To Email: buc@toronto.ca, CC: your city councillor (find that info here)

Letter Template

Thank you to the chair and the budget committee.

I am (INSERT YOUR NAME), and I am writing to express my concern in regards to the current allocation of the city of Toronto’s budget - 23.3% of which was allocated to the Police Service and Board in 2019.

In light of the recent death of Regis Korchinski-Paquet coupled with the data collected on police encounters which reveals that black people in the city of Toronto are 20x times more likely to be killed by police officers than white residents while 70% of individuals who die in encounters with police struggle with mental health issues or substance abuse or both, I am concerned and disheartened that my tax dollars are being used to fund a service that continues to victimize members of this community.

I would like to see a re-evaluation of the budget currently allocated to Toronto Police Services. I would like to see this large portion of my tax dollars reallocated into social services, mental health programs, health care, education, jobs, and city infrastructure.

I would like to see any budget that is allocated to Toronto Police Services made transparent and with a focus on harm reduction including the mandatory use of body cameras for all officers. Lastly, I would like to see the budget used to invest in the adoption of the 84 recommendations in the 2014 report by Frank Iacobucci, aimed at reducing fatal encounters with people in emotional distress.

I thank the chair, council, and committee for their time, and I will be observing your voting on this issue.