The Year 2000 (or Y2K) computer challenge is a top priority for the City of Toronto. Our goal is business as usual for all city services on and after January 1st 2000.

In addition to readying the city's systems for the turn of the century, city staff have been working to provide Toronto residents with a steady flow of information about the Y2K issue and our strategy to take all reasonable steps to ensure the continued delivery of city services.

We recognize, however, that many Toronto residents have special communications needs; for example, some may be more difficult to reach because of age, disabilities, language barriers or other communication challenges. That's why the city has established a special Year 2000 Community Liaison Office to provide local community organizations, social agencies and volunteer groups with Y2K-related information.

Toronto's Year 2000 Community Liaison Officer is reaching out to interested citizens and groups in different ways. These include:

While there's now a widespread consensus among experts that the Year 2000 is unlikely to cause anything more serious than minor inconveniences in Toronto, the high-profile attention to Y2K has created a healthy increased interest in personal preparedness. The city has educational materials on this subject that can be provided to any group or individual.

The city's approach to Y2K communications is simple. We believe that Toronto residents, businesses and community organizations have a right to an accurate and realistic assessment of the situation and the city's Year 2000 preparations. Accordingly, we are being proactive in reaching out to the community - to inform and educate the public on the Year 2000 issue in general, and to explain precisely what the city is doing to get ready for the new millennium.