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July Council Highlights and other news

Friends,

Here are a few highlights from this week's City Council meeting:

Mayor Chow brought forward two key items – securing shelter and supports for refugees, and declaring gender-based violence and intimate partner violence an epidemic in the City of Toronto.

The Mayor's motion to secure shelter and supports for refugees was approved unanimously. It recommends that the City match the provincial contribution of $6.67 million to the Canada-Ontario Housing Benefit program, while requesting that the federal government provide its historical 2/3 funding to the program. The motion also requests that the City Manager increase the number of temporary shelters available. Council expressed its gratitude to the federal government for providing $97 million through the Interim Housing Assistance Program but reiterated the request for the full $157 million.

As part of the motion to declare gender-based violence an epidemic, Mayor Chow directed the City Manager to work in partnership with City staff including the Medical Officer of Health and the Director of the Indigenous Affairs Office. The recommendations include urging the provincial and federal governments to enact the Renfrew inquest's jury recommendations which provide a roadmap to prevent intimate partner violence from escalating to femicide.

Council voted unanimously in favour of both of Mayor Chow's key items.

Yesterday, Council also voted in favour of pursuing a ban on two-stroke engine equipment. Two-stroke engine leaf blowers, which are gas powered, negatively impacts climate, air quality and health.

In other news, I have been appointed as a member of the City's Striking Committee which will meet in August 2023 to assign Councillors to new positions on standing committees. Stay tuned for more updates on this matter.

For any Ward 4 or City-related issues, contact my office at [email protected].

Sincerely,

Gord

Send your favorite photos of places in Ward 4, Parkdale-High Park to [email protected] . Don't forget to tell us your name so that we can give you credit when we share your photo!

In this week's newsletter:

  • Development Meetings
    • date change for 2442 - 2454 Bloor St West
    • 2115 - 2117 Bloor St West
  • Ontario Place for All
  • Swansea Summer Music Series at Swansea Town Hall 

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

My apologies for the inconvenience but I've had to change the date for the 2442-2454 Bloor St W Construction Management Plan and Site Plan Community Meeting from July 27th to August 3rd. Please see the notice below with the new time included.

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, August 3rd 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 here.

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

2115-2117 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.

An 8-storey mixed-use building with retail at-grade and 54 residential units above-grade was approved in 2015. The building is proposed to have 46 vehicle parking spaces and 75 bicycle parking spaces. Community meetings were held in spring 2021 and summer 2022 to discuss site plan issues.

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 Wednesday, August 2nd 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 here.

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

Ontario Place for All

Like many who have written in, I have great concern over the planned redevelopment of Ontario Place.

I have been working closely with 'Ontario Place for All' as well as Councillor Malik in whose ward Ontario Place is located. See below for Councillor Malik's statement on this and I urge you to continue to share your concerns with your MPP.

I will continue to advocate, as the redevelopment application proceeds, for public lands to remain public and accessible.

Swansea Summer Music Series at Swansea Town Hall

Happening every Tuesday in August from 6:30 - 8:30 pm at the Swansea Town Hall Piazza (95 Lavinia Ave)

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
More — Read Our Weekly Newsletter

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Ward 4

City Hall

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Phone: 416-392-7919
Address:
100 Queen St W, Suite A14
Toronto, ON M5H 2N2
City of Toronto
311 Toronto