Urgent: Spend Thirty Seconds to Save the Arts in Toronto

Sorry to intrude, especially if you have already received this.
I just did it and it really does only take a minute or two...
and it is so important.

respect,
RC

Hello colleagues,

Apologies for the mass email, but I wanted to spread the word about this
grassroots campaign to get 10,000 plus emails to City Councillors in the
next crucial couple of days. Apologies also for the potential duplicates and
that you may have already received this "call to arms". And please forward
widely - particularly to networks of arts supporters and attendees, as well
as art creators.

-------------------------------

Did you know the city's budget crisis could mean the end to city funding for
theatres, galleries, festivals, concerts and all funding to writers, artists
and musicians? It could also mean the end to libraries, community centres
and health programs-everything that makes Toronto one of the world's most
liveable cities.

Your action now can prevent this.

The city has never been closer to the brink. In just 30 seconds you can help
avert cuts to the fabric of our city:

1. CREATE a new email, addressed to

mayor_miller@toronto.ca;
clerk@toronto.ca

2. COPY to:

dmcguinty.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org;
hhampton-qp@ndp.on.ca;
john.tory@pc.ola.org;

councillor_ainslie@toronto.ca;
councillor_ashton@toronto.ca;
councillor_augimeri@toronto.ca;
councillor_bussin@toronto.ca;
councillor_carroll@toronto.ca;
Councillor_Cho@toronto.ca;
Councillor_Davis@toronto.ca;
Councillor_deBaeremaeker@toronto.ca;
Councillor_delgrande@toronto.ca;
Councillor_digiorgio@toronto.ca;
Councillor_feldman@toronto.ca;
Councillor_filion@toronto.ca;
Councillor_fletcher@toronto.ca;
Councillor_ford@toronto.ca;
Councillor_giambrone@toronto.ca;
Councillor_grimes@toronto.ca;
Councillor_hall@toronto.ca;
Councillor_Heaps@toronto.ca;
Councillor_Holyday@toronto.ca;
Councillor_Jenkins@toronto.ca;
Councillor_Kelly@toronto.ca;
Councillor_Lee@toronto.ca;
Councillor_Lindsay_Luby@toronto.ca;
Councillor_Mammoliti@toronto.ca;

Councillor_McConnell@toronto.ca;
Councillor_Mihevc@toronto.ca;
Councillor_Milczyn@toronto.ca;
Councillor_minnan-wong@toronto.ca;
Councillor_Moeser@toronto.ca;
Councillor_Nunziata@toronto.ca;
Councillor_Ootes@toronto.ca;
Councillor_Palacio@toronto.ca;
Councillor_Pantalone@toronto.ca;
Councillor_Parker@toronto.ca;
Councillor_Perks@toronto.ca;
Councillor_Perruzza@toronto.ca;
Councillor_Rae@toronto.ca;
Councillor_Saundercook@toronto.ca;
Councillor_Stintz@toronto.ca;
Councillor_Thompson@toronto.ca;
Councillor_Vaughan@toronto.ca;
Councillor_Walker@toronto.ca;
Councillor_Moscoe@toronto.ca;
Councillor_Shiner@toronto.ca

2. TYPE the following subject line : "Yes to land transfer tax. (arts)"

(adding the arts in brackets means that arts friendly emails get tracked and
tabulated)

3. PASTE this paragraph into the body of the email (or make up your own):

"Dear Mayor Miller and City Councillors:

My Toronto includes:

THE ARTS!
libraries
community centres
recreation programs
public health services
museums
and an affordable, efficient, expanding TTC

To protect my city, I support the land transfer tax as an immediate solution
to Toronto's financial crisis.

Sincerely, and with urgency,

YOUR NAME
ADDRESS
POSTAL CODE"

4. DON'T FORGET your name, address, and postal code at bottom

5. PRESS send.

PLEASE DO THIS TODAY. THE CITY VOTE WILL LIKELY BE SEPTEMBER 20!

10,000+ EMAILS NEED TO REACH CITY COUNCIL THIS WEEK. EACH ONE WILL BE READ.

FORWARD WIDELY.

FOR YOUR INTEREST HERE IS SOME MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE SITUATION.

There is a lot of misinformation circulating about the land transfer tax.

Did you know:

= The land transfer tax is a one-time 2% cost payable only when you choose
to buy a house; if implemented it will avert large annual property tax
increases payable each and every year.

= First time home buyers will receive a rebate for the land transfer tax.

= Only 6 cents of every tax dollar you pay goes to the city. The remaining
94 cents goes to the provincial and federal governments.

For more information on the land transfer tax, and the city's upcoming vote

http://www.fairtaxes.ca

For more information on Toronto artists' response to the city budget crisis
click www.torontoartscoalition.org.

The artists and audiences of Toronto thank you for adding your voice to the
growing movement to save our City.