FOR and AGAINST

Votes speak louder than words.

City councillors had their first real chance to defend our public library during the 2012 budget vote. Here’s how they voted on the Ford Administration’s plan to cut 10% from the Toronto Public Library budget:

AGAINST the Ford cut FOR the Ford cut Maria Augimeri

Ana Bailão

Shelley Carroll

Raymond Cho

Josh Colle

Janet Davis*

Glenn De Baeremaeker

Sarah Doucette*

John Filion

Paula Fletcher

Mary Fragedakis

Mike Layton

Chin Lee

Gloria Lindsay Luby

Josh Matlow

Pam McConnell

Mary-Margaret

McMahon

Joe Mihevc

Gord Perks

Anthony Perruzza

Adam Vaughan

Kristyn Wong-Tam Paul Ainslie*

Michelle Berardinetti

Gary Crawford

Vincent Crisanti

Mike Del Grande

Frank Di Giorgio

Doug Ford

Rob Ford

Mark Grimes

Doug Holyday

Norman Kelly

Giorgio Mammoliti

Peter Milczyn

Denzil Minnan-Wong

Frances Nunziata (Chair)

Cesar Palacio*

John Parker

Jaye Robinson*

David Shiner

Karen Stintz

Michael Thompson Absent/Abstain Ron Moeser James Pasternak (declared conflict of interest)

* Member of the Toronto Public Library Board

As the chair of the Toronto Public Library Board, Councillor Paul Ainslie is supposed to protect our public library, making his decision to support Mayor Ford’s damaging cuts startling.

Even though Ford’s 10% cut was rejected, taking about $7 million from the chopping block, Council still voted to reduce the TPL’s budget by almost 6% in 2012. As a result, services were cut, fewer books added to the collection and measures taken that discourage use of this great learning and knowledge institution.

The quiet attack on our public library

“We’re going to be outsourcing everything that is not nailed down”

Doug Ford – Feb 6, 2011

In place of the Fords’ wrecking ball approach to our public library, which failed because Torontonians forcefully and explicitly rejected it, a longer-term strategy of undermining our public library is at work.

New fees, fines and acquisition cuts are having their intended affect. The latest information we have about usage rates shows fewer people are using our public library. Without a renewed commitment, these trends are likely to continue making our public library an easier target for future attacks.

Isn’t it time City Hall valued our public library like we do?