Restoring Neighbourhood Improvement Area priority status to Malvern and Northern Scarborough - by Councillor Jennifer McKelvie, seconded by Councillor Cynthia Lai

For example, Malvern has the ninth lowest income in the City using this methodology, yet is not an neighbourhood improvement area. From 2005-2013, Malvern was included as one of the 13 Priority Areas (also called Priority Neighbourhoods and Priority Improvement Neighbourhoods). The entire area north of the 401, from Markham Road in the west and to Morningside in the east up to Finch was given this important status. But in 2014, Malvern lost priority status. The rational for removing Malvern was that it scored one point higher on the 2014 ranking system of neighbourhoods, and thus did not qualify (43.89, needed to be below 42.89). It was a disappointing mistake and an example of our City government failing neighbourhoods most in need. Malvern benefited from priority status - residents felt they mattered and it stimulated community engagement. One of the positive outcomes of this energy was the creation of the SPOT Centre in the Malvern Public Library (Success Power Opportunity Teamwork). A year after priority status was lost, that same centre laid off its staff. Overall, since priority status was lost, workforce participation has declined. Likewise, the north Scarborough neighbourhood of L'Amoreaux lost its Neighbourhood Improvement Area status in 2014. Malvern and L'Amoreaux represent significant portions of an area that has been dubbed the 'East Steeles Nexus'. This area of Scarborough north of the 401 and east of Victoria Park has suffered from mediocre investments in subsidized and public housing, poor public transit planning, and some of the lowest incomes in Toronto. Through this Motion, we hope to improve the methodology used to designate neighbourhood improvement areas and further evaluate the need for communities in North Scarborough to receive neighbourhood improvement area status. Reference: Stapleton, J., Maaranen, R. and Yanonne, Y. (2019). Double or nothing. Why northern Scarborough has no Neighbourhood Improvement Areas and what we can do about it. Open Policy Ontario. ISBN: 978-0-9918191-2-6 (PDF). Available at: https://openpolicyontario.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/2019/10/Double-or-Nothing_web-FINAL-R2.pdf

determine the suitability of North Scarborough neighbourhoods, including Malvern, Milliken, and L'Amoreaux, as Neighbourhood Improvement Areas during the next City-wide review, and report back to the Economic and Community Development Committee in the fourth quarter of 2020 as part of this process.