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