Saying Torontonians have become ”extremely anxious” about acts of violence in the city and across the GTA in recent weeks and months, Mayor John Tory is proposing to increase the police budget by $48.3-million this year.

”One of our principal responsibilities is to keep our community safe and to keep Torontonians safe,” says Tory.

”We must do everything we can to address crime and to keep people safe and have them feel safe in our city.”

The mayor also says the public’s become specifically anxious taking the TTC given the number of random violent attacks on the system last year, and plans to have ”more to say” about that in the coming days.

If the proposed police budget increase of 4.3% is approved it would mean the hiring of 200 officers.

The Police Services Board will consider the proposal January 9, with the city’s full spending plans for 2023 to be unveiled the next day.

The budget committee will then start reviewing them beginning January 12, followed by public consultations.