support efforts to establish a centre for learning skilled trades in Scarborough, a project identified by community groups as a top local priority.

Guiste, however, was firm in his opinion of Tory. “He’s led well through the pandemic. I look to him in his third term to have partnerships and find ways to work together,” Guiste said.

Kula Sellathurai, CEO of Netwyn Place, asked Tory how small and diverse Scarborough businesses can win city contracts.

Toronto Mayor John Tory throws weight behind Scarborough hospital renewal plan
The mayor admitted a social procurement policy to make contracts more equitable is not as successful as he’d like it to be.

After Tory added diverse businesses should contact the city more about possible opportunities -- “You have to make a nuisance in front of us,” the mayor suggested -- Sellathurai said he was satisfied.

We need to learn more about the process, he said, but added Scarborough’s many diverse businesses would benefit from a policy allowing them to fill smaller contracts, such as “maps and apps,” or catering.

“We need to start somewhere before we go for multimillion-dollar projects,” said Sellathurai.

Current SCRO president Larry Whatmore told the mayor that people know the city is under pressure to convert Scarborough’s employment lands to condominiums.

Whatmore appeared to be asking Tory to commit to a ban on such conversions, but the mayor said that wasn’t practical.