This motion is going to Council on Thursday May 23rd for debate, and is to be referred to the Community and Economic Development Committee. We recommend sending emails to the mayor, your city councillor, and all members of the Committee, listed below. As always, you are encouraged to change this template to make it your own!
Subject: Don’t allow democratic rights to be trampled!
Dear (City Councillor name here),
As a concerned and engaged resident in Toronto, I am deeply affected by the attempt of
City councillors who are trying to trample upon our rights. I have personally participated
in and witnessed the democratic power of peaceful protests and the importance of free
expression. Every one of us has the right to protest, to gather, make speeches, hold
signs, and hand out flyers. The right to protest, express political views and engage is a
fundamental right of a democratic society and I support it – you should too!
At the May 22 Council meeting, councillors Brad Bradford and James Pasternak seek to
undermine Charter rights by establishing so-called safe zones or “bubble zones” where
protests and demonstrations would be deemed illegal. This can’t happen. It is
a direct attack on our rights and our democracy.
As a city councillor, I implore you to stop motion MM18.16 and see it for what it is - a
covert effort to limit the progressive and critical voices of residents and to suppress the
rising mobilizations in solidarity with the people of Gaza.
Limiting the democratic rights of individuals does not make our city safer and nor does
increasing the policing of activists. Instead, by supporting the removal of our Charter
rights, the City Council would allow the forcible suppression of opposition and a slow
creep toward fascism. I urge you not to allow this to happen.
Torontonians are relying on you to do the just thing and to use your voice to represent
us as residents.
Signed,
Your name here
City Council Emails:
Mayor Chow:
Email: mayor_chow@toronto.ca
By Ward (Community Economic Development Committee members highlighted in pink!)
CRISANTI, Vince – Ward 1 Etobicoke North
Email councillor_crisanti@toronto.ca
HOLYDAY, Stephen – Ward 2 Etobicoke Centre
Email: councillor_holyday@toronto.ca
MORLEY, Amber – Ward 3 Etobicoke-Lakeshore
Email: councillor_morley@toronto.ca
PERKS, Gord – Ward 4 Parkdale-High Park
Email: councillor_perks@toronto.ca
NUNZIATA, Frances – Ward 5 York South-Weston
Email: councillor_nunziata@toronto.ca
PASTERNAK, James – Ward 6 York Centre
Email: councillor_pasternak@toronto.ca
PERRUZZA, Anthony – Ward 7 Humber River-Black Creek
Email: councillor_perruzza@toronto.ca
COLLE, Mike – Ward 8 Eglinton – Lawrence
Email: councillor_colle8@toronto.ca
BRAVO, Alejandra – Ward 9 Davenport
Email: councillor_bravo@toronto.ca
MALIK, Ausma – Ward 10 Spadina-Fort York
Email: councillor_malik@toronto.ca
SAXE, Dianne – Ward 11 University-Rosedale
Email: councillor_saxe@toronto.ca
MATLOW, Josh – Ward 12 Toronto-St. Paul’s
Email: councillor_matlow@toronto.ca
MOISE, Chris – Ward 13 Toronto Centre
Email: councillor_moise@toronto.ca
FLETCHER, Paula – Ward 14 Toronto-Danforth
Email: councillor_fletcher@toronto.ca
Ward 15 Don Valley West (seat currently empty)
BURNSIDE, Jon – Ward 16 Don Valley East
Email: councillor_burnside@toronto.ca
CARROLL, Shelley – Ward 17 Don Valley North
Email: councillor_carroll@toronto.ca
CHENG, Lily – Ward 18 Willowdale
Email: councillor_cheng@toronto.ca
BRADFORD, Brad – Ward 19 Beaches-East York
Email: councillor_bradford@toronto.ca
KANDAVEL, Parthi – Ward 20 Scarborough Southwest
Email: councillor_kandavel@toronto.ca
THOMPSON, Michael – Ward 21 Scarborough Centre
MANTAS, Nick – Ward 22 Scarborough-Agincourt
Email: councillor_mantas@toronto.ca
MYERS, Jamaal Ward 23 Scarborough North
Email: councillor_myers@toronto.ca
AINSLIE, Paul – Ward 24 Scarborough-Guildwood
Email: councillor_ainslie@toronto.ca
MCKELVIE, Jennifer – Ward 25 Scarborough-Rouge Park
Email: councillor_mckelvie@toronto.ca