My Comments on Funding and Housing Supports for Refugees and Asylum Seekers

Friends,

This week, I had the pleasure of attending the Indigenous Welcome Ceremony and the Mayoral Declaration of Office Ceremony for Mayor Olivia Chow. It was a moving celebration and I look forward to the work ahead.

Last week, I highlighted the need for federal governments to take responsibility for providing funding and housing supports for refugees and asylum seekers as many continue to turn to a shelter system which is at a breaking point.

On Monday, as part of the General Government Committee I spoke on this matter. My comments can be viewed by clicking the image below:

This matter will be at Council on the July 19-21, 2023 meeting.

The agenda will be available here https://secure.toronto.ca/council/#/committees/2462/23196 and the meeting can be viewed live at https://www.youtube.com/@TorontoCityCouncilLive

The meeting will also be Mayor Chow's first Council meeting.

I look forward to continuing the work to resolve the housing crisis with short term solutions of making more shelter beds available and the long term solution of building affordable housing.

Sincerely,

Gord

• Community Meeting on the 2442-2454 Bloor St W (Bijou) site
• Emergency Bridge Closure – Dufferin Street Bridge 
• High Park Walking Tour - July 16
• Reminder: Ward 4 Community Environment Day 

2442-2454 Bloor Street West Construction Management Plan and Site Plan Community Meeting

In 2019 City Council approved a mixed-use development consisting of a 12-storey apartment building containing 186 residential units with retail on the ground floor.

To ensure that the community remains a part of the process for this development I will be, in cooperation with City Planning staff and the applicant, holding a community meeting on Thursday, July 27th from 6:30pm – 8:00pm. This meeting will allow you to view the proposed Construction Management Plan and share your thoughts about how best to conscientiously tackle the disruption that comes with constructing a new building of this size. It will be a great opportunity to ask questions and for the applicant and City Staff to gather feedback. I will chair the meeting which will include presentations from City Planning and the applicant, followed by a Q&A period to allow discussion.

More information for the site is available at http://app.toronto.ca/AIC/index.do?folderRsn=ONqRrnyM7oImjnFtWMiVlA%3D%3D.

The link to join the meeting will be made available closer to the date.

Emergency Bridge Closure – Dufferin Street Bridge

My office was advised  by City of Toronto staff in Engineering and Construction Services that the southbound lane of the Dufferin Street Bridge over the Metrolinx Rail Corridor at Exhibition Place has been closed until further notice.

Please see the notice below for further details:

High Park Walking Tour

Join us on Sunday, July 16 for a terrific walk featuring caterpillars, moths and butterflies.

Tour leader Don Scallen dove into the natural world as a little boy and has remained immersed ever since.

He’s a birder, butterfly blitzer, fish watcher and a native plant aficionado. He is also captivated by insects including caterpillars and moths.

For many summers Don has brought large Saturniidae moth caterpillars to this event in High Park, including cecropias, polyphemus and prometheas. He talks about their life histories and how to rear them and gives participants an opportunity to hold them and admire them up close.

After his talk, he’ll take participants on a walk to look for butterflies and monarch caterpillars. Don is the author of Nature Where We Live, a compendium of nature activities that can be done near home.

Meet at the centre triangle median, just inside the main entrance to High Park on Bloor Street at 10:30 a.m.

Our next walk will be on August 6.

Ward 4 Community Environment Days

This year, environment days in Parkdale-High Park will be on July 15 and September 23 at Sir Casimir Gzowski Park (2001 Lake Shore Blvd W). Drop off your items and pick up leaf compost from 10 am to 2 pm. 

*Compost is loose, please bring your own shovels and containers