Toronto councillor wants ‘priority neighbourhood’ label removed

A Toronto councillor wants the city to remove the “priority neighbourhood” designation, saying the term stigmatizes communities across the city and is no longer necessary.

City council adopted the Toronto Strong Neighbourhoods Strategy in 2005 with the purpose of attracting government funding for 13 underserved communities which were designated “priority neighbourhoods.”

The Strong Neighbourhoods Task Force was formed at that time to work with local residents to identify the 13 communities that were considered most vulnerable neighbourhoods, in terms of low incomes, high-than-normal incidents of gun violence and gang activities, and work to get them more services and facilities.

But Coun. Vincent Crisanti said in a June 15 letter to the community development and recreation committee that the label is no longer necessary.

Crisanti represents Etobicoke North, which includes Jamestown, a designated priority neighbourhood.

He said Jamestown has received important investments under the strategy but the priority neighbourhood label has added to the stigma of this and other communities.

“Conditions have changed in many Toronto neighbourhoods over the past decade and I believe the continuation of a single list of ranked neighbourhoods is no longer appropriate,” he said in the letter.

Removing the label would assist in attracting “private investment and contribute to a sense of pride among residents of these neighbourhoods,” he said.

Crisanti has also asked that the 2005 strategy be reviewed to provide, among other things, recommendations on how better to serve and invest in these neighbourhoods.

The committee will consider his request at a meeting on Wednesday morning.

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