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: 1956
Summary: A reference guide listing the contact information for the mayor, city council, and various municipal boards and services. Also lists contact information for metro Toronto representatives.
Year: 1963
Summary: Examines exemption from property taxation. Considers property owned municipally, provincially, and federally, as well as partial graded, and religious and charitable exemptions.
Year: 1950
Summary: Identifies issues relelevant to the upcoming elections: voter turnout, amalgamation, measures of democracy such as secret voting and a government close to the people, and changes in term length.
Year: 1929
Summary: Highlights major figures and expenditures of the 1929 budget. Notes that general government had expanded slightly per capita since 1928, and that the cost of education continues to increase. Suggests a need to check spending and to reduce the tax burden on businesses.
Year: 1914
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.
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.
Year: 1917
Summary: A proposal for a federation of charities within the city of Toronto that can more effectively gather and disperse donations based on planning and community need. A more directed and focused form of philanthropy to better deal with Toronto's various social ills.
Year: 1921
Summary: Compares the city of Toronto's motor fleet with other North American Cities (e.g. New York, Oakland, Winnipeg). Suggests improvements to reduce expenses and increase efficiency.
Year: 1969
Summary: The Province has proposed reorganization of the area around Metro Toronto into three regional governments; this bulletin provides recommendations as an alternative to this proposal.
Year: 1974
Summary: Summarizes the proceedings of a seminar sponsored by the BMR. Examines new town development and its effects on growth patterns, population, and urbanization.
Year: 1955
Summary: Describes the history of emergency housing in Toronto, and need for better provisions.
Year: 1918
Summary: A proposal calling for a federation of community workers into a more streamlined, centralized body to facilitate more efficiency in philanthropy and the development of a professionalized body of community service workers.
Year: 1943
Summary: Outlines estimated expenditures analyzed by the cost of main function to be met out by taxation for the 1943 budget. Calls for the city to establish a reserve of credit and a programme of work to meet post-war needs. Also advocates for better city planning and highlights a need for more housing.
Summary: Advocating a two-year term for elected representatives.
Year: 1928
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: 1968
Summary: A brief submitted to the Task Force on Housing and Urban Development outlining overlooked areas of discussion in the task forces' proceedings - including reduced tax assessments for farms, the impact of municipalities withdrawing from subdivision servicing on housing costs, and the hidden costs of "satellite cities" on existing metropolitan centers
Year: 1971
Summary: Identifies the need to take planning into account when authorizing demolitions
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,
Year: 1915
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: 1923
Summary: Scan of major elections issues, including changing City Council term length
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.
Year: 1976
Summary: Folder and programme from Bureau of Municipal Research Spring 1976 Conference on the media and local government. Discussion topics include the media's role and responsibilities in covering local government, local events, and how to improve the quality of local government news reporting.
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.
Year: 1979
Summary: Summarizes a seminar which explores the relationship between local government and the media, and public access to government-held information. Emphasis is placed on the importance of freedom of information in democratic societies.
Summary: Provides an overview of the civic budget for 1938, including expenditures and the tax rate. The Bureau notes that the 1938 tax rate is the highest on record, probably owing to the costs of direct unemployment relief. The Bureau recommends that the city administration be studied by an outside party, to revise the size of the city council, to abolish or equalize the ward systems, and to increase term limits for city councillors.
Summary: Examines the advantages and pitfalls of holding a referendum over development issues, using a case study from Kitchener as an example.
Year: 1967
Summary: Discusses how Toronto relies much more heavily on property and business tax in comparison to other Canadian cities.
Summary: Examines special-body government units in Metro Toronto. Recommends reducing the number of special bodies from 94 to 55, which would minimize the negative effects of fragmentation.
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.