Bill 109 at Planning and Housing Committee

Friends,

Yesterday at Planning and Housing Committee, staff brought forth a report with a set of recommendations in response to changes required to City's Official Plan and Municipal Code to conform to the provincial bill, Bill 109.

This omnibus bill forces changes to the City of Toronto Act, Development Charges Act and Planning Act. On new developments, the bill specifically affects pre-application consultation process, changes definition of a complete application, shifts approvals from City Councillors to a delegated staff authority, and reduces timelines to appeal Site Plan Control applications.

The City should have the right set of regulations for development applications and an efficient consultation process. This bill does not do that. It instead dramatically reduces local discussion on how the future of our city develops, and deregulates how planning applications are dealt with, while starving the City of funds needed to manage development applications and the impacts of development.

While Planning staff are obligated to bring forth recommendations to conform to this undemocratic provincial bill, I will work to ensure that we build back tools for local engagement.

My Comments at Planning and Housing on this matter

 

Sincerely,

Gord

 


In this week's newsletter:

  • Notice: Community Meeting regarding 34 Southport Street
  • Expansion of Harm Reduction Program 
  • Youth Violence Prevention Grant Application
  • Mayoral by-election set for June 26

34 Southport Street Development Community Meeting 

In 2012 City Council approved a mixed-use development consisting of a 29 and 26-storey apartment building and a 3-storey townhouse block which contain, in total, 558 residential units. In 2015 the owner applied to permit a larger grocery store and modify the built form, layout of the site, and location of parking spaces. The requested variances were approved, which among other matters, increased the tower heights to 30 and 27-storeys. After a lengthy delay and pandemic slowdown, the Site Plan and Construction Management Plans are now being worked on by the applicant with City Staff.

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 Tuesday, March 7, 2023, from 6:00 - 7:30pm to allow you to learn more about the development, Site Plan, and Construction Management Plan. It will also be a great opportunity to ask questions and gather feedback. I will chair the meeting which includes presentations from City Planning and the applicant, followed by a Q&A period to allow discussion.

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

The link to join the meeting is here: https://toronto.webex.com/toronto/onstage/g.php?MTID=e6bf283a294331fe4f22a7ad39deffb9a.


Expansion of Frontline Healthcare Services to fight the opioid crisis 

Toronto Public Health (TPH), Unity Health Toronto and the University Health Network (UHN) announced new partnerships to expand frontline health care services in responding to the escalating drug poisoning crisis in Toronto. This will be the first time that acute care hospitals in Ontario and Public Health have worked together to offer supervised consumption services, adding a new way of providing essential harm reduction programming and care in Toronto. The new partnerships will see TPH’s long-standing harm reduction program, The Works, collaborate with St. Michael’s Hospital (part of Unity Health Toronto), and with Toronto Western Hospital (part of UHN). The specific community locations for the new sites will be determined over the next 12 to 24 months.

The delivery of frontline services to the community as part of The Works program represents one of many actions that TPH is taking to respond to the drug poisoning crisis, which are outlined in the Toronto Overdose Action Plan.


Applications for Youth Violence Prevention grant now open

The City of Toronto is accepting applications for the Youth Violence Prevention Grant to support the de-escalation of violence in priority Toronto communities. The Grant, which will be open for applications until Tuesday, April 11 at noon, will see $2.2 million in total funding allocated to approved local community agencies in priority community zones that have been identified across Toronto.

Approved applicants can receive up to $200,000 each for up to a three-year period, starting in 2023. An additional $400,000 will remain committed to the ENAGB Youth Program to continue supporting Indigenous youth via self-determined and culturally specific youth violence prevention programming in Toronto.

The six priority zones where community agencies may be eligible for funding include:

  • Black Creek, Glenfield-Jane Heights, York University Heights, Oakdale-Beverley Heights, and Humbermede
  • Elms-Old Rexdale, Mount Olive-Silverstone-Jamestown, and Kingsview Village-The Westway
  • Beechborough-Greenbrook, Rustic, Rockcliffe-Smythe, Yorkdale-Glen Park, Weston, Brookhaven-Amesbury, and Weston-Pelham
  • Kensington-Chinatown, Regent Park, Parkdale and Moss Park
  • Golfdale-Cedarbrae-Woburn, Oakridge, Malvern East, Eglinton East, L’Amoreaux, Morningside, West Hill, and Dorset Park
  • Flemington Park, Thorncliffe Park, and Victoria Village

To be eligible for the Youth Violence Prevention Grant:

  • Projects must deliver violence prevention, intervention or interruption programming for youth between the ages of 10 to 29 who are most vulnerable to involvement in serious violence and crime.
  • Applications must be from partnerships that include an established, community-based non-profit led organization, as well as a grassroots group or organization.

Full grant application criteria and details for this granting period are available on the Youth Violence Prevention Grant webpage.


Key Dates for the Mayoral by-election

  • Nominations will open Monday, April 3 at 8:30 a.m.
  • Nominations will close Friday, May 12 at 2 p.m.
  • Advance voting will take place Thursday, June 8 to Tuesday, June 13
  • By-election will be held Monday, June 26

More information is available on the City's webpage

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

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