2024 Budget Key Dates

Friends,

The Budget process is in full swing with the third consecutive Budget Committee meeting happening today. Additionally, today will be the third and final day of the Mayor's Budget telephone town halls. Participants may join at 7pm by calling 1-833-490-0889.

I also had the privilege of hosting my annual community budget town hall where around 80 participants heard my presentation and asked thoughtful questions. Thank you for your participation and for showing up to make our City better.

As a reminder, the public will have opportunities to present to the budget committee on the 2024 Operating and Capital Budgets next week on January 22 & 23, 2024.

Public presentations will be heard on January 22 at City Hall and Scarborough Civic Centre, and on January 23 at Etobicoke Civic Centre and North York Civic Centre. Please note that all public presentation sessions at the City Hall locations are now full.

For more information on how to participate please see the City's website. To register to depute, please contact [email protected]

The Budget Committee will be wrapping up on January 26, 2024, with the Mayor's proposed budget releasing on February 1st and the final Council meeting on February 14.

Details on the budget process and information with budget notes, reports and presentations can be found at toronto.ca/budget .

Sincerely,

Gord

 


- Planning and Housing Updates

    - 2453-2469 Bloor Street West Community Consultation Meeting

    - 1728 Bloor St West Zoning at TEYCC

    - 7 Laxton Avenue at TEYCC

- CaféTO application now open

- Information on Property Tax, Water & Solid Waste Relief Programs 


2453-2469 Bloor Street West Community Consultation Meeting

The City has received a Zoning By-law Amendment application for 2453-2469 Bloor St West and so City Planning has scheduled a virtual Community Consultation Meeting for the evening of January 30th at 6pm.

A plan has been proposed to redevelop this space into a 12-storey mass timber mixed-use building with retail on the ground floor, containing 91 residential units, 111 bike parking spaces, and 40 vehicle parking spaces. A pre-application community meeting was held for this site previously on May 8th, 2023. This month's meeting, consisting of a short presentation of the development followed by a Q&A session, will allow you to view the proposal and share your thoughts.

Councillor Perks and City Planning staff, and the applicant will be in attendance to help answer any questions that may arise. You can register for the meeting here: https://toronto.webex.com/weblink/register/rbfac32bd95bca3cfb767e611ef4aa0f5.

Further information on the project and what is being proposed can be found on the City's Application Information Centre website here: www.toronto.ca/2461BloorStW.


Update on 1728 Bloor St West Zoning By-law Amendment Application

On Wednesday, January 24, 2024, Toronto and East York Community Council (TEYCC) will be reviewing the 1728 Bloor Street West - Zoning By-law Amendment Application - Appeal Report. https://secure.toronto.ca/council/agenda-item.do?item=2024.TE10.12

1728 Bloor St West is the current site of Tim Horton's at the N/E corner of Bloor St W and Indian Grove.

The application was originally submitted in March, 2023, proposing a 19-storey mixed use building with retail space on the ground floor and 99 residential units above.

The applicant appealed to the Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT) in October 2023.

The Request for Direction Report recommends that City Council direct the City Solicitor, together with appropriate staff, to attend the Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT) hearing to oppose the Zoning By-law Amendment Application for 1728 Bloor St West in its current form and to continue discussions with the applicant in an attempt to resolve outstanding issues.

The report can be viewed on line at: https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2024/te/bgrd/backgroundfile-242037.pdf. City Planning's comments on the application can be viewed on pgs. 5-7 of the report.

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.

The items is scheduled for Wednesday, January 24th on or after 10:00 AM.


Update on 7 Laxton Avenue Zoning By-law Amendment Application

On January 24, 2024, Toronto and East York Community Council will consider TE10.2 7 Laxton Avenue - Official Plan and Zoning By-law Amendment Applications - Decision Report.

This application proposes to amend the Official Plan and Zoning By-law to allow for the construction of a new 6 storey residential building at 7 Laxton Avenue with 19 rental dwelling units.

This Staff Report reviews and recommends approval of the applications to amend the Official Plan and Zoning By-law. The residential building is an appropriate scale for the site, will provide appropriate transition down to the lower scaled Neighbourhood areas to the east, and will provide a new supply of rental housing units for the area.

The Staff Report is available to review at: https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2024/te/bgrd/backgroundfile-242034.pdf

Further, information submitted to the City by the applicant is available for your review under on the City's Application Information Centre at:  https://www.toronto.ca/city-government/planning-development/application-information-centre/#location=&lat=&lng=  

Following a review of the staff report and a community meeting, I will be recommending approval of the staff report.

This item will be heard on January 24 after 10:00 AM.

You can register to speak or provide written comment through [email protected].


Applications and renewals for CaféTO curb lane program is now open

This week the CaféTO curb lane program opened for local restaurant and bar owners and operators interested in expanding their dining space outdoors. For those looking to register for 2024 curb lane café permits, online applications will be accepted until Friday, March 1, with the expectation that at least 90 per cent of approved curb lane cafés will be installed by the Victoria Day weekend. 

Key improvements to the CaféTO curb lane program this year include:

  • Earlier installation of traffic safety equipment (such as barriers) needed to operate curb lane cafés so that at least 90 per cent of participating restaurants can open their curb lane patio by the Victoria Day long weekend
  • A more user-friendly permit application process for new restaurant operators
  • Enhanced City of Toronto staff support to accelerate permit application and platform review processes for restaurant operators
  • Opportunities to improve the “look and feel” of curb lane cafés by painting or wrapping barriers and concrete blocks

Key dates for the 2024 CaféTO curb lane cafés summer season

  • Monday, January 15 to Friday, March 1 – Application and renewals open online
  • Friday, March 15 to Monday, April 15 – Temporary accessible platform designs are due
  • Victoria Day Weekend – At least 90 per cent of curb lane cafés installed
  • Saturday, June 1 – Temporary accessible platform installation deadline

New applicants

New applicants should review the CaféTO Curb Lane Café Guidebook for program requirements. Applicants can also sign up for virtual information sessions and one-on-one consultations to assist with their application. Applications must be submitted online at www.toronto.ca/cafeTO.

Once applications are received, City staff will work with operators to create traffic management plans that balance the needs of other businesses, including loading zones, garbage/recycling pickup zones, cycling infrastructure and pedestrian walkways.

 


Property Tax, Water & Solid Waste Relief Programs for seniors and persons living with a disabilities

Please visit the City's webpage on information regarding eligibility criteria, required documents, and how to apply for the following programs:

  • Property Tax Increase Cancellation Program
  • Property Tax Increase Deferral Program
  • Water Rebate and Solid Waste Rebate Programs
  • Water Rebate Program
  • Solid Waste Rebate Program

The Property Tax, Water and Solid Waste Relief application (both paper-based and apply online) will be available in the spring of 2024. We will provide updates through this newsletter regarding the application and deadlines.

Latest posts

Friends,

Today, the City of Toronto, in collaboration with the Indigenous Land Stewardship Circle, held the annual traditional and prescribed burn (Biinaakzigewok Anishnaabeg) in High Park and Lambton Park. The burn holds the name of Biinaakzigewok Anishnaabeg, given by Elder Henry Pitawanakwat, meaning “the responsibility for a cleansing fire by all Native Peoples" in Anishinaabemowin.

This stewardship technique in which fire is intentionally set and carefully managed under controlled conditions are a part of the City’s long-term management plan to restore and protect rare Black Oak woodlands and savannahs. Fire-dependent ecosystems, such as Black Oak savannahs, contain rare native prairie plants that respond positively to burning and grow more vigorously.

During the burn, High Park is closed to vehicles and certain sections of multi-use trails may be temporarily closed to pedestrians and cyclists. Similarly, in Lambton Park, access to areas in the park may be temporarily restricted to pedestrians during ignition.

For more information about the history of the burn, updates and a confirmed date, visit: toronto.ca/prescribedburn.

I also want to note that at today’s City Council meeting, Mayor Chow recognized the recipients of the 2026 Toronto Community Champion Award. These local organizations make extraordinary contributions to support the health, well-being and resilience of Toronto residents. Congratulations to Parkdale Activity-Recreation Centre (PARC) for being one of the 25 recipients of this award who will be honoured at an awards ceremony on Tuesday, May 12 at the Toronto Reference Library.

There are many issues that matter to our community at this week’s City Council meeting, including defending Toronto’s interests at Billy Bishop Airport and other City-owned Waterfront lands. I will continue to voice Parkdale-High Park’s strong opposition to this Provincial overreach. I encourage you to review the Council agenda and Council meetings can be viewed live here: Toronto City Council - YouTube

Sincerely,


In This Week's Newsletter

City-Wide News

  • Project Swallowtail Mosquito and Tick Control Recommendations
  • Free Home Solar Accelerator Service
  • Summer International Languages Program

Ward 4 news

  • Gardiner Expressway Weekend Closure 
  • TTC Line 2 Single Day Subway Closure April 25
  • Bloom by the park hosted by Bloor by the Park BIA
  • Green Day at Swansea Town Hall - May 23
  • Construction Notices: Virtue, Sorauren and RapidTO Dufferin
  • High Park Walking Tour: Special Places In The Park - April 26
  • Compost Days - April 25th & 30th

Friends,

The summer of 2025 was among the hottest in the past decade, with a total of 29 days under a Heat Warning issued by Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC). The severity of these events highlighted areas where the City's response measures needed strengthening, including expanded access to cool spaces and more coordinated, proactive communications.

This year, Toronto is bringing back its Air Conditioner Assistance Program, which was piloted in 2025, delivering close to 500 portable air conditioners. For 2026, Council has allocated $1 million to expand the program, providing at least 1,000  free portable air conditioners to eligible low-income residents living in multi-unit residential buildings. Eligible residents include seniors (65 years and older) with health-related needs, pregnant individuals and new parents or caregivers with infants.  This funding covers all costs for the program including delivery and installation.  

Applications for the program will be open from April 7 to 21. Program participants will be selected through a random draw and notified in May. Residents can learn more about the program, eligibility and how to apply on the City’s Air Conditioner Assistance webpage

Effective June 1, 2026, new amendments to the Indoor Temperature Standards Bylaw requires apartment buildings without air conditioning to provide access to a cooled amenity space during the summer months. Under the changes, apartment buildings with at least one existing amenity space must maintain a temperature of no more than 26 °C in at least one shared space between June 1 and Sept. 30,  if cooling is not provided in all rental units.

Building on lessons learned from 2025, the City is also advancing an updated Heat Relief Strategy for summer 2026 including expanded access to cool spaces, including the introduction of a 24-hour cool space during Heat Warnings.

These initiatives highlight the City’s work in preparing for and responding to the impacts of climate change. Despite these efforts, more action is needed to close gaps and plan for risks that will continue to escalate in coming years. I will continue to update you as we take important steps for climate change adaptation as well as reducing emissions that drive climate change.

 

Sincerely,


In This Week's Newsletter

City-Wide News

  • Vacant Tax Home - April 30 Deadline
  • AC or Heat Pump: Home Energy Network Webinar
  • Toronto Parking Authority Update: Free EV Charging for Earth Week
  • Home Solar Accelerator - free concierge service for residential solar/battery
  • Clean Toronto Together – April 24 to 26

Ward 4 news

  • 108-162 Vine Ave OLT Appeal
  • Construction Notices: Virtue, Sorauren and RapidTO Dufferin
  • High Park Walking Tour: Special Places In The Park - April 26
  • Compost Days - April 25th & 30th

Take action

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