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this budget is about the right investments

Friends,

I have been hearing from Torontonians throughout the 2024 Budget process, including at this week's public presentation sessions. People feel that it's time to reinvest in the services that make Toronto work.

People want investments in public transit that get us back to pre-pandemic service levels, investments in community services that foster strong and connected neighbourhoods, and investments in shelter and housing that ensure that our most vulnerable neighbours have the supports they need.

The inadequate state of our City's services is a direct result of a decade of austerity budgets and service cuts.

The property tax increase in the proposed 2024 Budget is designed to make up for this lost ground and get us back to building a city that we can all be proud of. I have been very encouraged by how many of you have voiced your support for this direction. 

The proposed budget increases funding in the TTC to allow for a fare freeze while increasing services and safety measures. It also includes significant investments in shelter and housing, the winter warming response plan, and the Toronto Public Library system to extend open hours and access to critical community supports and services.

There have been media reports about cuts to policing, however this is not true. The Budget proposes an increases to the police budget. The City has also designated the Toronto Community Crisis Service as the fourth municipal emergency service which is a non-police-led, 24/7, community-based, client-centered and trauma informed service to support non-emergency crisis calls. This holistic approach to community safety builds our capacity to be more responsive to crisis, and with the right expertise.

For those who have written-in, phoned-in, attended meetings, and engaged during this Budget process, thank you for doing your part in building a better City.

Sincerely,

Gord

 

Other News

- Planning and Housing Updates

     - 150 Dunn housing provider selected

     - 2453-2469 Bloor St W Community Consultation Meeting

     - 2112 Dundas St W Community Consultation Meeting

     - Baby Point HCD virtual sessions

- Parkside Drive Study: Public Consultation

- Winter Services Reminder

 

150 Dunn housing provider selected

The City has selected Fred Victor as the housing and support services provider at the supportive housing at 150 Dunn Ave.

Fred Victor is a mult-service charitable organization bringing 128 years of experience helping people rebuild their lives and operating affordable and supportive housing. 

Thank you to the community, City staff and partners for their contribution towards this milestone.

2453-2469 Bloor St W 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.

2112 Dundas St W community meeting

The property owners of 2112 Dundas St West, N/E corner of Dundas and Golden Avenue, is holding an Online Community Meeting to share preliminary plans for a 10-storey mixed-use development on this site.

Online Community Meeting Details:

Tuesday, February 13th, 2024

6:30pm - 8:00 pm

Zoom Link: here

The meeting will be an opportunity to review a presentation as well as to ask questions and provide comments.

Councillor Perks and City Planning staff will be in attendance.

Further details are available on the flyer below.

Baby Point HCD virtual sessions

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 first session regarding Archaeology & Landscape is happening on February 5, 2024 from 6 - 8pm. 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

Parkside Drive Study: Phase Two Public Consultation

Phase two of the Parkside Drive Study Public Consultation continue with a Public Drop-In event on February 1st and an online survey.

This phase of consultation will collect community and road user feedback on potential interim changes and the long-term vision for Parkside Drive. Following the stakeholder group meeting with residents on Parkside Drive, city staff have also scheduled a public drop-in event and an online survey to review next steps for Parkside Drive and to receive feedback from the community.

Public Drop-In Event

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

Date: February 1, 2024
Time: 6 to 8 p.m.
Location: Lithuanian Hall 1573 Bloor Street West

This is a wheelchair accessible venue.

Feedback

Complete the online feedback survey  before Thursday, February 15, 2024.

Consultation Materials

Winter Services Reminder

All property owners are responsible for keeping sidewalks clear of snow & ice where accumulations of less than 2cm exist. Sidewalk accumulations of 2cm or more will be cleared by the City. If property owners are not able to maintain City sidewalks themselves, arrangements must be made by the property owner for clearing of snow & ice, under a depth of 2cm. Property owners that fail to comply face the risk of being reported to the City, and the City has an obligation to follow-up on reports received. Fines issued are at the discretion of the investigating bylaw officer.

Please see the City's webpage and the flyer below for more information.

 

 

Latest posts

Prescribed Burn at High Park and Lambton Park

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

Strengthening the City’s Heat Relief Strategy for Summer 2026

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
More — Read Our Weekly Newsletter

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