No Cuts to Community Grants Budget - The 519 moves forward with funding intact.

Thanks to all the thousands of supporters who signed cards, called their councillors, made deputations, brought their children, paraded with balloons, and put The 519 front and centre at City Hall for 2 months.

As well, thanks to Councillor Kyle Rae for his unflagging vigilance and support. Kyle was supported in our vote-building work last week by Olivia Chow, Joe Mihevc, David Miller, and Pam McConnell. All deserve the community's sincerest thanks.

Please call, write or email your councillor to say thanks or to ask them to get on side next year. Our councillors need to know the community is watching how they vote.

Voting FOR the NO CUT grants budget:

TOTAL - 30

Voting AGAINST the NO CUT grants budget:

TOTAL - 12

Not Voting: Lorenzo Berardinetti, Mike Feldman, Ron Moeser

CVOS members gave themselves a chance at this success by all the advance ward level work done on City Councillors before they even began the City Council meeting. We came into the Council Chambers with 22 City Councillors who had declared they supported no cuts or an increase to the grants budget. During the course of the week, a number started to waiver on that commitment as a result of heavy pressure from the Mayor. Many of you came down to remind your Councillors of their promise and to win over more of the uncommitted Councillors. It was a see-saw battle all week, with our flatline vote tally dipping to as low as 18, but we surged on Friday, and the final vote was 30 to 12 as indicated above.

Since February community agencies have been fighting proposed cuts in the community grants budget of more than $3,260,000 (13.6%), then a $1,061,000 cut (2.5%), then a hidden cut of $1,658,700 (4%). The 4% cut was recommended by the Policy and Finance Committee to City Council last week. Each step of the way community agencies mobilized their memberships and community supporters to make the case for the community sector. This was truly won in the trenches.