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  • Subject: City Council
  • Subject: Reform
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What Is 'The Ward' Going To Do With Toronto

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.

Unemployment Relief Fire Department Reorganization Accounting And Budget Reform Are Knocking At The Doors Of The Toronto City Administration Demanding Attention Forthwith.

Year: 1915

Summary: Summarizes progress in three major areas of concern: unemployment relief, fire department reorganization, and accounting and budget reform.

There Are Two Strong Movements In The Field Of Local Government

Year: 1944

Summary: Outlines two trends in local government structure: (1) The movement toward centralised supervision or control (2) The movement toward Municipal Home Rule. Argues that a balance needs to be struck between nourishing democracy and maintaining strong and vital local institutions. Questions whether or not municipal institutions should be transfered under the control of representatives removed from popular scrutiny.

The Municipal Improvement Association As Well As The Bureau Of Municipal Research Evidently Intends To Mind Its Own Business

Year: 1914

Summary: Outlines the key issues for the Municipal Improvement Association for 1915, including: the financial system, civil service commission, fire department, purchasing department, and transportation commission.

The Council Manager Plan Of Municipal Government Story No.2

Year: 1925

Summary: Outlines the features of council-manager cities. By no means an argument for or against this form of government, just a repsonse to calls for definite information on this subject.

The Council Manager Plan Of Municipal Government Story No. 6

Year: 1926

Summary: Part of an informational series on the Council Manager system of government. Argues that changes to the electoral system can be made without going with the complete council-manager model, which does not suit every city.

The Council Manager Plan Of Municipal Government Story No. 5 Part B

Year: 1926

Summary: Part of an informational series on the Council Manager system of government. British opinions of council-manager model - there have been some successes and the cities are run in a more business-like manner.

The Council Manager Plan Of Municipal Government Story No. 5 Part A

Year: 1926

Summary: Part of an informational series on the Council Manager system of government. Historical comparative survey of electoral systems in municipalities in Canada regarding council-manager model.

The Council Manager Plan Of Municipal Government Story No. 4

Year: 1926

Summary: Part of an informational series on the Council Manager system of government. Highlights some claims against the council-manager system, including the possibility that political considerations in the new system will lead to greater waste, that it has not yet proven effective elsewhere, that it is foreign and that it gives the city manager (mayor) too much power.

The Council Manager Form Of Municipal Government Story No. 3

Year: 1926

Summary: Delineates the advantages of council-manager structure include democratic control, improving administration, strengthening authority and stability of council, improving budget making efficiency,

The Council Manager Form Of Municipal Government Story No. 1

Year: 1925

Summary: Outlines the history and growth of the council-manager system as a form of city government, and a survey of municipalities that use this form of government. By no means an argument for or against this form of government, just a repsonse to calls for definite information on this subject.

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.

Some Subjects Dealt With By The Toronto City Council And Board Of Control

Year: 1925

Summary: List of decisions made in City Council during the year regarding policy issues. Some of these issues include the Bay Street Extension, telephone rates, a milk cost investigation, and the sale of part of Trinity Park for the purpose of building an athletic stadium. Asks readers to consider whether or not the city is being run in a businesslike fashion, and if not to contact the appropriate officials.

Proceedings Governmental Research Association Conference

Year: 1979

Summary: Summarizes topics covered at the 64th Annual Conference of the Governmental Research Association (an umbrella organization of research agencies). The conference focused on sharing information between Canada and the United States.

Open Letter: Time's A-Wasting

Year: 1949

Summary: Discusses the length and inefficiency of City Council meetings.

Open Letter: The Two-Year Term

Year: 1952

Summary: Discusses the advantages of a two-year term in efficiency and performance of city council members.

Open Letter: Municipal Organization For The City

Year: 1952

Summary: Describes possibilities to improve efficiency of civic authorities by amalgamation of departments, boards etc.

Open Letter: Just Plain Housekeeping

Year: 1950

Summary: Describes the desperate need for renovations in city hall.

Open Letter: Half A Loaf

Year: 1953

Summary: Describes anticipated restructuring of municipal borders and amalgamation in the Toronto area.

Open Letter: Commentary On Amalgamation Costs

Year: 1950

Summary: Identifies amalgamation costs in light of the plans to improve efficiency and restructure council areas.

Open Letter: Annual Meeting Features Richard S. Childs

Year: 1952

Summary: Report on a talk about the city-manager model, efficient administration and about a book about local government in Canada.

Open Letter To The Citizens And Taxpayers Of Toronto Qualifications For Municipal Public Office

Year: 1941

Summary: Outlines the main responsibilities of holding public office - which are deciding on and carrying out public policies. Suggests expected qualifications for those who hold public office - and that promotions should be based on merit.

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.

Monthly Letter To Men And Women

Year: 1946

Summary: Argues that coordination is needed between the different councils, either by amalgamation or by creating a County Council.

Metro Toronto: A Decade Later

Year: 1963

Summary: Appraises the first decade of Metropolitan Toronto's Municipal Council.

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.

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.

Bulletin: The Other Half

Year: 1957

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

Amalgamation: A Solution To The Problems In Greater Moncton And Greater Fredericton?

Year: 1971

Summary: Study of municipal amalgamation in New Brunswick.

A Citizens' Programme For Toronto

Year: 1914

Summary: The BMR hopes to help citizens of Toronto achieve better value from city expenditure, encourage citizen engagement, and increase the standard of living. Describes New York's gains as a result of the local Bureau.

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