Council Member Appointments

Friends,

Today, the Striking Committee made Council member appointment recommendations to fill positions on various committees and boards.

One of my appointments is the Chair of the Planning and Housing Committee.

I deeply view housing as a human right and I will advocate for building and investing in more affordable, supportive and social housing. I also look forward to continuing my work with the community and my colleagues on various committees, boards and agencies.

Here is a complete list of my appointments -

   Executive Committee

Standing Committees:

   Chair, Planning and Housing Committee

Special Committees

   Vice-Chair, Budget Committee

City Boards

   Board of Health

Heriage Boards

   Heritage Toronto

   Toronto Preservation Board

Other City Bodies:

   Toronto and East York Community Council

Council Advisory Boards

   Housing Rights advisory committee

External Boards and Committees

   Artscape Toronto

   Housing Services Corporation

   Toronto and Region Conservation Authority

   BIAs in Ward 4

   Swansea Town Hall

For any Ward 4 or City-related matters, feel free to contact my office at [email protected] .

Sincerely,

Gord


Public Education Campaigns from Municipal, Licensing and Standards:

   - Using Leaf Blower 

   - Responsible Dog Ownership

Community Events:

   - Toronto Nature Stewards - Aug 23

   - TRCA Celebrate the Humber - Aug 27

Leaf Blower

Using a leaf blower to clean your yard? Let's be considerate of our neighbours and avoid noise from leaf blowers before 8 a.m. and after 7 p.m. on weekdays. On weekends and statutory holidays, noise from leaf blowers is permitted from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. You can also keep your yards clean without using leaf blowers. If you do have to use a leaf blower, consider using green technologies such as electric or low-noise equipment and take steps to reduce noise from your device. Check out other ways to clean yards and tips on reducing leaf blower noise: toronto.ca/LeafBlower.


Responsible Dog Ownership 

Toronto’s many parks, trails and green spaces make this city a great place to own a dog. But owning a dog is a big responsibility - not only to your pet, but also to the community around you. As a dog owner, one of the most important things you can do is to keep your dog leashed in public spaces. It’s a simple act that will help ensure your dog’s safety, but also the enjoyment of others around you. Remember, not everyone is comfortable around dogs, and not all dogs are friendly. Keeping your dog leashed will help prevent potential conflicts and accidents. If you are looking for a space to let your dog run freely, Toronto has more than 75 designated off-leash areas in the city.


Dog owners are responsible for their dog’s behaviour and should take steps to ensure their dog is behaved and respectful of others. Proper training, socialization and positive reinforcement is essential for a dog’s well-being and will help ensure safer interactions with other dogs and people. To learn more about the rules for owning a dog in Toronto, visit: toronto.ca/DogsInTheCity.


Toronto Nature Stewards 

When: Wednesday, August 23rd at 6 PM

Speaker:  Alan Colley, Indigenous Teacher, creator and owner of Toronto Aboriginal Eco Tours

Where: The park is at the bottom of the Humber River and The Queensway, accessed from South Kingsway.

Approximate address: 6 South Kingsway

Alan will speak with us within the Park and enhance our learning about the Humber River and it significance to the Indigenous people.


Toronto and Region Conservation Authority - Celebrate the Humber!

Explore a part of the Humber River Recreation Trail in Toronto and view historic landmarks such as the bridge at Etienne Brulé Park, while making stops along the way at interactive and educational stations.

Participants will follow along the trail from Etienne Brulé Park to King's Mill Park as we tell the story of the Carrying Place Trail and the importance of the Humber River through fun and interactive activities.

Stations will include:

  • Education about the history of the Humber River and how to protect it through hands on activities
  • Understanding of how the Humber came to be designated a Canadian Heritage River
  • Lesson on how to cast a fishing rod
  • Canoeing/kayaking part of the Humber River (pre-registration is required)
  • And more!

Date/Time: Sunday, August 27th, 2023, 10 AM to 4:30 PM

Location: Etienne Brulé Park,10 Catherine St, Toronto

Parking: Limited parking is available onsite.             

Attire: This is a rain or shine outdoor event, please dress for the weather and wear flat, comfortable footwear as grounds may be uneven.  

Questions: For more information, please contact Lauren Guido, Specialist, Events at [email protected], or 437-880-2403.

Latest posts

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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