The Toronto Youth Cabinet listens to #ur2cents

by Jill Nagel
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The Toronto Youth Cabinet listens to #ur2centsThe Toronto City Budget was released last week, and although I care about the city I live in, I didn’t pay much attention to it. I’m not a politician, a lawyer, or an economist. Sure, I’m annoyed that the cost of a TTC metro pass is being raised (again!) but I have no control over where our money is spent.  That’s a topic for other people. No one wants to listen to an underemployed twenty-something worry about fare hikes.  Apparently, I was wrong.

The Toronto Youth Cabinet held an open discussion last week to educate young people about the effects of the new budget on the youth population, and engage youth in the budgetary process. Their goal was to make these complicated political and financial topics accessible and allow everyone’s opinions and ideas to be heard in a safe space. Guest speakers including Councillor Parker, Councillor Wong Tam, Alex Mazer from Better Budgets Toronto, and the Toronto Youth Cabinet, gave the group an overview of how budgets are created, what the terminology means, and the important issues for the upcoming year. Then something very interesting happened – they asked us our opinion.

From recreational spaces to grant funding, the group was able to debate, theorize and express their ideas on the topics that affect young people most. The group discussed transit, housing and shelters, recreation, and grants. More importantly, we were able to try our hand at finding solutions. Many participants had a background in activism and advocacy in Toronto housing, and Toronto Transit, and spoke passionately about their trials in these areas. Even the politically inexperienced people there (like me) we were made to feel welcome and that our opinions could make a difference.

The Toronto Youth Cabinet listens to #ur2cents - TorontoMembers of the Toronto Youth Cabinet took plenty of notes throughout the discussion, and will be presenting the group’s concerns to the council on December 2nd and 3rd. These include using recreational funding to implement awareness programs and outreach for programs that already exist. Although there are many drop-in centres and recreational spaces available to young people in the city, information about them can be difficult to find. The group agreed that making these programs accessible would be beneficial in the long run. The group also debated the effectiveness of the TTC and their need for expansion. Councillor Parker informed the group that $1.1 billion of the TTC’s budget comes from the fare box. Only $427 million of this year’s transportation budget will come from government funding. And while the TTC moves more people per dollar than any other system in the developed world, this funding makes it difficult to expand. How much longer can they rely on riders before the price of a ticket becomes too much? Ideas such as lengthening transfer times with hiking ticket prices, and asking the provincial government for (previously funded) support were the most popular ideas in the room.

Like many of the participants who attended the meeting, this was my first foray into municipal politics, and while it was a little overwhelming at first, it’s nice to know that there are people out there who believe young people can make a difference.  Deputations (a group of people appointed to undertake a mission or take part in a formal process on behalf of a larger group) are happening on December 2nd & 3rd at Toronto City Council. The Toronto Youth Cabinet would love to see you there.

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