Toronto Public Health Provides Free Dental Care for Eligible Clients

Friends,

Toronto Public Health provides free dental care for eligible clients at convenient locations across the city. Oral health is a key component of overall health and wellness, yet for some in our community, regular dental care may not be affordable.

Toronto Public Health (TPH) clinics address this gap by offering dental services to eligible children and youth (0-17 years), adults enrolled in selected Toronto Public Health programs, and seniors (65 years and older). In 2023, TPH provided more than 61,600 dental appointments in community-based clinics.

Locations in Ward 4 include 2340 Dundas St. W. (at Bloor Street West) and the Parkdale Community Health Centre (1229 Queen St. W).

In addition to these clinics, this week the City announced a free mobile dental care program for the more than 2,600 residents of the 10 long-term care homes operated by the City. Set to kick off later this month, this innovative program prioritizes the well-being and oral health of some of Toronto’s most vulnerable residents. The mobile dental vans will provide essential oral health services including preventive care, minimally invasive dentistry, restorative dentistry, oral surgery and dentures. This comprehensive approach addresses a wide range of dental needs while promoting better health outcomes and preventing potential hospital visits for pain management associated with oral health issues.

At next Monday’s Board of Health Meeting, the Board will be receiving reports on the Toronto Public Health 2024 Operating and Capital Budgets. You can review these items and follow the meeting here: Board of Health - Meeting 12 - TMMIS (toronto.ca)

I am proud of and will continue to support our City’s investments in TPH to expand care and provide low-barrier access to services to our most vulnerable community members.

Sincerely,


  • Ward 4 Environment and Compost Days - Saturday April 27th 
  • Update on 1304-1318 King Street West and 143-145 Cowan Avenue
  • Committee of Adjustment Application 6 Noble Street
  • Update on King West Construction
  • Jane/Dundas Library Renaming Survey
  • Wabash Community Centre - Public Art Consultation
  • Neighbourhood Climate Action Grants open for applications
  • Mayor’s Community Safety Awards now accepting nominations

 

Ward 4 Environment  and Compost Days - Saturday April 27th !


Update on 1304-1318 King Street West and 143-145 Cowan Avenue

On Tuesday May 7, 2024, Toronto and East York Community Council (TEYCC) will be reviewing Staff Report: TE13.10 - 1304-1318 King Street West and 143-145 Cowan Avenue - Official Plan, Zoning By-law Amendment and Rental Housing Demolition Applications - Decision Report - Refusal

The application proposes a 21-storey mixed use building. The proposal will have 213 square metres of ground floor retail and 263 dwelling units, including 8 rental replacement units. Application Information Centre - 1304 KING ST W (toronto.ca)

The Report to TEYCC recommends that the City Council refuse the application for an Official Plan Amendment and Zoning By-law Amendment Applications, and in the event the applications are appealed to the Ontario Land Tribunal, City Council, attempt to resolve the Official Plan Amendment and Zoning By-law Amendment applications, to the satisfaction of the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning and the City Solicitor.

The full report is available on-line at https://secure.toronto.ca/council/agenda-item.do?item=2024.TE13.10

I will be supporting the staff recommendation. I ask that you review the details of the report and share your questions and comments with my office: [email protected] , 416-392-7919.

You can register to speak or provide written comment through [email protected]. TEYCC will also be streamed live online at www.youtube.com/TorontoCityCouncilLive


Committee of Adjustment Application 6 Noble Street

In 2018, a settlement agreement was reached between the City of Toronto and applicant of 6 Noble Street for an 8-storey (33 m) mixed-use building on site.

The applicant has now filed an application increasing the building height to 11-storey (43 m, including a mechanical penthouse), as well as the total gross floor area (from 9,500 m² to 12,341 m²), and to reduce the mechanical penthouse building setback (east and south lot lines).

This proposal for an additional 3-storeys requires a Committee of Adjustment Minor variance. The site also requires Site Plan application approval.

The Committee of Adjustment Minor Variance request will be heard on May 15, 2024.

As Councillor Perks appoints citizens to the Committee of Adjustment to make decisions on minor variances and, on the advice of the Integrity Commissioner, Councillor Perks cannot attempt to influence a member's decision on an application. He does not communicate with the panel members at committee or through written comment about the application.

The Committee of Adjustment process does offer an opportunity for the public to participate in the process. Community members have an opportunity to comment on the application at the virtual Committee of Adjustment hearing. The Public Notice, with details on how to view and/or participate, is below.

 


King West Construction Update

 

Phase 1, watermain replacement work is progressing well along King Street West between Dufferin Street and Shaw Street.

Until approximately Sunday, April 28, westbound lanes on King Street West between Dufferin Street and Joe Shuster Way will be closed. One eastbound lane will remain open.

Due to supply chain challenges, the City was unable to obtain the specialized material required to replace the TTC streetcar track at the intersection of King Street and Dufferin Street. As a result, this intersection work will be deferred from the 2024 schedule and be incorporated into the 2025 King Street West project, stretching from Close Avenue to Dufferin Street --and the planned full closure of the King Street and Dufferin Street intersection will no longer take place this year.

The current construction work is now anticipated to be complete in November 2024, instead of December 2024.

Please visit the project webpage for more details toronto.ca/kingwestconstruction


Jane/Dundas Library Renaming Survey

As part of the larger Dundas Street Renaming Project City Council has requested that Toronto Public Library (TPL) rename the Jane/Dundas branch to remove the Dundas name by late 2024.

The proposed new name for the Jane/Dundas branch is the Daniel G. Hill III branch. This is to recognize and celebrate the legacy of a prominent Black Torontonian and pioneer in human rights in Ontario. This would be the first TPL branch named after a Black Torontonian.

Share your feedback by taking this short survey. The survey takes approximately 3 to 5 minutes to complete and will close on Wednesday, May 1, 2024 at 11:59 p.m.

Please visit the TPL website for more information: Jane/Dundas Branch Renaming : Toronto Public Library


Wabash Community Centre - Public Art Consultation

Public art is coming to Sorauren Park! The City of Toronto is developing the new Wabash Community Recreation Centre for the southeast corner of Sorauren Park, with opportunities for public artwork to be prominently located inside the CRC.

We welcome community input on five public art proposals via online survey until May 13th:  https://cotsurvey.chkmkt.com/wabash

 


Neighbourhood Climate Action Grants open for applications

Now open for applications! The Neighbourhood Climate Action Grants fund resident-led projects, activities and events that reduce emissions that contribute to climate change and educate the public on climate action. Grants of up to $7,500 per group are available.  

 

Applications are being accepted until noon on June 12, 2024. Find more information and apply online on the City’s Neighbourhood Climate Action Grants webpage. 

 


Mayor’s Community Safety Awards now accepting nominations

Since 2002, the Mayor’s Community Safety Awards have been celebrating innovative Toronto-based projects that help build safe communities and reduce violence. Projects that contribute to community safety and reduce violence in Toronto will be awarded a $1,500 contribution to support their innovative approaches to addressing safety within their local communities. 

The project categories are: 

  • Community-led groups/projects 
  • Youth-led groups/projects 
  • Senior(s)-led groups/projects (new this year) 

Find more information and submit a nomination on the City’s The Mayor’s Community Safety Awards webpage.  

 


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Demonstrations Bylaw

Friends,

The City of Toronto is moving ahead with public consultation for a proposed demonstrations bylaw to protect vulnerable institutions, as directed by City Council (2024.CC24.2).

In February 2024, City Council directed the City Manager to develop a policy framework for the management and monitoring of rallies and protests, ensuring alignment with the City’s Human Rights and Anti-Harassment Policy.

The Report presented to City Council in December, 2024, presented a Policy framework that clarifies the City’s role, jurisdiction and municipal tools available to respond to demonstrations, including the role of applicable City divisions, and provided an overarching foundation of how the City coordinates its activities to determine an appropriate response based on the circumstances of the situation.

I supported the adoption of the Policy Framework.

However, this report included a recommendation (#3) that the City Manager report back with a proposed bylaw that limits demonstrations in our city. https://secure.toronto.ca/council/agenda-item.do?item=2024.CC24.2

This was a very difficult decision however, I could not support this direction as I believe that restricting people’s ability to protest is a step backward. It takes away people’s rights under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. I believe the preservation of these rights in their entirety is essential to protecting the most vulnerable segments of our society, and our democracy. I spoke to my reasoning for not supporting this direction; you can listen to it here.

The City is now moving ahead with the public consultation .

This multi-pronged public consultation approach will include the following:

Online Survey

Written Comments

Public Discussions

  • Additional opportunities to participate in public discussions will follow in April. More information on the dates of the public discussions will be communicated and posted on the City’s webpage once confirmed.

Information and additional details on the City’s public consultation can be found on the City’s webpage at: http://toronto.ca/PublicConsult.

The consultation is an opportunity to take part in this conversation. I encourage you to participate.

Sincerely,


In This Week's Newsletter

City Wide Updates 

  • Zoning for Housing – Upcoming City Planning Consultations
    • Garden Suites Monitoring Program
    • Expanding Permissions in Neighbourhoods for Sixplexes Citywide
  • Help shape the next Toronto Seniors’ Strategy 

Ward 4

  • Swansea Town Hall Community Centre - Seeking New Board Members & Assistant Executive Director 
  • Greenest City: Parkdale Seedy Sunday & Ecofair 2025 - Volunteer Call
  • Toronto Hydro Construction Notice - Glenlake Ave.
  • Road Rehabilitation Construction Notice - Evans Ave
  • Developments
    • 3459-3461 Dundas St W
    • 138 Dowling Ave

Anyone can experience homelessness. Everyone deserves shelter.

Friends,

Anyone can experience homelessness.

Shelters in our city provide essential support to individuals in immediate housing crisis, act as a stepping stone to permanent housing, reduce reliance on other high-cost services (e.g. emergency rooms), and bring people indoors, providing an alternative to sleeping in parks, sidewalks, or transit stations.

The positive impact of shelter service is evident in the stories of individuals who have successfully transitioned from shelter into permanent housing. Some have bravely shared their stories: Successful Pathways to Housing – City of Toronto .

Shelters provide critical services to help individuals experiencing homelessness gain stability as they work toward permanent housing.

The City has a 10-year plan to improve and expand our shelter system: Homelessness Services Capital Infrastructure Strategy (HSCIS).

One pillar of the 10-year strategy is building up to 20 permanent and purpose-built shelters, with a focus on expanding outside of the downtown core to address gaps in available services for people.     

Community engagement is a crucial component to supporting the successful integration of new shelters into the neighbourhood. The City is committed to engaging the community to support the program’s success – both for the individuals who will be staying at shelters and the surrounding community. The process includes communicating details about the shelter development process, responding to community inquiries and concerns, improving public understanding of shelter development and providing ongoing shelter updates. Details will be shared with each community as development of each site progresses and can be found online at toronto.ca/NewShelters

I am encouraged by the City’s Homelessness Services Capital Infrastructure Strategy (HSCIS) and will continue to use my voice and vote on Council to support improving and increasing our shelter infrastructure and expediting the City’s delivery of housing.

Sincerely,


In This Week's Newsletter

City Wide Updates 

  • Toronto Strong Neighbourhoods Strategy (TSNS) Community Networks Launching
  • Spring Flooding: Flood Preparedness Resources
  • Committee of Adjustment Annual Stakeholder Update and Engagement
  • Celebrate Community Story Telling at City Hall

Ward 4

  • BenTastic Magic Show at Parkdale Library
  • High Park Prescribed Burn
  • Construction Notice: Road Resurfacing on Weatherell Street from Rivercrest Rd to Jane St
  • Greenest City: Parkdale Seedy Sunday & Ecofair 2025

Potential Labour Strike & Disruptions

Friends,

Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 79, the union representing the City’s 27,000 city workers will be in a legal strike at 12:01 a.m., or one minute past midnight, on Saturday, March 8 if an agreement is not reached before then.

City Manager Paul Johnson has provided updates on city services that may be impacted in the event of a labour disruption.

A labour disruption would result in the closure of all 39 City-operated early learning and child care centres, as well as the closure and cancellation of programming at all City recreation centres including March Break camps. Refunds will be issued for any paid recreation programs that are affected and clients will not be charged for days that City-operated child care centres are closed.

The City will remain prepared to respond to emergencies if a labour disruption occurs. Emergency response by the Toronto Police Service, Toronto Fire Services and Toronto Paramedic Services will not be impacted. The Toronto Community Crisis Service will operate normally. Winter maintenance operations for roads and sidewalks will continue.

Seniors Services and Long-Term Care, TTC, Toronto Community Housing and Toronto Water operations will continue during a labour disruption. All City-operated and funded shelters, 24-hour respite and drop-in programs will remain open. The City will continue to activate additional services during colder temperatures, including Warming Centres.

Information on City services and bargaining updates can be found on the City’s website at www.toronto.ca/labour.

Sincerely,


In This Week's Newsletter

City Wide Updates 

  • Prepare for potential flooding
  • Bylaw update for Accessible Parking Permit holders
  • Reminder: Vacant Home Tax Declaration

Ward 4

  • Family Skate at Coca Cola Coliseum
  • Artists in Flux 2: Empowerment
  • CommunitiCare Health Taking New Patients
  • Greenest City: Parkdale Seedy Sunday & Ecofair 2025

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