From OneToronto.ca:
SERVICE REVIEW “CONSULTATION” SHUTS OUT MOST OF TORONTO:
Residents speak out about the flawed process and anticipated outcomes.
Residents speak out about the flawed process and anticipated outcomes.
The only way Toronto residents can express their views on the City’s Core Service Review “consultation” is through an online survey, with a response deadline of June 17th.
“One Toronto,” a coalition of community, arts, environmental, student, labour, and equity-seeking organizations is concerned that the majority of Toronto residents face significant, if not insurmountable barriers, to participation in this survey. Their exclusion means that the survey results will not accurately reflect the views of many groups that are among the most dependent on city services – seniors, people with disabilities, low income individuals and families, and those with limited literacy or fluency in English.
“As a newcomer, my priorities were settlement, employment and financial security. Will this kind of survey address my priorities? I never used a computer back home so how can I come to know about using computer and even internet? Does this survey appeal to me to participate as a newcomer? It does not make any sense to me without getting help from others. I am feeling that I am left out from the main stream. How many of South Asians are left out by this kind of consultation process?” said Khaleda Yesmin, a volunteer Board member of the Council of Agencies Serving South Asians. While five percent of Toronto residents speak no English, and thirty-five percent of Toronto residents speak another language at home, the on-line translations were inaccessible and challenging to understand and complete.
“Poverty, low literacy and social isolation are major barriers to participation in the online, written and public consultations. The majority of drop-in participants the Toronto Drop-in Network supported to participate had been unaware of this process entirely and for use of the online forum, an informed English-speaking, literate resident requires a computer with Internet,” noted Linsey MacPhee from the Toronto Drop-in Network. One in five homes in Toronto does not have internet access.
Fifteen percent of Toronto’s population is over 65 – a group less comfortable using online surveys. Another fifteen percent are disabled, and less likely to be able to respond. Twenty percent do not have a computer at home to complete the survey. The survey tool would also only accept one survey per computer – so only one opinion per household. Five percent of Toronto residents do not speak any English, and at least another 30 percent are more comfortable in another language. A significant percentage of Toronto residents also lack the literacy skills to be able to complete such a complex survey. These groups alone total 90% of Toronto’s population. Low income and homeless Toronto residents are also much less likely to respond to an on-line survey. There is some overlap among these groups (e.g many seniors may also be disabled and have a first language other than English), but individuals in more than one of these categories faced multiple barriers to completing the survey, making it an even less accurate reflection of the views of Toronto.
“The parents of the children I teach would not have been able to participate in this survey,” said elementary school teacher Pam Dogra. “For a city whose motto is “Diversity is our Strength” to have so drastically limited resident response to such an important issue makes a sham of the consultation process. It means that the results will not be reflective of the real wishes of Toronto residents. Our parents, teachers, and educational workers want a city that puts people first. We want a city that creates inclusive communities where all children and their parents have their needs are met - safety, housing, health services, educational and recreational services, to name a few, should be available to all. We want to continue building a city that has high quality public services run by the people for the people. Toronto can – and must – do better.”
For more information, contact Anita Khanna at akhanna@socialplanningtoronto.org (416 351-0095 x 256) or (cell) 416 788-3439.
