Minutes to the May 28 MSA Convention
MSA Convention — May 28, 2022
Called to order: 2:05 p.m. E.T.
Chair: Alex B.
Secretary: Daniel T.
Attendance: Alex B., Rubina C., Abby C. Judy K., Kiri V., Peter D., Sarah S., Mark F., Shiam A., Dave H., Anthony F., Corey D., Stephen E., Simon M., Barry W., Eliana, Yukun W., Adam G., Beau D., Shashwat, Miguel A.
Land Acknowledgement. Welcome and Introductions
Daniel T. opened the MSA convention with a land acknowledgement.
Barry W. presented introductory remarks, an overview of the political situation..
Discussion on Principles of Unity.
. Daniel T. read a draft “Basis of Unity” statement
i. Ageism, poly-phobia, bi-phobia, queer-phobia, and gender-based violence added to list of what “the Municipal Socialist Alliance does not tolerate”.
ii. The amended “Basis of Unity” statement was adopted unanimously.
a. Daniel T. read a draft “Five Pillars of an Municipal Socialist Alliance Electoral Campaign”.
. Mark F. moved adoption. Peter D. seconded. Adopted unanimously.
b. Adam G. moved that all MSA documents are living documents subject to democratic revision. Daniel seconded. Carried unanimously.
Discussion on Platform/Policy
. Previously approved platform/points read, discussed, amended (if applicable), and voted up or down.
. List of 18 unanimously adopted platform/policy points is attached.
a. Discussion on the proposed “MSA Policy for: De-fund, Disarm and Disband the Police! End Racial Profiling!”
. Daniel T. summarized key points of this four-page document and moved adoption of its line. 13 for adoption, 1 opposed, 1 abstention.
Finances and Voting for Treasurer
. Barry nominated Peter to be the MSA treasurer. Mark F. seconded. Peter accepted nomination and was acclaimed.
a. Peter will open a central MSA bank account as soon as possible.
Endorse Candidates
. Nominations are open until August 19, 2022. Nomination requires $100 and 25 signatures from residents of Toronto.
. MSA candidates should strive for at least 50 signatures.
i. Aim to declare nominations by early July.
a. Mark F. to run in either his Mississauga Ward 4 (home ward) against incumbent John Kovac or Mississauga Ward 7, where incumbent Dipika Damerla is running in provincial election and may not stand in the municipal election.
b. Kiri V. to run in Ward 21 (Scarborough Centre) against incumbent Michael Thompson.
c. Corey D. to run in Ward 20 (Scarborough South-West) against incumbent Gary Crawford)
d. Daniel T. to run in Ward 4 (Parkdale-High Park) against incumbent Gord Perks.
. Will serve as MSA spokesperson in ward with hopes/possibility of connecting with other organizers (particularly in Parkdale) who might be able to stand as candidate
e. Mark F. moved endorsement of Adam G. as MSA candidate in Ward 11 (University-Rosedale) against incumbent Mike Layton. Shiam seconded.
. 12 in favour. 1 opposed. 1 abstention..
Website/Social Media/Logo
. Abby to help with logo/website
a. Facebook page up and running, continues to grow
b. Create campaign updates tab on website.
Next Meetings and Campaign Actions
. MSA Media/Design team to meet on Monday, June 13 at 6:30 p.m. E.T.
a. Next MSA convention scheduled for Saturday, July 2 at 2:00 p.m. E.T.
b. Unanimous support for the resistance to the planned encampment eviction at Allan Gardens on Monday, May 30. MSA members to attend.
MSA Convention adjourned at approximately 5:50 p.m.
Basis for Unity — Municipal Socialist Alliance
Constructive, Communal, Principled, Direct
While the Municipal Socialist Alliance (MSA) was formed by revolutionary socialists, anti-poverty organizers, and disability-justice organizers as an electoral alliance, our primary goal remains radical transformation of society rather than electoral success. In running an electoral campaign, we seek to build up our community-based power in order to tear down oppressive systems and institutions and replace status quo corporate domination with a government run by and for the working class and the oppressed. We do not sacrifice the basic principles of liberation and justice for all in order to win elections. We participate in elections to challenge entrenched power and to re-orient discussion towards the fundamental societal transformation needed for the masses to live comfortably and in harmony with our neighbours and nature.
The Municipal Socialist Alliance does not tolerate xenophobia, racism, sexism and gender-based violence, homophobia, bi-phobia, queer-phobia, poly-phobia, transphobia, able-ism, ageism, Islamophobia, Antisemitism, or classism.
The Municipal Socialist Alliance supports Indigenous Land Back and Indigenous self-determination, disbanding the police and carceral institutions, free public transit, expansion of public services, and immediate action on climate change.
The Municipal Socialist Alliance seeks to dismantle the systems of capitalism, imperialism, colonialism, hetero-normative patriarchy, and white supremacy.
Five Pillars of an Municipal Socialist Alliance Electoral Campaign
Direct Democracy — Any individual or organization who agrees with our founding principles is welcome to join the MSA. We seek to engage communities directly in formulating demands, program, policy, and tactics.
Public Education — The struggle to radically transform society requires widespread education on the failures of capitalism, imperialism, and colonialism to meet human needs and on the necessity for a government led by workers and oppressed people. To this end, we commit to holding public forums and town hall meetings to amplify the voices of organizers leading the struggle against oppression and exploitation.
Direct Action — Transformation of society cannot be achieved solely through parliamentary means. History shows that all significant advances in human liberation are won through the mass mobilization of people. The MSA recognizes the blockade of roads and infrastructure as an important form of democracy. Founding members of the MSA regularly participate in and organize direct action to advance our demands, and we do not plan to stop!
Mutual Aid — The pandemic highlighted once again the human tendency towards mutual assistance. While the city repeatedly failed to keep its inhabitants safe, and police brutalized the most vulnerable amongst us, we stepped up. We keep us safe! The MSA will organize mutual aid, not because it canl succeed in meeting all unmet needs, but because we strive to elevate our ability to keep our communities safe into political power.
Program and Policy — The transformative vision we advance for the people living in our city needs to be made clear in program and policy. The crystallization of our general demands into a concrete plan will show that socialism not only better meets the needs of people but in many cases, will cost workers and oppressed people less. What we need to do, to begin, is to get rid of the food scalpers, housing profiteers, and parasitic oligarchs!
Adopted Amendments to MSA Platform
Repeal Code 608 (the no camping bylaw)
Eliminate blind bidding on property sales.
Introduce real rent control/freeze
Vacancy tax to kick in after 3 months, at 30% of property value annually, with expropriation after two years of vacancy. Primary residences excluded.
Freeze on property tax for personal property
30% tax annually on investment properties. This does not include individuals renting out portions of their primary/personal residence.
Aggressive inclusionary zoning — 50% of newly-constructed condo units to be rented at median-market rent
Public registry of property ownership, which includes the designation of primary/personal residence and secondary/investment properties. Individuals would be limited to two primary/personal residences. (*address loopholes in future)
Colour-coded rating system for apartments
Hire more housing inspectors — empowered to speak with tenants and inspect units. Create a public and accessible system for reporting landlord abuses. Build on the 311 system.
Introduce mechanisms to transfer property from landlord to city. a.) city has right of first refusal if landlord sells property b.) city takes over for bad landlords (i.e. code red)
All housing units expropriated by the city will be rented to tenants as non-profit housing. Rent would cover only utilities and maintenance
Index the shelter allowance to median-market rent.
Establish regulations for veterinary services
Increase number of public washrooms and their accessibility
Food for all - price control of basic foods to be achieved through the education and empowerment of communities to grow and prepare their own food via community gardens and kitchens, establish regulations governing food waste including a spoiled food tax and the seizure and distribution of otherwise discarded and excess food (build a pipeline from the private grocery store to the community kitchen), and the possible expropriation of private corporate-owned grocery stores to be run in the public interest within a no profit framework.
Transition the city to a food system based primarily in local and sustainable agricultural practices.
Make transit accessible as soon as possible. Urgent construction of elevators to ensure the service in every subway station.
Adopted MSA Policy for: De-fund, Disarm and Disband the Police! End Racial Profiling!
*The line of this document adopted at the May 28, 2022 MSA convention.
In response to multiple instances of deadly use of force by police officers, millions of people around the globe demand de-funding the police. This call has not resulted in any action in Toronto, but the MSA is committed to fight for action in the following ways:
1. Immediate hiring freeze for Toronto Police Service until the 50% budget reduction target has been met. The freeze will explicitly cover the following areas:
a. No new external hiring for any positions of any kind
b. No net new positions at the constable rank or any back-fill of vacated (temporarily or permanently) constable positions unless by return of a constable from a temporary acting assignment, return from leave or as transfer of a constable from a different division within the Toronto Police Services
c. Back-fill of vacated uniformed positions at the detective/sergeant or higher level is permitted but only as promotion for an existing active uniformed officer at an equivalent or lower rank
d. No net new non-uniformed positions are to be created or filled. Vacated positions can be filled either by transfer of an existing uniformed or non-uniformed permanent employee or by a temporary contract employee as required
2. Target a 50% reduction in the total Toronto Police Services Budget Vs 2020 Approved Budget by no later than 2025. This budget reduction will represent a savings in total City of Toronto budget of approximately $538 Million per year by 2025 with these funds being redirected to alternate services as detailed in point 4 below. The reduction will be achieved incrementally with consultation from the Toronto City Council, Toronto Police Services, Ontario Ministry of the Community Safety and Correctional Services, Community Groups, and the general public. A list of proposed opportunities for achieving these savings are below:
a. An end to any and all police action against houseless peoples including but not limited to forced relocation, removal of personal property or shelters permanent or temporary or incarceration on the basis of being houseless
b. An end to police resources for the investigation and / or prosecution of non-violent drug offenses
c. An end to racial profiling, random police stop without warrant or just cause and police patrols unless explicitly requested or required due to a report of criminal activity
d. Emergency police response should only be engaged when there is a report of an individual or group that present a credible threat of danger to themselves or others. The deployment of armed police officers to non-violent public disturbances or suspicious activity has been demonstrated to be the cause of violent escalation rather than mitigating it
e. The end of use of on duty police in defense of private property from theft, trespass, or damage. This does not preclude the use of police resources in the investigation of property crime; however, these should be exclusively investigative resources and / or arrest resources when there is credible evidence to support an arrest of a specific individual. It does not include emergency response to intervene in a non-violent property crime in progress or in defense of property at risk
f. Eliminate the use of TPS officers for use in enforcing road safety laws and rules
g. An immediate end to all paid overtime for all TPS employees until such time as the 50% budget reduction target has been met AND only to cover for unexpected staffing shortages against the approved staffing levels. This includes but is not limited to overtime for the purposes of Police Paid Duty, Court Duty and any duties that require a police officer but are currently not included in the day-to-day responsibilities of a police officer. These activities when required should be planned and staffed for accordingly until such time as the TPS staffing has been reduced to within the 50% reduced budget level AND overtime is more cost effective than additional paid permanent employees. The immediate elimination of these costs will aid in accelerating the implementation of budget reductions while reducing the level of Layoffs and Redundancies within TPS
h. Increase revenue per hour of paid duty to cover not only the salary cost of the time duty time but also the equivalent costs in police recruitment, training, uniforms, equipment, benefits, vacations, pensions sick leave, HR and other administrative support services, Management Salary, and benefits that all support the maintenance of a trained and effective Police force. If the use of highly trained and well-equipped officers is deemed as being of benefit to businesses then the full cost of their use should be paid by those businesses
i. Elimination of all police ‘education’ programs with funds being redirected to equivalent programs that are developed by and for communities with specific attention and emphasis on the needs of a particular community
j. The proposed reduction and redeployment of police resources will represent (over time) a significant reduction in the total volume of Uniformed Police Constables. With this reduction in total police constables there will also be a reduction in the requirement for HR, Training, Management, administrative staffing, and other operational expenses that help support these uniformed officers. As these other operating expenses reduce, they should be redirected to support of mental health, crisis, drug treatment and houselessness services
k. The elimination/reduction of police patrol and response services will significantly reduce the requirement for police capital assets including police vehicle fleets, police buildings and offices etc. Wherever possible and practical, these assets should be repurposed to support the enhancement of mental health, crisis, drug treatment and houselessness services. Such as use of vehicles for response services or detainment facilities and offices into treatment centers and or shelters (after significant retrofitting) where it is cost effective to do so. If not practical or cost effective to repurpose these resources or infrastructure the sale of these capital assets should be redirected to cover costs of acquisition of resources for other services and / or to cover the one time cost of redundancy packages to accelerate the implementation of budget reductions. Any sale of capital assets should not be counted as a budgetary reduction against operating expenses
3. The movement to defund the police is not intended to be a net reduction in municipal operating budget but rather a shift in spending from police and crime prosecution to services that can prevent the root causes of crime and better serve the needs of the community. Below is an outline of the proposed enhancement to Toronto City Programs that will be funded through the reduction in Police Budgets
a. Improvements in access to affordable and supportive housing through a combination of initiatives including increased publicly owned co-operative housing.
b. Enhanced drug and addiction treatment services. Including drug treatment experts as first responders on drug related emergency calls instead of police, needle exchange sites and confidential access to drug testing resources
c. Utilization of social work / mental health experts on first response calls instead of police officers where there is not a credible threat of deadly force. These responders will be specifically trained in de-escalation techniques and will have a mandate of assisting persons in crisis in accessing voluntary services. Police, as enforcers of the law, prioritize the assessment of potential criminal activity and detainment for questioning over public assistance and treatment. This will lead to improved outcomes of non-violent calls
d. Improved support for community groups to engage their own communities in making neighborhoods safer. This includes support for unarmed democratic community-controlled policing groups and community education campaigns that do not have police presence or ‘crime prevention’ subtext
e. Increase in and improvement of Bicycle lanes and free and improved public transit to decrease traffic and increase road safety and reduce the requirement for traffic law enforcement
f. Creation of unarmed civilian traffic enforcement department outside of TPS for the monitoring of road safety laws
4. Further, we recommend the following changes in police policy and procedure to enhance safety and accountability within the community:
a. Disarmament of all police officers when on duty except under the following circumstances:
i. If part of a specific highly trained unit who specifically deal with firearm related crimes. Even these officers should secure their firearms when not actively engaged in policing activities that puts them at high probability of being involved in armed situation
ii. If responding to a situation where an individual or individuals have been positively identified as being armed AND where they represent an immediate threat to the public
iii. If engaged in exercising a warrant for the arrest of an individual for whom it has been positively identified as likely to be armed and dangerous. Such a designation for the suspect should be designated in the warrant such that the need for armed officers for arrest is required
iv. As required during training or evaluation in controlled environment under supervision from a designated trainer
b. All police officers should be required to undergo training related to equity & diversity, ethics, de-escalation, and cultural sensitivity on an annual basis. The training should be written and conducted by experts in the respective fields from outside the TPS. Successful completion of the training, including testing on understanding, should be a requirement of employment for all police officers
c. A Police Officer Review and Investigation body should be established and overseen by the public. This body must not include any people who have been employed by any police agency in the past or present and should be ineligible to be employed by the TPS at any time following service on the body. They will be responsible for review of any complaints against police officers by the public, fellow officers or any incident involving the use of a firearm or other item intended to immobilize or otherwise disable a suspect or attacker
d. Every reasonable effort; through negotiation with the CANADIAN OFFICE & PROFESSIONAL EMPLOYEES UNION, LOCAL 343, should be made to amend section 4.06 of the Toronto Police Services Collective agreement paragraph 3 to the following “The Employer’s use of surveillance cameras to monitor the work of employees, will be limited strictly within the confines of Article 4.06 below. No information obtained through the use of this equipment shall be used against employees unless such information constitutes evidence of alleged criminal acts, contains evidence pertinent to an investigation of a public complaint of; police harassment, hate speech (including but not limited to racism, homophobia, transphobia or gender discrimination), excessive use of force, brutality, sexual assault or any other form of abuse of police authority, and / or contains video or audio of any use of a firearm, taser, pepper spray or any other weapon except when directly permitted for the purposes of training under supervision.” As officers of the law TPS should be more, not less, accountable for their actions when dealing with the public. Given their position of power they should be subject to increased scrutiny and surveillance over and above that of regular citizens.
