Mayor's budget launch and MURA funding

Friends,

This morning, Mayor Chow released her proposed 2024 City budget which will be reviewed by City Council on February 14, 2024.

This budget protects key services that are important to the people of Toronto. It makes critical investments in housing, transit, and safety.

The budget will require a property tax increase of 9.5%.

Relief programs are available for low-income seniors and those living with a disability. More information on those programs are available here.

To ensure tenants are protected, the multi-residential tax rate increase will be 3.5%, which is below the threshold that allows landlords to apply for above-guideline rent increases.

One highlight of the Mayor's Budget is the Multi-Unit Residential Acquisition (MURA) program. MURA, a City-wide program which began as a pilot here in Ward 4, will receive an additional $100 million dollars over three years, to support community non-profits, Indigenous housing providers, land trusts and co-operatives in acquiring units from the market and keeping them affordable.

The MURA program will be funded in partnership with the federal and provincial governments along with revenue from the Vacant Homes Tax.

The proposed budget which puts the needs of Torontonians front and centre is a result of our community's advocacy and hard work.

As a result of years of austerity measures, conservative mayors, and lack of political will to make difficult decisions, vital City services have suffered deep cuts and decline. This budget is evidence that the Mayor is focused on getting our City back on track. I look forward to the February 14 Council meeting to vote on this budget.

The meeting agenda will be available here and the meeting will be streamed live on the City's youtube page.

Sincerely,

Gord

 


- Vacant Homes Tax Assistance Drop-ins

- Toronto Public Health Strategic Plan Consultations

- City's Summer Camp list online


 

Vacant Home Tax assistance available at drop-in sessions

All residential property owners in Toronto must submit a declaration of their property’s occupancy status every year – even if they reside there.

Property owners who would like help submitting their declaration of occupancy status can visit a drop-in session on select dates in February.

All sessions take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. near the Inquiry & Payment counters at the following locations: 

·       Toronto City Hall – February 5, 7, 28 & 29 

·       Scarborough Civic Centre – February 5, 7, 28 & 29 

·       Etobicoke Civic Centre – February 6, 8, 28 & 29 

·       North York Civic Centre – February 6, 8, 28 & 29 

·       York Civic Centre – February 5, 7, 26 & 27 

·       East York Civic Centre – February 6, 8, 26 & 27 

The deadline to declare occupancy status for the 2023 calendar year is February 29, 2024. More information is available on the City’s Vacant Home Tax webpage 


Toronto Board of Health begins public consultations for Toronto Public Health’s new Strategic Plan

Starting on Monday, February 5, the Toronto Board of Health (BOH) is inviting Toronto residents to participate in public consultations to help develop a new Strategic Plan to guide Toronto Public Health’s (TPH) work for the next four years.

The Strategic Plan will guide key TPH priorities as it maintains and improves the population’s health, reduces inequities and prepares for and responds to health emergencies affecting Toronto’s diverse population.

Torontonians can participate in the consultation process by:

  • Attending in-person sessions on February 5 at City Hall, 100 Queen St. W. The BOH Strategic Plan Development Committee is meeting in Committee Room 1 at 9:30 a.m. Residents are asked to register to speak by emailing [email protected] or calling 416-397-4592.
  • Attending a drop-in public consultation session held in Committee Room 4 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. on February 5.
  • Completing the Strategic Plan survey from February 5 to March 17 located on the City’s website: www.toronto.ca/tphstrategicplan.

Residents who are unable to attend the in-person session or take the survey can send their feedback to [email protected] from February 5 to March 17.

More information on the TPH’s Strategic Plan and the planning process is available at: www.toronto.ca/tphstrategicplan.


CampTO is back: Full list of programs now available online

With more than 30 types of camp programs at more than 140 locations, residents can now better prepare for next month’s city-wide registration by viewing the City of Toronto’s summer CampTO program list online.

From traditional day camp experiences to sports, arts as well as indoor/outdoor and nature-based activities, the City is once again offering a wide variety of programs this summer for children and youth between the ages of four and 16.

Registration for CampTO opens at 7 a.m. on Wednesday, February 7. The fastest and easiest way to register for CampTO is online. Residents can find program and registration information at toronto.ca/campTO.

Registration online or in-person

Five community centre locations will be open on February 7, from 7 a.m. to 12 noon:

  • Centennial Recreation Centre, 1967 Ellesmere Rd.
  • Dennis R. Timbrell Resource Centre, 29 St. Dennis Dr.
  • Driftwood Community Centre, 4401 Jane St.
  • Masaryk Cowan Community Centre, 220 Cowan Ave.
  • Wellesley Community Centre, 495 Sherbourne St.

Residents who need help preparing for registration can call 416-396-7378, Monday to Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The call centre will be open for extended hours on Tuesday, February 6, from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., and on registration day from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Residents will need their family and client numbers to sign up for CampTO programs and are encouraged to have this information ready before registration day. Residents can set up a new account or retrieve their existing client or family numbers by phone or online.

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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