`People are dying`: Anti-poverty protestors disrupt Toronto budget debate
(The Star Toronto Raptors)

Shouts of “Mayor Goldilocks Tory!” and “People are dying!” erupted at Toronto city council as anti-poverty protestors briefly shut down debate on the 2018 budget.During a morning presentation on the proposed spending blueprint by city staff, members and supporters of Ontario Coalition Against Property in the council chamber gallery started shouting at Mayor John Tory and council members sitting below.“Hey John Tory, add more beds or you’ll be sorry!” they chanted as police and security officers moved toward them and started asking people to leave.While past similar disruptions have seen protestors start to file out after a few minutes, this time they refused to leave, and security order the entire chamber cleared. Some people were dragged out.Read more: TTC unveils strategy to grow transit ridershipToronto urged to ‘step up’ for child care in 2018 budgetAs advocates push for more to shelter homeless, council votes to review supports and keep respite centres open longerA woman who said she is living in a medical facility with no other permanent housing, told reporters that homeless people and advocates are fed up with austerity budgets that keep property taxes low at the expense of social service spending. “Every successive government has passed this problem onto the next successive government since the early ‘70s, the buck has to stop somewhere,” she said shortly before everyone was ejected.“It’s not that an additional billion dollars for one (Scarborough) subway station is more important than those who are trying to live. No one should struggle on this level every day. It’s inhumane.”Spectators and councillors returned to the chamber after about 15 minutes, restarting deliberations that are expected to go into Monday night and possibly Tuesday.Tory has branded the proposed $11-billion operating blueprint his “Goldilocks” budget, arguing it strikes a ̶ ...