A Message From ACT About Proposed City Funding Cuts



UPDATE!

Dear ACT Supporter,

Mayor Rob Ford and Toronto's city councillors are currently debating whether to continue funding HIV prevention, harm reduction and support services for people living with, affected by, and at risk for HIV/AIDS. At a time when there are more people living with HIV in Toronto than ever before, and two Torontonians are infected with the virus every day, the City of Toronto would be scaling back its efforts to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS.

At the Executive Committee meeting on September 19, hundreds of Torontonians spoke out against a range of proposed city cuts, including those for HIV prevention and support. We are happy to report that the Executive Committee is no longer recommending an elimination of these grants. Unfortunately, what is still being considered is cutting funding to organizations that receive a grant less than $10,000 or in cases where the amount of the grant represents less than 5% of the total program cost. In addition, grants are still vulnerable as each city department is being tasked with finding a 10% cut to their budget for next year.

Any reduction of city funding for ACT programs would still have a negative impact on our ability to provide HIV prevention, harm reduction and support services. We are concerned that City Council may still move ahead with proposed budget reductions to vital city services as part of the upcoming budget process.

What's at risk for ACT?

ACT receives funding for HIV/AIDS prevention, support and harm reduction programs from the City of Toronto through two granting streams:
  1. Community Partnership and Investment Program
  2. Community Service Partnership Grants
These funding streams are still still vulnerable as the city enters its budget process for next year.
What else could be at risk?

ACT receives $271,400 for community education and outreach services for gay men. Although most of these funds come from the province, they flow through the City of Toronto. Twice this year, Mayor Rob Ford has voted against accepting provincial funds for public health services. If City Council votes against accepting these other provincial funds, ACT's entire gay men's community education and outreach programming will be eliminated.

What can you do?

  • Contact your city councillor today. You can find your councillor by entering your address here. Tell them that you want the City to keep supporting the work of AIDS service organizations like ACT. Tell them you oppose any reductions to grants for HIV prevention, drug prevention and support programming during the upcoming 2012 city budget process.
  • Talk to your friends and families. Spread the word about what's happening at City Hall. Tell them how you benefit from HIV prevention and support services.
  • Connect with a coalition concerned about community services called Commitment2Community for updates and information, including how to make a deputation. Another coalition including labour, environment, student and other social justice groups is One Toronto.

Thank you for your support,


Hazelle Palmer
Executive Director
AIDS Committee of Toronto (ACT)

P.S. Make a donation to ACT! Your donations help ACT reduce our reliance on vulnerable government funding. Click here to make a secure, online donation.