I will be presenting a motion at Toronto City Council on April 10, directing the city's economic development and culture department to create a strategy for hosting celebrations, seminars and other recognitions of the Canada and the USSR Summit Series.

When I'm asked what the biggest problem facing Toronto the answer is easy: our transportation crisis. What is far more complex is how to solve it. The city has to get moving and we must find creative and determined ways to fund our essential transit projects.

After months of consideration and debate, my colleagues and I on City Council passed the 2012 budget. It was a challenging process that required an enormous amount of hard work from everyone involved. I believe that this budget successfully ensures our valued services are funded while showing fiscal responsibility.

I want to assure you that I do not support the closure of any of Toronto's public library branches and I am unaware of any such plans at this time. In fact, two new branches are scheduled to open in 2014. The Toronto Public Library Board recently voted against reducing the hours at 56 branches across the city. I support this vote.

Despite all the doom and gloom in the media about city services these days, we continue to build a strong community in Ward 10. My team has been working at a feverish pace to make sure that the programs we cherish are strengthened and that new resources are added.

It is a busy time at City Hall as we search for ways to respond to the financial pressures we are facing. These demands could produce a deficit of anywhere from $600 to $700 million. It is a very sobering prospect and urgent action is needed. I have received thousands of e-mails and phone calls. I have listened and I have learned.