Toronto Mayor John Tory announced the start of what he calls sweeping reforms to the Toronto Police Services following the publication of a new city report that outlines more than 80 recommendations to address systemic racism within the force.

The most significant of the proposed reforms involve creating non-police alternatives for communities, and identifying funding that can be relocated from the police budget to community safety models, said Tory at a press conference Tuesday.

The changes are likely to be implemented in the coming weeks, as opposed to months or years and the public will be informed throughout the reform process, he said. They will be considered at an upcoming Toronto Police Services Board meeting on Aug. 18.

"This is a recognition of the fact that we know we must do more because systemic racism in policing threatens the equal rights and opportunity and justice and wellbeing of Indigenous, Black and marginalized communities in our city and that is not something that's acceptable to me as mayor or to you, the people of Toronto." he said

The proposed changes to policing come after months of protests against anti-Black racism worldwide and in Toronto, sparked by the murder of George Floyd by a police officer in Minneapolis and the death of Regis Korchinski-Paquet, who fell from her balcony after police responded to a call at her home.

Calls to defund the police have been at the core of these protests as community advocates have asked why police are asked to handle mental-health service calls that they aren't equipped to handle. 

The report was developed following Toronto city council adopting a list of proposed reforms to police at the end of June, and after the TPSB put forward "concrete steps toward reform" that same month, Tory told reporters at the press conference.

"These [recommendations] represent the most sweeping series of proposed changes to policing," said Tory, adding that he believes they can be implemented in a way that keep police motivated to do their jobs well while stepping back to allow other organizations to take on some of their current responsibilities.  

Along with a focus on funding community organizations, the recommendations include examining accountability and exploring removing legal barriers that prevent further disciplinary action for police misconduct.