April 24, 2003
Remarks by Toronto Mayor Mel Lastman at a special meeting of Toronto City Council
Members of council, before I begin I think it is important to acknowledge the hard work of our health-care professionals that have been on the front lines of this SARS outbreak since day one.
Like the New York City firefighters of 9/11, our front-line health workers are the real heroes of the crisis we face today.
You've heard what Dr. Basrur thinks about the travel advisory issued by the World Health Organization.
Let me tell you what the province and the federal government thinks of it.
Yesterday, provincial officials called the World Health Organization's advisory an "over-reaction" - and Ottawa demanded that it be retracted.
I want to go one step further and demand that the World Health Organization come to Toronto to see for themselves that it remains a safe city to live, work and play in.
The Centre for Disease Control, located in Atlanta, USA - our neighbours came - and they maintain that it's safe to visit Toronto, as long as you keep out of the hospitals.
Like I said yesterday: this isn't a city in the grip of fear and panic. This is a city of 2.5 million people going about their business the way they always do.
It continues to be safe to live in Toronto - and if it is safe to live here, it is safe to visit here.
Now I want to be clear: the health implications of SARS are real. Those people who have been infected have had a terrible time and my heart goes out to the families of the 16 people who have died across Canada since this outbreak began.
But that's 16 out of more than 30 million people. The highest number of people quarantined at one time is 1500. As of today, there are 300 people in quarantine. Out of more than 30 million.
As you have heard from Dr. Basrur, our health care professionals feel we have turned a corner on SARS and that there is light at the end of the tunnel.
That's not to say that it hasn't hurt. But it's not the disease that's doing the damage - its public perception about SARS that's hurting Toronto's tourism industry - and it's getting worse.
There's a third level to this crisis that we cannot ignore - and that is the impact this is having on our residents and our businesses.
People's lives are being adversely affected by both the disease and the public's perception of this disease.
I asked you here today to work with me in ensuring all three aspects of this crisis are being addressed.
First, I'd like to bring you up to speed on some of the initiatives taken to date.
I've spoken to both Prime Minister Chretien and Premier Ernie Eves and both men assure me that we have the financial support of their respective governments.
On the health side of the equation, Dr. Basrur is confident that the province will reimburse us for the costs incurred by her team.
Toronto can expect both provincial and federal funds for an advertising campaign once we have put SARS behind us.
And relief for individuals is starting to take shape.
Two weeks ago, the Prime Minister waived the two week waiting period for unemployment insurance so that people adversely affected by SARS can get immediate relief.
On Wednesday, I asked the Premier to consider a moratorium on evictions for people unable to pay their rent because of SARS - and to look at ways to make sure people don't lose their jobs.
Over the next several days, I will be asking the major banks and lending institutions to allow customers who have been adversely affected by the SARS outbreak to defer payment on loans and mortgages.
And I've already asked that businesses do their best to keep employees on the payroll for the duration of this crisis.
I don't want to see SARS cost anyone their job or their home.
There's more.
Tourism Toronto is days away from tabling a marketing initiative designed to sell Toronto locally, nationally and internationally.
We've got private-public sector partnerships in place to give tourism an additional boost. Mirvish Productions has developed a promotional package in conjunction with several industry stakeholders and I applaud the initiative they've taken and encourage more of the same.
In the meantime, I've asked Torontonians to join me in a city-wide campaign to help our hospitality industry.
There are 2 .5 million people in this city who have one heck of a lot of economic clout.
Let's put it to use. Treat your wife or your girlfriend to dinner out. Stay in a hotel for the weekend. Go and see a show or cheer on the Jays.
I'm going to do all of these things and I encourage you and the rest of the city to do the same.
All of these initiatives need to be co-ordinated with the work being done at the provincial and the federal level.
That's why I struck a SARS Advisory Task Force to the Mayor yesterday.
The task force, whose members are the chairs of all standing committees, is made up of Deputy Mayor Case Ootes, our Budget Chief, David Shiner, Diversity Advocate Sherene Shaw, Works Chair Brad Duguid, Planning Chair Gerry Altobello, Community Services Chair Olivia Chow, Administration Chair Doug Holyday, Economic Development Chair Denzil Minnan-Wong and Councillor Joe Mihevic, Chair of the Board of Health.
The task force will meet daily in my office and its members will be the clearing house for all City initiatives.
These aren't political meetings; these are business meetings and the recommendations that come out of this task force will be aimed at getting Toronto moving.
It will be the co-ordinating body for the work being done by Economic Development. By tourism Toronto. By private-public sector partnerships - and by me.
It will also be the co-ordinating body for ideas that come out of this meeting - because members of council, I really want to hear what you have to say.
You've heard Dr. Basrur. You've heard from our CAO. You've from economic development and you've heard from me.
It's time to hear from you.
Thank you.
