Year: 1915
Summary: An overview and analysis of various departments relating to public health, including hospitals, nursing, maternity and infant care, dentistry, food inspection and sanitation services. The Bureau of Municipal Research makes recommendations to improve public health, including upgrading and expanding public health office spaces modernizing administrative practices, and encouraging inter-departmental cooperation for more efficient collection of data, information and statistics related to public health.
Year: 1918
Summary: A survey of problems in "The Ward", including (but not limited to) lack of civic pride, ramshackle buildings, lack of open spaces for recreation, and general hazardous living conditions. The Bureau highlights the need to keep these problems from spreading. Suggestions to deal with the problem of The Ward include expropriation of land, demolishing homes, and education/civic engagement through schools and community centers.
Year: 1914
Summary: Suggests 25 Next Steps for Toronto's Fire Department, including: training, rules governing appointments and promotions, budget estimates, inventories, and permanent record-keeping.
Year: 1927
Summary: The Bureau argues that the police budget must be made more transparent and the needs of the Police more openly discussed in order to increase the efficiency of the force and public safety.
Year: 1970
Summary: Discusses principles for playground planning and the need for Toronto to invest in playgrounds in areas like Regent Park.
Year: 1955
Summary: In light of the many challenges of overlapping jurisdiction, budgeting and efficiency of the multiple fire and police services, the Bureau recommends creating a unified body for provision in the Toronto area.
Year: 1928
Summary: Highlights road accident fatality rates in Canada and expresses a need for regulatory changes in order to prevent them. Compares road fatality rates to the number of people killed in wars, saying "the civil war of motor accidents has lasted twenty years and shows no sign of termination."
Summary: Two steps should be taken to increase fire safety in the aftermath of the Woodbine Hotel fire: establishment of a strong central authority and a Fire Prevention Commission.
Year: 1930
Summary: Examines the ways in which legislation can prevent traffic accidents and fatalities, but also outlines ways in which roads and vehicles can and should be improved in order to make roads safer.
Year: 1920
Summary: A survey of the physical conditions of Toronto schools and an account of the conditions of school facilities and supplies. The Bureau of Municipal Research, with the participation of the Board of Education make suggestions for future school sites, and recommend modernizing and fireproofing existing schools.
Year: 1976
Summary: Describes how various Ontario municipalities handle their animal control responsibilities. The objectives, scope of services, financial costs and results of different programs are identified.
Year: 1929
Summary: Outlines more aspects of the efficacy of "safety-responsibility" legislation passed by the Connecticut Commission of Motor Vehicles. Concludes these efforts to increase vehicle safety are worthy of more study.
Summary: Gives an overview of police services in three British cities. This information is meant to assist City Council and the Board of Control in their consideration of the upcoming Police Estimates.
Year: 1975
Summary: Assesses the quality of Metro Toronto's fire departments to determine whether amalgamation would be the most effective way to provide the best level of service.
Summary: Gives an overview of police services in several Canadian cities. This information is meant to assist City Council and the Board of Control in their consideration of the upcoming Police Estimates. Notes how police expenditures in Toronto have increased relative to population and general taxation.
Summary: Outines different policy tools for addressing road safety and traffic fatalities, addressing pros and cons of each. Some proposals include compulsory liability insurance, the establishment of a state fund for those injured in auto accidents, and refusing to register a motorists who has outstanding judgements against them, or who has been responsible for any traffic fatality.
Summary: Outlines the 1928 Police estimates. Notes upcoming police expenditure decisions, and weighs this against the possibility of improving services.
Summary: A pamphlet outlining Bureau of Municipal Research city policy goals, including: the adoption of budget estimates early in the year, installation of modern accounting practices in city departments, and the improvement of living conditions in health, safety, education and recreation
Year: 1982
Summary: Presents important issues faced by municipal representatives in the 1982 election.
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.
Year: 1959
Summary: Discusses the urgent need for reform in parking regulations in the city.
Summary: Gives an overview of police services in several US cities. This information is meant to assist City Council and the Board of Control in their consideration of the upcoming Police Estimates. Notes the need to consider more information than just city population, city area, and current size of the city police force when making decisions on police budgets.
Summary: Outlines the efficacy of "safety-responsibility" legislation passed by the Connecticut Commission of Motor Vehicles. Concludes these efforts to increase vehicle safety are worthy of more study.
Year: 1937
Summary: Suggests that technological developments - such as the use of wireless radio - can enable increasing the efficiency of police work without increasing numbers. Provides figures for the strength and distrubution of Toronto's police force, as well as some numbers on crime.
Year: 1940
Summary: An open letter to the citizens of Toronto, highlighting the need for better snow removal - including coordinating snow removal under one department, improving snow removal equipment, and keeping the snow removal budget consistent from year to year.
Year: 1948
Summary: A summary of the work done by the Bureau of Municipal Research for the year ending 1948. Topics of importance include the Civic Advisory Council, co-ordination of personal and civic services, health and safety, and civic planning. Bureau expenditures and subscribers at the end.
Summary: Publications catalogue, 1982. Sample publications topics: economy, education, environment, finances, government, housing, productivity, planning, public safety, regional government, transportation
Year: 1958
Summary: Analysis of function and challenges of fire departments in the Toronto area.
Year: 1939
Summary: Provides classifications for expenditures in the 1939 civic budget. The Bureau argues that expenditure on different services such as fire safety is decreasing while debt payments are increasingly burdening the city. They suggest a thorough and independent survey of all city departments and personnel in order to ensure maximum efficiency.
Year: 1979
Summary: Identifies various cost-saving innovations in municipalities in Canada, as well as other countries. Documents efforts at the local level to save money through the use of innovative management and/or technological changes.