Year: 1946
Summary: Highlights the need for more housing, but cautions that until Toronto adopts a master plan, a zoning by-law in compliance with that master plan, and a financial policy in conformity with housing needs it will not be able to see any advance in housing, particularly for those in lower income brackets.
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.
Summary: Highlights the issue of housing challenges due to unemployment, noting the number of people on voucher, in houses of industry, and single men in hostels. Demonstrates that the number of people on relief is the lowest it has been since 1933 and that unemployment has decreased in the August-November period.
Year: 1939
Summary: Examination and analysis of the burden that unemployment relief payments place on the budget.
Summary: The Bureau notes that the cost of direct unemployment payments will challenge the city's budget through 1950 - and argues that it must be restructured and the responsibilities distributed more equitably between the three levels of government.
Year: 1938
Summary: Details a trend in decreasing home ownership in the city of Toronto owing to the decrease in the size of the average family, an increase in the older population, an increase in income insecurity, and an increase in municipal taxation. Suburban growth may also be a contributing factor. The study concludes that the decrease in home ownership may be a result of the conditions created by the depression.
Year: 1937
Summary: Outlines the division of responsibilities between the province and municipalities with regard to development of public housing.
Year: 1924
Summary: In this publication, the Bureau objects to the city's plan to enter the business of gasoline, milk and coal selling, claiming that the city has not proven to efficiently and competitively supply goods and the cost of expanding the city's activities.
Year: 1921
Summary: Statistics on five years (1917-1921) of parks department expenditures in Toronto. Also includes a chart comparing availability of parks and playgrounds vs. per capita expenditure in other North American cities (e.g. Montreal, Buffalo, Detroit).
Year: 1919
Summary: Summary of the organization, function, activities, revenue and expenditures of the Toronto Parks Department.
Summary: Highlights the great need for more housing, and argues the the newly appointed Toronto Housing Commission should be allowed to act fast. Details steps taken to increase the supply of housing - other than by private means.
Summary: Discussion of need for centralized fire / fire and police department and previous recommendations for increasing fire safety efficiency. Suggests amalgamation of fire and police department. Details Bureau suggestions made for improvements to the fire department, and which of these suggestions have been implemented.
Year: 1916
Summary: Outlines expenditure on various municipal services; encouraging voter turnout based on citizens' stakes in key areas.
Year: 1915
Summary: Encourages citizens to vote to determine how their tax dollars are spent. Charts city services vs. cost per family in dollars and days of work.
Summary: Lists essential qualifications for the head of a Fire Department, based on merit and administrative skills.
Year: 1914
Summary: A self-recreative fund should be implemented to contend with the issue of unemployment. Certain private institutions are creating work in the community, and their endeavors should be supported.
Summary: Argues that the city tax rate is not easily reduced, but the fire loss tax rate is. Citizens pay the price for fire damage.
Summary: Presents a potential Fire Insurance Policy for the citizens of Toronto.
Summary: Creation of a permanent Rotary Relief Fund for Unemployment would provide a self-recreating fund for citizens, and make possible projects employing a large number of workers.
Summary: Presents a tentative scheme for central control of labor supply, unemployment, and immigration, with suggestions for: administration, legislation, fees and costs, methods and procedures, and interdepartmental co-operation.
Summary: Private citizens and government must both do their part to to strengthen Canada's economy and prevent unemployment.
Summary: Sample abstracts from articles in the Toronto Press about the Woodbine Hotel fire, and lack of fire safety in the city.
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.
Summary: The Toronto Housing Company has taken steps towards alleviating Toronto's housing problem. Planning was made possible by citizen cooperation.
Summary: The City Council should create a Fire Prevention Commission to establish rules and regulations upon the subject of fire prevention. There is too much division of authority in the matter of inspecting fire escapes, hence the need for a single commission.
Summary: Fire inspections of six Toronto theatres were conducted, and three were found to be in dangerous condition. A Fire Prevention Commission should be created to begin a campaign of fire safety education.
Summary: Existing housing conditions are the result of taxation methods and lack of infrastructure improvement; citizens are encouraged to help the Board of Health solve the problem of furnishing homes and providing accommodation.
Summary: Suggests 25 Next Steps for Toronto's Fire Department, including: training, rules governing appointments and promotions, budget estimates, inventories, and permanent record-keeping.