Municipal government of Toronto

{{Unreferenced|date=December 200 and has an operating budget of $7.8 billion. The most recent operating budget was composed of $2.5 billion dollars of funds from the Government of Ontario for purposes they mandate such as Toronto Public Health, $2.0 billion for special purpose bodies including the Toronto Public Library and Toronto Zoo, $1.7 billion of directly controlled money, and $900 million for capital financing and other programs ^[1].

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History

Main article: Metropolitan Toronto

The current municipal government is rooted in the creation of the Municipality of Metropolitan Toronto (known more popularly as "Metro") in 1954. This new regional government, which encompassed the smaller communities of East York, Etobicoke, Forest Hill, Leaside, Long Branch, Mimico, New Toronto, North York, Scarborough, Swansea, Toronto, Weston, and York, was created in light of the need for more coordination of city services. The postwar boom resulted in suburbanization, and it was felt that a coordinated land use planning strategy, as well as shared services, would be more efficient.

These thirteen townships, villages, towns, and cities continued to exist independently of the regional government, and continued to provide some local services to their residents. Gradually, the Metro government began taking over management of services that crossed municipal boundaries, most notably highways, water, and public transit.

On January 1, 1967, several of the smaller municipalities were amalgamated with larger ones, reducing their number to six. Forest Hill and Swansea became part of Toronto; Long Branch, Mimico, and New Toronto joined Etobicoke; Weston merged with York; and Leaside amalgamated with East York.

This arrangement lasted until 1998, when the regional level of government was abolished and the six municipalities (Toronto, Etobicoke, North York, East York, York, and Scarborough) were amalgamated into a single municipality or "megacity". Many people criticised this change, which came on top of a massive "downloading" of provincial services to the municipal level, with little to no new revenue available. A plebiscite indicated that a majority of the citizens of Toronto opposed amalgamation, but criticisms were raised about the leading nature of the question asked. In Canada (and Ontario), plebiscites are not legally binding. The Province of Ontario under Premier Mike Harris had the power to ignore the result and did so. Mel Lastman, the long-time mayor of North York before the amalgamation, was the first mayor of the new "megacity" of Toronto.

Administration

The following reporting order in the administration of day-to-day services reporting to the City Manager, who then reports to the Mayor:

• 5 Directors
  • 3 Deputy City Managers (including 1 as Chief Financial Officer)
    • 22 Directors (including Executive Directors, Acting ED, Project Directors)
    • 11 Managers (including General Managers, Acting General Managers)
    • 1 Treasurer
    • 3 Officers (Chief Information Officer, Chief Corporate Officer, Medical Officer of Health)

City official reporting directly to City Council:

• Auditor General
• Integrity Commissioner
• Lobbists Registrar
• Ombudsman
• City Solicitor
• City Clerk

Service departments

Prior to 2005, the city had various departments headed by Commissioners. These heads were simplified by replacing the departments with divisions headed by Deputy Manager. All department heads now report to a City Manager (currently Joseph Pennachetti), who then reports to the Mayor and City Council.

Divisions

Toronto Support Services Division Toronto Solid Waste Management Toronto Water Toronto Technical Services Division Toronto Transportation Services Division Toronto Homes for the Aged Division Toronto Children's Services Division Toronto Social Services Division Toronto Parks, Forestry and Recreation Division Toronto Shelter, Support & Housing Administration Division Toronto Economic Development and Culture Division Toronto Public Library Emergency Services Division Toronto Hydro Toronto Police Service Toronto EMS

Toronto Fire Services Heavy Urban Search and Rescue - unit with the emergency services (police, fire, EMS) Accounting Services Affordable Housing Office Pension, Payroll & Employee Benefits Policy, Planning, Finance & Administration City Clerk's Office Toronto Public Health City Planning Purchasing & Materials Management Corporate Finance Revenue Services Court Services Social Development Employment & Social Services

Facilities & Real Estate Finance & Administration Special Events Financial Planning Special Projects Strategic Communications Fleet Services Human Resources Toronto Building Human Rights Office Toronto Environment Office Information & Technology Toronto Office of Partnerships Legal Services Licensing & Standards Waterfront Secretariat

Corporations

• Toronto Community Housing Corporation
• Toronto Parking Authority

Bodies

• Toronto District School Board

References

External links

• Government of Toronto website
• Toronto municipal budget, 2006 website