TORONTO — Speaking in front of a group of UJA Federation of Greater Toronto staff and volunteers, Toronto Mayor David Miller shared his thoughts and strategies last week on ways to “ensure the city succeeds, and most of all how we ensure that nobody gets left behind.”

David Miller stands between UJA Federation Campaign 2010 co-chairs Debbie Kimel and Ken Tanenbaum.  [Ruxandra Petolescu photo]

About 100 people gathered May 4 for an intimate lecture in a Forest Hill home for Part 2 of the federation’s annual speaker series called the Invitation of Invitations.

Before Miller spoke, Debbie Kimel and Ken Tanenbaum, the UJA Federation Campaign 2010 co-chairs, briefly discussed the campaign and boasted that  it managed to raise about $65 million this year. (Last year’s drive raised $66 million.)

Miller made sure to acknowledge the efforts of UJA Federation and the Jewish community for their commitment to community-building in Toronto.

“I’ve always admired the federation, because it helps build community and it helps build a city where everybody is valued,” Miller said.

“I want to say, ‘Thank you.’ In a city like Toronto… we don’t succeed unless everyone has a real chance, and that is what the projects of the federation do, to work so everyone has a real chance.”

Miller spoke about Toronto’s economic development strategy, called the Agenda for Prosperity.

“It passed council unanimously a couple of years ago, and I’m pleased that it did, because in these extremely uncertain times, you need a clear strategy,” he said.

“Quite famously, earlier in this term of council, we couldn’t get agreement on when to break for dinner. So to pass a document like the strategy for Toronto’s future success unanimously, I think, spoke to the real depth of the strategy.”

He said that the strategy, which was developed by business, labour, academics and members of the non-profit sector, has four principles.

The first, Pro-active Toronto, says that the city government should be an activist one. Global Toronto, the second principle, acknowledges Toronto’s multicultural population.

“We have to view ourselves as part of the broader world,” Miller said.

Third, Creative Toronto addresses the  the idea that future jobs in the city should come from the “creative application of knowledge,” such as manufacturing and research jobs.

The fourth principle, One Toronto,  speaks to the value of social justice.

“We don’t want to grow the economy just to benefit a few. We want to grow the economy so that every Torontonian benefits,” Miller said.

He said that in an effort to help both the city and the business sector, a new tax incentive – an idea adopted from American cities – was introduced.

“The basic idea is that if… you are prepared to build on [polluted industrial land] in a way that will support certain kinds of jobs – biotechnology and other modern kinds of jobs – you will get a significant tax break on that site.”

When it comes to helping people, Miller said that improving the city’s employment rate has become part of the focus of the city’s social services department.

“The first idea is helping people get employment and get a chance to live a dignified life,” he said.

He added that the development of environmental industries can help spur growth in the city.

“When you do the right thing for the environment, you are also doing the right thing for business, because what is bad for business is waste, what is bad for government is waste as well, and what is bad for the environment is waste.”

Miller added that as the chair of C40, a group of cities fighting climate change, he is encouraged not only by projects in Toronto, but around the world.

The mayor said that there is a rapidly growing city in Texas that paid to insulate every home in its new housing developments in order to save on energy expenditures.

“This initiative saved them $300 million. While the population doubled in this city, the energy consumption stayed the same,” he said.

“It created hundreds of jobs, creating all the insulation, and it had a very significant positive impact.”

He said that although this is not an initiative Toronto would adopt, he is trying to think along those lines.