>> SO OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS KRISTYN
WONG‑ TAM.
KRYSTIN IS A CITY COUNSELOR IN TORONTO
AND IS A TIRELESS COMMUNITY ADVOCATE AND HAS A
DISTINGUISHED TRACK RECORD IN HUMAN RIGHTS
ADVOCACY.
SHE HAS LED EFFORTS TO DEFEND THE RIGHTS
OF TENANTS TO OBTAIN AFFORDABLE AND DECENT
STANDARDS IN HOUSING.
AND HELPED CREATE
NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS AND MANY OTHER THINGS.
ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS GOOGLE HER NAME AND SHE IS
ONE OF THE FIRST THAT COMES UP WHEN YOU GOOGLE
COUNCILOR AND ADVOCACY.
AND SO I WOULD LIKE TO
INVITE HER TO COME UP TO THE PODIUM.
[ APPLAUSE ]
>>KRISTYN WONG‑ TAM:
MUCH.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THANK YOU VERY
IT'S A REAL THRILL
AND DELIGHT TO BE HERE WITH YOU THIS MORNING.
I HAVE TO SAY THAT THE PRESENTATIONS
HAVE BEEN ILLUMINATING I HAVE LEARNED QUITE A BIT
JUST BECAUSE VERY OFTEN THE TOPIC OF ACCESSIBILITY
COMES UP IN CITY HALL.
HOW DOES IT RESULT IN ACTION AND WHAT IS
THE IMPACT TO PEOPLE'S LIVES?
THAT IS SOMETHING
THAT WE STILL NEED TO DO A BETTER JOB AT AND
ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO MEASUREMENT.
AND I'M NOT SURE IF I ALWAYS WANT TO
SPEAK ABOUT EQUITY IN RELATIONSHIP TO THE RATE OF
RETURN.
I JUST DON'T THINK THAT IS A VIABLE
MEASUREMENT FOR US IF WE'RE GOING TO BUILD AN
EQUITABLE CIVIL SOCIETY.
MY TOPIC TODAY IS COMMUNITY AND SOCIAL
INCLUSION AND HOW DO WE REALLY DO A BETTER JOB AT
DEMOCRATIZING INNOVATION.
WORDS.
AND THIS IS MORE HEADY
AND THE LEXICON WE USE AT OCAD UNIVERSITY
MAY NOT BE THE SAME ONE USED AT CITY HALL OR THE
ONE THAT IS BANTERED AROUND NEIGHBORHOODS.
AND HOW DO WE BREAK THROUGH THAT AND
MAKE IT ACCESSIBLE?
SO I WILL FOCUS LARGELY ON
CITY BUILDING AND NEIGHBORHOOD BUILDING
INITIATIVES THAT IS THE PLACE THAT I CAN SPEAK TO
ESPECIALLY AS A NEW CITY COUNCILOR.
I WAS ELECTED
A MERE 18 MONTHS AGO.
SO PRIOR TO THAT I COULD NOT FIND MYSELF
ON GOOGLE.
AND SO MUCH OF MY EXPERIENCE IS STILL
VERY MUCH INFORMED FROM MY INVOLVEMENT IN ADVOCACY
IN CIVIL SOCIETY AS SOMEONE WHO IS A PRIVATE
CITIZEN WHO HAS BECOME AN ELECTED OFFICIAL.
NOW, THE CONCEPT OF SOCIAL INNOVATION
AND SOCIAL INCLUSION, SOCIAL COHESIVITY ARE ONES
THAT NEED TO BE UNPACKED.
CAUGHT UP IN LANGUAGE.
BECAUSE WE CAN GET
AND WHAT DOES THAT
LANGUAGE LOOK LIKE AND HOW DOES THAT SOUND AND WHO
USES IT AND WHO DOESN'T IS ALL PART OF THOSE
DISCUSSIONS OF ACCESS AND EQUITY.
AND SO I'M GOING TO PERHAPS PROVIDE A
FEW ILLUSTRATIVE EXAMPLES WHERE I THINK THAT WE
CAN DO A BETTER JOB FROM CITY HALL.
AND ALSO HOW
DO WE ENSURE THAT WE ARE ACTIVELY ENGAGED IN CITY
AND COMMUNITY BUILDING INITIATIVES.
SO WE ARE NOT
ELECTED OFFICIALS AND HANDING OVER ALL OF THE
POWER TO THEM.
I AM INTERESTED IN GIVING THE
POWER BACK TO THE PEOPLE.
I DON'T THINK THAT THE POWER SITS WITH
VERY WELL WITH 44 PEOPLE WHEN WE HAVE A CITY WITH
MILLIONS OF PEOPLE LIVING AND TALKING IN DIFFERENT
LANGUAGES.
IN MY CASE WARD 23 RIGHT DOWN TO SOOT
NEIGHBORHOOD THAT I REPRESENT WHICH IS MOSS PARK
THAT IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPOVERISHED NEIGHBORHOODS
NOT JUST IN TORONTO BUT ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
AND
OF COURSE THE OTHER NEIGHBORHOOD ON THE OTHER END
TO THE SOCIAL ECONOMIC STRAY A IS ROSE DALE, THAT
HAPPENS TO BE ONE OF THE MOST ESTABLISHED AND
WEALTHY NEIGHBORHOODS IN THE COUNTRY.
HOW DO WE
BRIDGE THOSE COMMUNITIES?
AND THIS ARE SOME THINGS THAT DIVIDE US.
BUT THERE ARE FAR MORE THAT CAN CONNECT US.
SO I'LL BREAK IT DOWN TO A COUPLE OF
EXAMPLES.
RECENTLY THERE WAS A DEBATE ON TRANSIT.
AND IT WAS SO SIMPLIFIED IT WAS ALMOST INSULTING.
AND WE BROUGHT IT DOWN TO ARE YOU PRO SUBWAY OR
PRO STREETCARS.
SO THAT BECAME THE POLARIZED
METHOD OF DISCUSSION.
PRO SUBWAY.
USE TRANSIT.
YOU ARE EITHER PRO LRT OR
THERE WAS NO DISCUSSION OF HOW DO WE
HOW DO WE BUILD PROSPERITY AND
CONNECTIVITY IN THE CITY AND WHO IS GOING TO BE
USING THE TRANSIT AND HOW DO THEY USE THE TRANSIT?
AND OFTEN TIMES WE TALK AND ASK COMPANIES FOR
SURVEYS AND THEY PRODUCE THE SURVEYS OF WHO THEIR
CUSTOMER BASE IS.
AND WHAT I FOUND TO BE SO MUCH
AS A STRUGGLE AS AN ADVOCATE, A NEW ADVOCATE TO
CITY HALL IS IT WAS WAY TOO SIMPLIFIED.
SO IN OTHER CITIES AROUND THE WORLD THEY
HAVE ACTUALLY STARTED TO RETHINK HOW THEY BUILD
SOCIAL INFRASTRUCTURE.
THEY HAVE TO BUILD IT FOR
THOSE THAT ARE USING THE INFRASTRUCTURE.
AND THIS
INFRASTRUCTURE THAT IS CURRENTLY BEING BANTER ED
AROUND THAT WE NEED ARE ITEMED SUCH AS HOUSING,
SUCH AS TRANSIT.
BUT WE DIDN'T REALLY ASK THE QUESTIONS
TO GET THE RIGHT ANSWERS.
BECAUSE RIGHT AWAY
WE'RE POLARIZED INTO TWO IDEOLOGICAL CAMPS.
SO
THOSE LIVING IN THE SUBURBS WANTED SUBWAYS AND
THOSE LIVING DOWNTOWN WANTED THE LRT'S.
INSTEAD OF BREAKDOWN THE WALLS AND
BRINGING NEIGHBORHOODS TOGETHER WE DID A VERY
EFFECTIVE JOB OF DIVIDING THE CITY, DIVIDING THE
CITY ALONG NEIGHBORHOODS AND ALSO DIVIDING THE
CITY AROUND ETHNO CULTURAL LINES.
BECAUSE THE MOVEMENT ABOUT ‑ ‑ THE
MOVEMENT AFOOT IN SCARBOROUGH WAS DRIVEN BY AN
ETHNO‑ CULTURAL POPULATION THAT I BELONG TO.
THE
CHINESE‑ CANADIAN, SOUTH ASIAN GROUPS BECAUSE THAT
IS WHAT THEY TOLD WERE THEIR CHOICES.
SO HOW DO WE REPHRASE THE DISCUSSIONS
AND HAVE THE INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY THAT WE
NEED TO HAVE TO ENSURE THAT IT'S ACCESSIBLE TO
ALL?
WHAT WE FOUND OUT THROUGH THE TRANSIT
DEBATE IS THAT COMMUNITIES WHO ARE NOT WIRED AND
FULLY CONNECTED WERE NOT NECESSARILY GETTING ALL
OF THE INFORMATION.
I ACTUALLY ENDED UP HIRING SOMEONE IN MY
OFFICE TO PROVIDE TRANSLATION SERVICES FOR THE LRT
GROUP LARGELY BECAUSE THE MANDARINS HAVE/CHINESE
SPEAKING POPULATION IN SCARBOROUGH WAS ONLY
GETTING INFORMATION FROM ONE SIDE.
SO BECAUSE
THEY WERE ONLY GETTING INFORMATION FROM WIN SIDE
THEY WERE MAKING THEIR DECISIONS BASED ON THE DATA
AVAILABLE TO THEM.
SO ONCE I STARTED AND UNDERSTAND THAT I
REPRESENT ONE OF THE BUSIEST WARDS IN DOWNTOWN
TORONTO WITH A LOT OF COMPLEXITIES.
TORONTO, CENTER, ROSEDALE WARD 27.
IT IS
IT IS THE
SECOND MOST POPULOUS WARD IN THE CITY.
AND I AM
CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENING SCARBOROUGH.
I
WAS CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT WAS HAPPENING IN
SCARBOROUGH BECAUSE I DIDN'T THINK WE WERE HAVING
AN HONEST CONVERSATION.?
SO I HIRED SOMEBODY TO
TRANCE TO TRANSLATE SOME OF THE TECHNICAL DATA
COMING FORWARD FROM THE SPECIAL ADVISORY PANEL ON
THE SCARBOROUGH LRT DEBATE BECAUSE THEY WERE ONLY
GETTING HALF THE STORY.
WITH THAT SIMPLE MOVE FROM MY OFFICE I
THEN STARTED A CAMPAIGN THAT ENGAGED ‑ ‑ THAT
ENGAGED THE CHINESE MEDIA AND I STARTED TO GIVE
THEM TO TECHNICAL DATA THEY WERE NOT NECESSARILY
GETTING.
THAT REALLY IN THE LAST WEEK OF THE
DEBATE SHIFTED THE CONVERSATION EVER SO LITTLE BIT
IN SCARBOROUGH BECAUSE I HAD PEOPLE WHO WERE THEN
CONTACTING MY OFFICE SAYING, NO ONE HAS ACTUALLY
FRAMED THE DEBATE FOR US IN SUCH A MANNER.
AND
ALL THEY NEEDED WAS INFORMATION.
SO ALTHOUGH THERE WAS A HUGE MOVEMENT
AFOOT TO BRING OUT DATA THROUGH TWITTER, THROUGH
SOCIAL MEDIA, WE WERE NOT DOING IT IN WAYS THAT
WERE ALWAYS GOING TO BE ACCESSIBLE TO THOSE WHO
DON'T SPEAK ENGLISH.
AND THAT IS A COMPONENT OF
ACCESSIBILITY AND WE'RE LIVING IN A DIVERSE
SOCIETY SUCH AS TORONTO.
HOW DO WE ENSURE THAT
THOSE WHO ARE NOT IN THE ROOM HAVE THE SAME ACCESS
TO INFORMATION AS THOSE WHO ARE?
AND WHEN I HAVE GONE INTO SOCIALLY
FORWARD THINKING, YOU KNOW, SOCIAL INNOVATION
CLUSTERS, JUST ABOUT EVERY SINGLE PERSON THAT
STEPS FORWARD LOOKS A PARTICULAR WAY.
AND SO WE NEED TO DO A BETTER JOB OF
BREAKING DOWN THOSE CULTURAL AND LINGUISTIC
BARRIERS.
AND I THINK THAT THE RESPONSIBILITY
SITS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE FENCE.
WE DO A BETTER
JOB OF REACHING OUT AND THERE HAS TO BE A BETTER
JOB OF REACHING IN.
OTHERWISE THE TALK ABOUT
SOCIAL INCLUSION AND COMMUNITY BUILDING IS ONLY A
TALK THAT WILL AFFECT A CERTAIN POPULATION AND NOT
EVERYONE.
OTHER THINGS THAT HAVE HAPPENED AT CITY
HALL RECENTLY IS THE TALK ABOUT, YOU KNOW
TRANSFORMATION OF TCHC AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
AND AS WE MOVE TOWARDS BUILDING
AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR CERTAIN POPULATIONS HOW DO
WE BUILD THOSE COMMUNITIES FOR PEOPLE LIVING
THERE.
IF WE HAVE COMMUNITIES DESIGNED AND
BUILT BY ARCHITECTS AND URBAN DESIGNERS AND NOT
PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THOSE COMMUNITIES, WE ARE NOT
GOING TO HAVE AN URBAN BUILT FORM THAT IS GOING TO
BE AS RESPONSIVE AS IT WOULD BE IF WE ENGAGED THE
POPULATION WE'RE DESIGNING. SO A VERY GOOD EXAMPLE
IS IF WE ARE GOING TO REBUILD HOUSING FOR
COMMUNITIES, HOW ENGAGED ARE THEY?
ARE WE COMING
TO THOSE COMMUNITIES WITH MASTER PLANS ALREADY IN
PLACE?
OR DO WE GO TO THEM BEFORE WE PUT ANYTHING
ON PAPER OR BEFORE WITH WE OPEN UP THE i‑ PAD AND
ASK THEM THE QUESTION OF HOW DO YOU LIVE?
WHAT WOULD MAKE AN IDEAL NEIGHBORHOOD
FOR YOU?
WHAT WOULD IT TAKE TO BUILD A HEALTHY
AND INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY?
DINNER?
AND HOW DO YOU SERVE
WHERE DO YOU COOK DINNER?
KIDS STUDY AND PLAY?
WHERE DO THE
AND IF YOU ASK THOSE
QUESTIONS AT THE VERY BEGINNING OF THE DESIGN
PROCESS, THIS IS THE CONSULTATION PIECE, AND NOT
NECESSARILY GO TO COMMUNITIES WITH, YOU KNOW, HALF
COOKED, HALF BAKED TEMPLATED READY TO PLUG IN SOME
EXTRA FEEDBACK.
I THINK THAT WE WOULD BE BUILDING
SOCIAL HOUSING THAT WILL LOOK VERY DIFFERENT TO
WHAT IS ‑ ‑ WHAT HAS BEEN BUILT 40 OR 50 YEARS AGO
AND WHAT COULD BE BUILT IN THE FUTURE.
AND SOME OF THE LEARNINGS FROM OTHER
CITIES IS THAT IF WE'RE ABLE TO GO OUT EARLY AND
ASK THOSE QUESTIONS WITHOUT, YOU KNOW, LEADING
THEM TO AN ANSWER, YOU WILL FIND AND WHAT HAS BEEN
FOUND IS THAT WOMEN WHO LEAD THOSE HOUSEHOLDS
OFTEN WILL TELL YOU THAT THE MOST IMPORTANT SPACE
IN THE HOME IS THE KITCHEN.
SO THEY START
DESIGNING THEIR ENTIRE HOME, THEIR APARTMENT FROM
THE KITCHEN OUT WARD.
AND THAT WAS A VERY
INTERESTING LEARNING BECAUSE IF YOU HAD NOT ASKED
THE FAMILIES HOW THEY WANTED TO LIVE, WHAT WOULD
IT TAKE TO BUILD AN IDEAL, SAFE AND INCLUSIVE
NEIGHBORHOOD?
THOSE ANSWERS WOULD NOT HAVE COME
ABOUT.
THERE ARE TIMES WHERE AND MANY OCCASIONS
WHERE CITY HALL NEEDS THE HELP OF YOU.
AND I
WOULD TELL YOU A MOST INTERESTING CONCEPT THAT I
HAVE FLOATED FORWARD AND IT IS ONE THAT INVOLVES
REVENUE TOOLS AND FINANCING.
NOW IF WE WERE TO CHANGE THE CULTURE OF
TORONTO'S YOU KNOW, POLITICAL CLIMATE AT THE LOCAL
LEVEL ESPECIALLY AS IT PERTAINS TO FINANCING YOU
WILL HEAR RIGHT NOW THAT EVERY SINGLE LEVEL OF
GOVERNMENT IS SPEAK ABOUT AUSTERITY MEASURES.
AND
IF WE SAVE ENOUGH MONEY AND CUT OUR CIVIL SERVICE
BY A QUARTER OR A HALF OR A THIRD WE'LL SAVE
OURSELVES IN PROSPERITY.
WE'LL ‑ ‑ THAT IS THE
MESSAGE COMING FROM ALL 3 LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT.
IF WE REDUCE GOVERNMENTS AND ALL OF THE COSTS OF
THE SERVICES DELIVERED TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY THAT
MAKE LIFE MEANINGFUL AND GIVE YOU QUALITY OF LIFE
IN TORONTO WE WILL BE A MORE PROSPEROUS CITY,
PROVINCE AND COUNTRY.
THE CHALLENGE BEFORE US OF COURSE IS
THAT WE KNOW WE CANNOT SAVE OURSELVES OR REDUCE
OURSELVES INTO A PROSPEROUS INCLUSIVE ECONOMY.
THAT SIMPLY DOESN'T WORK.
AND IN EUROPE
THERE ARE BIG CONVERSATIONS THAT ARE TAKING PLACE
AROUND AUSTERITY.
AND THERE ARE MASSIVE
CONVERSATIONS THAT ARE TAKING PLACE ABOUT WHO HAS
ACCESS TO FINANCES AND WHO DOESN'T.
WHO ACTUALLY
HAS ACCESS TO CREDIT PRODUCT AND WHO DOESN'T.
AND HOW DOES GOVERNMENT FUNCTION NOW FOR
THE PEOPLE?
HAD.
AND THESE ARE BIG CONVERSATIONS TO BE
WE HAVE NOT HAD THE POLITICAL COURAGE AT
CITY HALL TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION.
WE HAVE NOT
BEEN INNOVATIVE AT CITY HALL THAT HAVE SAID TO THE
PEOPLE, HOW CAN WE SOLVE THIS PROBLEM TOGETHER?
THE QUESTIONS WE HAVE COME OUT TO THE COMMUNITY
WITH INCLUDE, WELL, WHAT SERVICES CAN YOU LIVE
WITHOUT?
CARE?
IS IT DAY CARE?
CAN WE REDUCE THE NUMBER OF LITTER PICKERS
TOP STREET?
NEED?
CAN WE PRIVATIZE DAY
WHAT ARE THE THINGS YOU DON'T REALLY
WHAT IS A CORE SERVICE AND WHAT IS GRAVY?
IT IS EXTREMELY FRUSTRATING TO HAVE THAT
CONVERSATION BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THE
INFRASTRUCTURE THAT HAS BEEN BUILT IN THE CITY,
THE SOCIAL INFRASTRUCTURE FROM OUR PARKS TO OUR
LONG‑ TERM CARE FACILITIES IT'S TAKEN A NUMBER OF
YEARS TO BUILD.
AND ONCE WE START TO DISMANTLE
THOSE PIECES, IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO BRING THEM
BACK.
SO I PROPOSE THAT AN IDEA THAT IS NOT
REALLY QUITE NEW, IT IS CENTURIES OLD, THIS IDEA
IS PUBLIC BANKING.
SO THE CONCEPT OF PUBLIC BANKING IS NEW
TO TORONTO BUT NOT NECESSARILY NEW TO OTHER PARTS
OF THE WORLD.
WHY DID I BRING FORWARD AN IDEA ABOUT
PUBLIC BANKING?
I BOUGHT FORWARD AN IDEA OF
PUBLIC BANKING BECAUSE WE NEEDED NEW IDEAS.
IT IS
SIMPLY THE REPURPOSES OF MONEY AND CREDIT FOR THE
PUBLIC GOOD.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU ARE AWARE OF
THIS BUT THE CITY OF TORONTO HAS THE POWER TO
CREATE ITS OWN MUNICIPALLY OWNED BANK.
AND IF YOU
THINK OF WHERE THE CITY IS DEPOSITING ITS MONEY
PRESENTLY WE HAVE AN OPERATING BUDGET OF
$10 MILLION.
ALL THAT MONEY IS BEING PUT INTO THE
HANDS OF PRIVATE BANKS SO WE ARE CAPITALIZING
THOSE BANKS TO CREATE RESERVES AND WHAT DO WE DO
WHEN WE NEED MONEY?
WE GO TO PRIVATE BANKS TO
BORROW MONEY SO THAT WE CAN FUND INFRASTRUCTURE
PROJECTS
SO WE CAN BUILD ROADS AND HIGHWAYS AND
THE SERVICES AND THE SEWER SYSTEMS WE NEED TO RUN
A CITY.
WHY DO THAT WHEN WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO
REPURPOSE CREDIT AND MONEY FOR THE CITY.
SO WE
CAN ACTUALLY THEN CONTROL THE CITY'S FINANCES
WITHOUT HAVING TO GO TO PRIVATE BANKS TO THEN
BORROW THE SAME FUNDS THAT WE'VE DEPOSIT AT
COMPOUNDED INTEREST PAYMENTS THAT ARE RATHER
UNPRODUCTIVE TO BUILD OUR CITY?
TO BUILD THOSE
SERVICES THAT YOU AND I NEED.
THAT IS A BIG TOPIC.
AND BY ANY
MEASUREMENT AND BY ANY STANDARD I'M ASKING FOR
HELP AND THIS HELP HAS TO COME FROM THE PEOPLE
BECAUSE I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT IT MAY NOT
NECESSARILY COME FROM CITY HALL.
IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN WORKING ON THIS
PROJECT, THIS IS WHERE YOU AND I GET TO WORK
TOGETHER.
I DON'T COME OUT AND TELL THE COMMUNITY
WHAT TO DO.
BUT HOW DO WE HAVE THAT CONVERSATION.
ROGERS COMMUNICATION HAS APPLIED FOR A BANK
LICENSE.
LAST SUMMER WAL‑ MART CANADA WAS ISSUED A
BANK LICENSE.
I AM SIMPLY ASKING THE QUESTION,
CAN WE USE THE SAME LEGAL MECHANISMS AFFORDED TO
PRIVATE, FOR PROFIT COMPANIES TO DO THE SAME THING
WE WOULD LIKE TO DO.
IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK THEY DEPOSIT
THEIR FUND INTO A 31 INDIVIDUAL CHARTER AND
PRIVATE BANKS AND WHAT THE CITY OF NEW YORK HAS
NOW DECIDED TO DO.
THEY HAVE MOVE A MOTION TO THE
FLOOR OF COUNCIL AND ASKED THIS QUESTION.
WHAT
ARE THOSE BANKS DOING FOR THE LOCAL COMMUNITY?
HOW ARE YOU REINVESTING THOSE FUNDING LOOSENING
THE CREDIT LINEs SO THAT WE CAN BUILD OUR
NEIGHBORHOODS BETTER.
BELIEVE IT OR NOTE.
RESISTANCE.
AND THOSE PRIVATE BANKS,
THEY ARE THROWING UP MASSIVE
THEY ARE NOT WANTING TO TELL YOU
WHERE THEY ARE TAKING THE REVENUES AND REINVESTING
IT.
SO THIS IS A CONVERSATION THAT INVOLVES CIVIL
SOCIETY.
THIS IS A CONVERSATION THAT NEEDS YOUR
PARTICIPATION.
AND THIS IS A CONVERSATION THAT IS
CLEARLY ABOUT INNOVATION BECAUSE WE'RE NOW ASKING
YOU TO THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX TO REFINANCE THE
MUNICIPAL FINANCE PROGRAMS AND THIS IS A
CONVERSATION THAT CAN ACTUALLY IN MANY WAYS
REVOLUTIONIZE HOW WE BUILD OUR NEIGHBORHOODS AND
OUR CITIES AND I'M AVAILABLE FOR QUESTIONS AND I'M
HAPPY TO GIVE YOU ANY OTHER INFORMATION YOU LIKE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK
TO YOU, IT IS AN ABSOLUTE HONOUR TO BE HERE.
[ APPLAUSE ]
>> WE HAVE TIME FOR ONE OR TWO
QUESTIONS.
SO VANESSA AND RICHARD.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TOPIC.
ARE YOU RUNNING IN THE NEXT ELECTION?
>> A COUPLE OF THINGS I HAVE DISCOVERED
ABOUT CITY HALL IS THAT IT TAKES A LONG TIME TO
GET THINGS DONE.
I HAVE PLANTED A COUPLE OF SEEDS
AND I DO PLAN TO RUN NO THE NEXT ELECTION.
>> JUST CURIOUS HAVE ANY PROJECTED
SAVINGS IF TORONTO WERE TO GO WITH A PUBLIC
BANKING SYSTEM?
>> YES I DO.
THE CITY OF TORONTO
CURRENTLY PAYS 250.$14 MILLION IN COMPOUND
INTEREST TO BANKS.
WE HAPPEN TO BE THE FINANCIAL
BANK HEART OF CANADA.
IF THERE IS ANY CITY THAT
CAN DO THIS IT WOULD BE THE CITY OF TORONTO.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HAS HAPPENED.
ACTUALLY SEVERAL THINGS HAVE HAPPENED SENSE I
FLOATED THE IDEA OF FINANCIAL REFORMS.
A NUMBER
OF THINKERS HAVE CONTACTED ME PRIVATELY.
THEY DO
HAVE CONTRACTS WITH BANKS AND THEY ARE CONSULTANTS
TO BANKS.
AND THEY HAVE SAID COUNCILOR YOU ARE ON
THE RIGHT TRACK AND PERHAPS INVOLVE THE PENSION
FUNDS AND WORK WITH OTHER MUNICIPALITIES AROUND
TORONTO THAT WOULD LIKE TO PIGGY BACK ON THIS
PARTICULAR PROPOSAL.
THE REASON WHY SAY I NEED
YOUR SUPPORT BECAUSE OFTEN TIMES CHANGE COMES FROM
THE PEOPLE.
AND WE KNOW THAT IF YOU DON'T DEMAND AND
ASK FOR THE CHANGE IT MAY NOT NECESSARILY COME.
AS MUCH AS, YOU KNOW, CROWD SOURCING,
YOU CAN'T CROWD SOURCE TO BUILD A BRIDGE.
YOU CAN
HAVE ALL OF THE PEOPLE TO SHOW UP TO BUILD THE
BRIDGE, YOU STILL NEED GOVERNMENT, BY GOVERNMENT
MEANS CIVIL SOCIETY TO MOVE THIS PARTICULAR
PROJECT FORWARD.
>> THANK YOU.
>>JUTTA TREVIRANUS:
ONE MORE QUESTION.
>> SO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS A
NUMBER OF PROGRAMS TO SPONSOR INNOVATION WITH
SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH AND EXPERIMENTAL DEVELOPMENT
FUND FOR THE TAX CREDITS FOR CORPORATIONS OR
COMPANIES OR ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE INCORPORATED
TO TAKE RISKS AND DEVELOP NEW WAYS OF DOING
THINGS.
AND VERY SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNTS OF TAX
MONEY CAN AND GIVEN BACK TO THOSE CORPORATIONS.
AND THERE HAS BEEN COSTS IN OTHER AREAS OF
CREATING BONDS TO FRONT THEM.
TO SPEND THE MONEY.
I'M JUST TALKING ABOUT THE FEDERAL PROGRAM OR THE
SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH AND INTERIM DEVELOPMENT FUND
THAT THE TRICK IS THAT YOU HAVE TO SPEND MONEY IN
ORDER TO GET MONEY BACK.
WOULD YOU IMAGINE THIS BANK ISSUING
BONDS TO SOCIAL INNOVATION AND ENABLE THESE TYPE
OF CORPORATIONS TO EMORTGAGE?
>> IT IS A GREAT QUESTION AND I WILL NOT
RELY ON THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FOR THIS TYPE OF
SUPPORT.
WE HAVE A PUBLIC BANK IN CANADA CALLED
THE BANK OF CANADA AND IT HAS ABDICATED THE
RESPONSIBILITY TO PRODUCE LOW CREDIT OR NOMINAL
INTEREST LOANS FOR PROVINCES AND CITIES.
AND
CURRENTLY THERE IS A LAWSUIT THAT HAS BEEN FILED
AGAINST THE BANK OF CANADA NAMED IN THAT LAWSUIT
IS ALSO THE MINISTER OF FINANCE FOR ABDICATING
THEIR ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITY.
IN 1918, MAYOR MEL LASTMAN WROTE TO THE
BANK OF CANADA THE FINANCE MINISTER ASKING FOR
ASSISTANCE TO FUND THE HERE WE GO AGAIN, THE
SHEPHARD SUBWAY THEY WROTE BACK AND SAID, NO,
YOU'RE ON YOUR OWN.
SO FAST TRACK THIS
CONVERSATION LITERALLY 22 YEARS LATER.
WE'RE BACK
IN EXACTLY THE SAME SPOT ASKING FOR HELP TO FUND
THE SHEPHARD SUBWAY SYSTEM WHEN WE ACTUALLY HAVE A
NATIONAL BANK T BANK OF CANADA THAT WON'T DO ITS
JOB.
SO THIS IS WHY I'M SAYING, I DON'T
BELIEVE THAT THIS THE SOLUTION TO TORONTO'S
FINANCIAL CRISIS IS GOING TO NECESSARILY COME FROM
GOVERNMENT.
I BELIEVE THAT THE SOLUTION TO THE CANADIAN
ECONOMY THAT PROVINCIAL ECONOMY, THE TORONTO
TREASURIES AND THE REVENUES THAT WE RECEIVE WILL
ACTUALLY BE A CONVERSATION THAT WILL BE STARTED ON
THE STREETS, IN THE CAFES AND IN OUR LIVE ‑ ‑
LIVING ROOMS.
IN THE UNITED STATES THE OCCUPY MOVEMENT
HAS TAKEN ROOT IN MANY DIFFERENT JURISDICTIONS AND
THERE ARE 18 UNITS STATES THAT ARE ACTIVELY
EXPLORING LEGISLATION TO CREATE A SET TO‑ OWNED
BANK.
AND THIS RUNED THE GAMUT FROM HAWAII TO
IOWA TO YOU KNOW TO CALIFORNIA.
SO WHEN THE 12 ‑ ‑ WHEN THE EIGHT
FINANCIAL MARKETS COLLAPSED WE HAD A CONSOLIDATION
OF THE BANKS AND THEY ARE COMING BACK THOSE BANKS
BIGGER THAN EVER.
>> JP MORGAN LOST BILLIONS IN DERIVATIVE
TRADING.
THEY ARE DOING THE SAME THING NOW.
SO I
DON'T BELIEVE THAT THE CONVERSATION WILL BE SOLVED
AT ONLY WITH THE GOVERNMENT.
I REALLY ‑ ‑ I REALLY BELIEVE THAT WE
NEED PEOPLE INVOLVED WITH THIS ONE.
THANK YOU.
>> WE HAVE OVERSHOT BUT ONE MORE
QUESTION.
>>JUTTA TREVIRANUS:
GO AHEAD.
>> JUST A QUICK QUESTION, IN YOUR
PROPOSAL, ARE YOU ALSO GOING TO INCLUDE AN
INNOVATIVE WAY OF HOW TO INCLUDE THE COMMUNITY IN
SPENDING THE FUNDING AS WELL, WHICH INCLUDES
PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES?
>> YES, ABSOLUTELY, I THINK THAT THE
MANDATE OF PUBLICALLY OWNED TORONTO BANK WOULD BE
SET BY THE PEOPLE.
LIKE LITERALLY PEOPLE.
I AM ACTUALLY GOING TO BE PRODUCING A
DOCUMENTARY BECAUSE IT IS SUCH A LARGE TOPIC.
AND
THE DOCUMENTARY WILL FOCUS ON AUSTERITY AND THE
PUBLIC BANKING AS A POSSIBLE INNOVATIVE TOOL TO
COUNTER THE TALK OF AUSTERITY BECAUSE IT IS ALSO
TIED INTO THE TALK OF PRIVATIZATION AND I DON'T
HAVE A LOT OF MONEY, BUT I FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT
THIS IS GOING TO BE LARGER THAN HEALTH CARE AND
THE ENVIRONMENT.
IT AFFECTS EACH AND EVERY SINGLE
UP WITH OF US AND CAN ACTUALLY CHANGE THE
DIRECTION OF OUR COUNTRY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>>JUTTA TREVIRANUS:
ADDITIONAL CONVERSATIONS.
SO MUCH FODDER FOR
NOW IT'S TIME FOR YOU
ALL TO GET BACK TO WORK AGAIN.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE
BACK OF YOUR NAME TAGS, YOU WILL SEE WHERE YOUR
BREAKOUT GROUP IS. WE HAVE ONE ROOM CHANGE.
>> SO JUST A REMINDER THAT CRPD POLICIES AND LEVERS IS IN
THE AUDITORIUM. AND ECONOMIC LEVERS, DEMOGRAPHICS AND
MARKET FORCES IS IN ROOM 550. AND PLEASE GO AHEAD NOW AND
GET YOUR COFFEE, GET A TREAT AND WE'LL PUSH YOU TO YOUR
ROOMS.