Expanding access to library services

Friends,

I wanted to take a moment to celebrate with you that the City's 2024 Budget marks a significant step forward in broadening access to library services.

With the approval of this budget, our City is investing in the Toronto Public Library (TPL) to increase open hours and add youth hubs across the City. These enhancements supports the City's Poverty Reduction Strategy.

More open hours mean more public access to our welcoming spaces and friendly and knowledgeable staff, increased digital opportunities, more children and youth supports, and reduced barriers to access for equity-deserving groups.

In our ward, this will mean expanded hours at the High Park library branch. Starting in September, the High Park branch will now open on Sundays from 1:30pm to 5pm from September to June, except on holiday weekends.

Equally important is the need for more welcoming spaces for Toronto youth. With the new funding, TPL will be adding youth hubs in September 2024 at Brentwood, Bridlewood and Maryvale branches, as well as the Toronto Reference Library.

Youth Hubs are welcoming drop-in spaces for teens ages 13-18, designed to support teens in their personal development, especially those from vulnerable populations. They offer access to homework help, activities and programs, snacks and a broad range of current technology. They are open after school and during the summer months and are staffed by librarians and other staff, with support from volunteers and placement students.

At this crucial time of growing need for accessible and welcoming spaces in Toronto, I am proud that our City is reducing barriers to access and providing greater geographic equity for our cherished library services.

Sincerely,

Gord

 

Gord in the Community

Celebrating Tibetan New Year (Losar) at the Tibetan Canadian Cultural Centre


- Drop-in informational event: West Parkdale Cycling Connections - March 5

- Reminder - Vacant Home Tax Declaration Deadline Feb 29

- Reminder - Virtual Consultation: Baby Point Heritage Conservation District - Feb 27

- Reminder - Heritage Register Review – Public Information Session: Feb 26


West Parkdale Cycling Connections

The City of Toronto is inviting residents to learn more and provide feedback about West Parkdale Cycling Connections. The project proposes to connect a gap in the cycling network from The Queensway to Brock Street and improve cycling access to destinations like High Park, St. Joseph’s Health Centre, retail, transit, and schools.

There are proposed changes from:

  • The Queensway to Sunnyside
  • Galley Avenue to MacDonell Avenue
  • Seaforth Avenue to Brock Avenue

This project also includes intersection improvements and changes to parking.

Public Drop-In Event

The Public Drop-In Event will provide an opportunity to view the project information panels and speak with members of the project team one-on-one.

Date: Tuesday, March 5, 2024
Time: 5 to 8 p.m.
Location: The Parkdale Hall, 1605 Queen St. W.

This location is wheelchair/mobility device accessible.

 


Seven days left for residential property owners to declare their 2023 occupancy status

Property owners have until Thursday, February 29, to declare whether their residential property was occupied or vacant for more than six months in the 2023 calendar year.  

Declarations can be submitted through the City of Toronto’s Vacant Home Tax (VHT) portal: www.toronto.ca/services-payments/property-taxes-utilities/vacant-home-tax

Who needs to declare occupancy status?  

While most homeowners are not subject to the VHT, every residential property owner must report the occupancy status of their property for the 2023 tax year. The VHT applies to residences that were declared, deemed or determined vacant for more than six months in 2023 and the tax amounts to one per cent of the Current Value Assessment (CVA). 

VHT exemptions apply to homeowners who reside in their homes, temporarily vacate for vacation, work abroad or rent their property. Failure to submit a declaration of occupancy status by the deadline will result in a fee of $21.24. 

How to declare occupancy status?  

Homeowners need their property assessment roll and customer number to make a declaration, both of which can be found on the most recent property tax bill or statement of tax account. For those without computer access, it is possible to authorize someone to submit the declaration online on their behalf. 

Property owners seeking assistance submitting their declaration can attend drop-in sessions at various locations including Toronto City Hall and civic centres on selected dates in February, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., near the Property Tax Inquiry & Payment counters:  

  • York Civic Centre (2700 Eglinton Ave W.) – February 26 and 27 
  • East York Civic Centre (850 Coxwell Ave.) – February 26 and 27 
  • Toronto City Hall (100 Queen St. W.) – February 28 and 29 
  • Scarborough Civic Centre (150 Borough Dr.) – February 28 and 29 
  • Etobicoke Civic Centre (399 The West Mall) – February 28 and 29 
  • North York Civic Centre (5100 Yonge St.) – February 28 and 29 

Information on the VHT Drop-in Sessions can be found on the City’s Vacant Home Tax webpage: www.toronto.ca/services-payments/property-taxes-utilities/vacant-home-tax

Following the portal's closure on February 29, the City will distribute Notices of Assessment for VHT to owners of declared vacant properties. Owners who did not declare the occupancy status of their properties and properties considered vacant will receive notifications by mail at the end of March. The notices will state the amount owed for VHT calculated as one per cent of the property's CVA. Property owners who disagree with the VHT assessment can file a complaint through the online portal beginning in early April. 

For more information on the VHT, exemptions and the submission of property occupancy status declarations, visit the City's VHT webpage: www.toronto.ca/services-payments/property-taxes-utilities/vacant-home-tax.

 


Reminder: Baby Point HCD virtual sessions – Feb 27

Join the City for an update on the Baby Point Heritage Conservation District Plan.

The City is looking to get input from Baby Point community members through a series of virtual sessions happening in February 2024 to discuss this unique historic neighbourhood.

The second session regarding Architectural Policies is happening on February 27, 2024 from 6 - 7:30pm. 

Here is a direct link to the newsletter pdf with the information on the webinars on the front page: Baby Point Heritage Conservation District Study Newsletter Issue 02 (toronto.ca)

Here's the webpage where you can register in advance to participate in the meetings: Meetings & Events: Baby Point HCD – City of Toronto


Reminder: Heritage Register Review – Public Information Session: Feb 26

On February 26, 2024, Toronto residents are invited to an online Public Information Session to learn about the City’s Heritage Register Review project. The purpose of the meeting is to share information about the project and answer questions. This project has been initiated to develop a strategy for responding to amendments made to Section 27 (Heritage Register) of the Ontario Heritage Act that came into force on January 1, 2023. The Heritage Register Review project is focused on developing an ongoing strategy to prioritize the designation of properties that are currently listed on the Toronto Heritage Register before they are removed from the register on January 1, 2025.

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

Take action

Read Our Weekly Newsletter
Sign Up for Updates
Contact our Office