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33 results (showing 1-30)

  • Tag: Legitimacy
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The Public's Right To Know

Year: 1969

Summary: In light of conflict between the public and the parks department over the withholding of information about the poisoning of ducks that could also affect residents, the bureau surveys the legal requirement of revealing such information.

BMR News Brief: North York May Need An Executive Committee But NOT A Board Of Control

Year: 1960

Summary: Objection to the North York decision to appoint a board of control in light of too heavy a workload - the Bureau claims that an executive Committee would be enough and that a Board of Control takes away too much power from elected officials.

Monthly Letter To Men And Women: Why A City Corporation

Year: 1947

Summary: Pointing to the legitimacy and authority problems that arise from the council members' hope to establish a municipal corporation.

The Proposed Pension Plan For Member Of Toronto City Council

Year: 1968

Summary: Analysis of proposed pension scheme for City Council members, in the context of taxapayer cost.

Redevelopment By Referendum

Year: 1971

Summary: Examines the advantages and pitfalls of holding a referendum over development issues, using a case study from Kitchener as an example.

Municipal Expropriation: The Need For A Jealous Vigilance

Year: 1971

Summary: Describes the legal background enabling expropriation for development.

Is Policing The Public's Business?

Year: 1976

Summary: Review of studies that have been done about the police, the police budget process, the role of the police and the need for more provision of information about its actions.

Bulletin: Discrimination In The Local Franchise

Year: 1958

Summary: Urging the advancement of legislation for universal suffrage in municipal elections (limited until that time by ownership of property).

Can The Organisation Of The Municipal Government Of Toronto Be Improved Story No. 2

Year: 1930

Summary: Outlines possible changes to the election and city management structures and their implications - focus on ward system. Highlights the need to attract city councillors who will be well-suited to the work of running the city.

Open Letter: Is There A Middle Road? Must Either Inflation Or Controls Distort Canada's Economic Expansion

Year: 1957

Summary: A speech about the financial state of Canada and its priorities.

Bulletin: The Other Half

Year: 1957

Summary: Describes of the structure of government in metropolitan Toronto and planned changes.

Monthly Letter To The Citizens

Year: 1948

Summary: Demonstrates progress in voter turnout in 1948 elections and suggests strategies to further engage citizens going forward.

The City Improvement Plan

Year: 1929

Summary: Highlights major issues and questions regarding the vote on a by-law about the city improvement plan in the upcoming elections. Outlines the scope of the city improvement project as well as how this project is to be financed and undertaken. Work to be done includes the widening and straightening of University Avenue and Richmond Street, as well as the installation of a war memorial there, and the widening and opening of several other downtown streets, including York Street, Spadina Avenue, and Eastern Avenue.

Why A Board Of Control And City Council?

Year: 1942

Summary: Argues that budgets should be handled entirely by elected officials and not by bureaucrats.

Voting Is Not Merely A Ceremony

Year: 1940

Summary: Highlights the importance of voting in the upcoming elections, and includes a list of questions that one may put to prospective candidates, including where the candidate stands on the issues of debt control, the improvement of snow removal, and whether or not a survey on departmentalization should be undertaken.

To Vote Or Not To Vote? That Is The Question

Year: 1943

Summary: Examines Toronto's recent low-voter turnout. The Bureau argues that without a higher voter turnout the decisions of council are morally questionable. The Bureau suggests making city council terms longer in order to attract candidates of a higher calibre, as well as publishing budget figures before elections in order to generate more interest in voting.

Open Letter

Year: 1947

Summary: Encouraging citizens to vote, and warning against citizen apathy.

Why The Surprise? The Taxpayer Who Is Deceived By Tax Rate Economics

Year: 1927

Summary: Provides excerpts of a publications on civic estimates, audits and debts. Urges citizens to monitor civic expenditures and suggests ways in which taxpayers can pursue a more economical administration, including decreasing the weight of ward representation, reducing the size of city council, centralizing administrative control for various departments, and undertaking city planning several years in advance.

Bulletin: The Important Requirements For Municipal Office

Year: 1958

Summary: Describes the responsibilities and requirements of elected city officials.

Can The Organisation Of The Municipal Government Of Toronto Be Improved?

Year: 1930

Summary: Examines possible changes to the election and city management structures and their implications. Raises the question of cutting down civic departments and establishing a centralized purchasing system. Stresses that the city must be run like a business in order to ensure maximum efficiency.

Bulletin: Term Of Reference For Appointed Members Of Local Boards And Commissions

Year: 1960

Summary: Authority and form of management of the different boards and commissions in the city

Monthly Letter The Development Of Citizenship

Year: 1947

Summary: Suggests the ability of citizens to influence government at the local level. Emphasizes the importance of active local representative instiutions.

Should The Metro Chairman Be Directly Elected?

Year: 1975

Summary: Discussion of the advantages and disadvantages of directly electing city mayors vs. selecting from the elected members of council.

Some Vagaries Of The Ward System In Toronto

Year: 1926

Summary: Highlights some issues with the existing ward system, including the fact that wards may be too large to be considered an actual community, that populations in wards are not equivalent (and therefore some wards may be more populous, but limited in the fact that they only have one representative). The Bureau proposes several solutions, including doing away with wards, or dividing the city into four equally populous wards.

On January First, 1936

Year: 1935

Summary: Outlines issues in the upcoming municipal election. Includes a section of questions that citizens may put to their respective candidates, with a specia focus on issues of a balanced budget and the reduction of the number of civic departments.

North York May Need An Executive Committee But NOT A Board Of Control

Year: 1960

Summary: Recommendations for the prefered form of government to be established in North York.

Bureau Of Municipal Research Raising The Bureau's Visibility: By How Much? By What Means?

Year: 1978

Summary: A report considering the idea of raising the Bureau's media profile - and how this would affect the Bureau's credibility, fund-raising efforts, staffing, information gathering, and influence on public policy.

Monthly Letter To The Citizens Of Toronto

Year: 1947

Summary: Argues that the planned appointment of the mayor as coordinator of civic services, an executive managerial role, is politically and practically problematic

Need Election Talk Be Just Talks?

Year: 1945

Summary: Highlights issues in upcoming elections. Encourages the city increase the amount of voters by increasing the importance of the electoral body in the conduct of city affairs. Suggests that longer terms may bring better quality candidates and promote continuity of policy.

Penalties For Non Voters

Year: 1926

Summary: Reminds readers of the disadvantages of not voting and highlights some of the major issues for the upcoming elections, such as a referendum on continuing daylight savings time, and a proposal to to raise funds to build a new eastern entrance for the Exhibition grounds.

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