1. News & Updates
  2. Weekly Newsletter
  3. Vacancy Home Tax Update at Executive Committee

Vacancy Home Tax Update at Executive Committee

Friends,

Last week at  Executive Committee, City staff provided a status update report on the City's Vacancy Home Tax.

The intent of this Vacant Homes tax is to dissuade property owners from leaving much needed housing vacant and unused while this year generating $54 million.

Along with the update, staff proposed administrative changes to improve the process of declaration as well as to increase to the tax rate from 1% to 3% of the property's current value assessment (CVA) for the year in which the home is vacant.

In my capacity as chair of the Planning and Housing Committee, I met with Reema Patel, the new Deputy Ombudsman (Housing). The Deputy Ombudsman's role is to oversee the fairness of the City of Toronto's housing policies and programs. I look forward to working with her and welcome her to this new role.

The Ombudsman’s office will also be presenting a report to City Council next week on their recommendations to Toronto Community Housing Corporation (TCHC) to ensure that tenant’s human rights are respected and protected. TCHC has agreed to take steps to implement all recommendations. 

Next week’s City Council meeting agenda is now online and the meeting can also be watched live on the City’s youtube channel.

Sincerely,

Gord

In this week's newsletter

- Wabash Community Centre Update

- REMINDER: Community Consultation Meeting on October 10

     - Development application at 1437 -1455 Queen St W

     - Development application at 1266 Queen St W

- 7 Laxton Community Consultation Meeting on October 17

- Parkdale Hub at Toronto Preservation Board

- Mechanical Leaf Collection Changes

- Bloor West Complete Street Extension Update #5

- Seniors Assistance Home Maintenance Program

- Runnymede Library reopens tomorrow

 

Work on the Wabash Community Centre continues

A Staff Report to advance the design of the new Wabash Community Recreation Centre (CRC), and Wabash Park improvements was approved at the General Government Committee this week:

Agenda Item History - 2023.GG6.10 (toronto.ca)

The City is working to finalize the detailed design. Tendering is expected to be in Q1 or Q2 of 2024, with construction expected 2024-2027.

The new facility will include an indoor pool, a gymnasium, and flexible multi-purpose program spaces.

More information on the Wabash Community Centre can be found here: https://www.toronto.ca/city-government/planning-development/construction-new-facilities/new-parks-facilities/wabash-community-centre/

Community Consultation for two planning applications

A re-zoning application has been submitted for 1437 – 1455 Queen St West

The application proposes a 12-storey mixed-use building. The submitted drawings and materials can be accessed at www.toronto.ca/1437QueenStW.

A second re-zoning application has been submitted for 1266 Queen St West

This application proposes a 25-storey mixed-use building. The submitted drawings and materials can be accessed at www.toronto.ca/1266QueenStW.

To allow you to learn more about the application, ask questions, and gather feedback, City Planning will be holding a Virtual Community Meeting on Tuesday, October 10th, 2023, from 6 - 8 PM.

We will discuss the applications as follows:

  • Introduction & Policy Overview: 6:00pm – 6:15pm
  • 1437-1455 Queen Street West: 6:15pm – 7:05pm
  • 1266 Queen Street West:7:05pm – 8:00pm

Register to attend the virtual community meeting at: http://www.toronto.ca/cpconsultations

I will chair the meeting, which includes presentations from both City Planning staff and the applicants, followed by a Q&A period to allow for discussion.

More information is also available in the documents below.

Community Consultation Meeting for 7 Laxton Ave

A re-zoning application has been submitted for 7 Laxton

This application proposes a six-storey residential building. The application contains 19 new residential dwelling units. For the submitted plans and reports, City Planning presentation, applicant's presentation, visit the Application information Centre at  https://www.toronto.ca/7LaxtonAve 

To allow you to learn more about the application, ask questions, and gather feedback, City Planning will be holding a Virtual Community Meeting on Tuesday, October 17th, 2023, from 6 - 8 PM.

Register to attend the virtual community meeting at: http://www.toronto.ca/cpconsultations

I will chair the meeting, which includes presentations from City Planning staff and the applicants, followed by a Q&A period to allow for discussion.

More information is also available in the documents below.

Parkdale Hub at the Toronto Preservation Board 

On October 10, staff will recommend that City Council approve the alterations to the heritage properties at 220 Cowan Avenue and 1313 Queen Street West, in accordance with Section 33 of the Ontario Heritage Act to allow for the construction of the Parkdale Hub at The Toronto Preservation Board.

More details on the recommendation is available here: Agenda Item History - 2023.PB10.3 (toronto.ca)

Anyone who wishes to watch the meeting can connect using the Watch Live link on the agenda page that will be available on the day of the meeting.                 

Link to Agenda:  

https://secure.toronto.ca/council/#/committees/2511/23320       

The public may submit written comments or register to speak at the Toronto Preservation Board on any item on the agenda. Written comments may be submitted by writing to [email protected]

To make a presentation to the Toronto Preservation Board, please register by email to [email protected]  or by phone at 416-392-4666.

Reminder: Changes to the Mechanical Leaf Collection Program

In an effort to provide equitable service levels across the city, the Mechanical Vacuum Leaf Collection program is no longer being provided. The program was available to a limited number of households in our ward as part of a grandfathered service level that is no longer in effect. The City will continue to clear roads, ditches, culverts and boulevards of fallen leaves. However, property owners must now collect leaves that fall onto their property, place them in kraft paper yard waste bags and set them out at the curb on their regularly scheduled garbage collection days. More information about proper set out of yard waste is available at toronto.ca/YardWaste.

Update 5: Bloor West Complete Street Extension 

This is an update on phase 1 of the installation of the Bloor Street West Complete Street Extension from Runnymede Road to Aberfoyle Crescent. Installation of phase 1 began the week of September 11, 2023. Initial installation of Phase 1 is planned for completion in December 2023, with upgrades planned for 2024 and beyond.

Work completed up to October 4th: 

  • Removal of existing pavement markings such as stop bars, arrows, etc. between Runnymede Road and Aberfoyle Crescent. 
  • Signage installation along the corridor to support the Complete Street design.

Work scheduled for October 4th to 6th: 

  • Installation of pavement markings such as hatching, symbols, stop bars, arrows, etc. between Runnymede Road and Aberfoyle Crescent.
  • Installation of pavement markings between Old Mill Drive and Jane Street to reconfigure the roadway. 

Work scheduled for the week of October 10, 2023: 

  • Continued installation of pavement markings such as hatching, symbols, stop bars, arrows, etc. between Runnymede Road and Aberfoyle Crescent. 
  • Ongoing signage installation and adjustments along the corridor to support the Complete Street design.

Work scheduled for the rest of October 2023: 

  • Installation of the curbs between Runnymede Road and Aberfoyle Crescent, starting from the Aberfoyle Crescent, followed by the installation of flex post bollards and planters.
  • Installation of painted curb extensions and all remaining pavement markings between Runnymede Road and Aberfoyle Crescent. 

*Work will take place both during the day and at night, weather permitting, and is scheduled to avoid conflicts with street festivals and other construction in the roadway. 

This installation information email is being sent to local Councilors, BIAs, event coordinators, utility companies, City agencies and other stakeholders in the area. Should you wish to subscribe or unsubscribe to this list, please email: [email protected].  

For more project details, please visit: Toronto.ca/BloorWest 

Seniors Assistance Home Maintenance (SAHM) Program

Contact Program Coordinator Kevin Pook at 416-531-8447 or [email protected] for services including garden and yard work, snow removal, light housekeeping and odd light jobs.

Runnymede Library reopens tomorrow

Roofing renovations are complete and the Runnymede library will open a few days ahead of schedule.   Normal service will resume tomorrow, Friday October 6th at 9:00 am instead of the anticipated date of Tuesday October 10.   All our Library buildings will be closed Sunday and Monday of the Thanksgiving long weekend.

Latest posts

Update on the 2299 Dundas St West Men’s Shelter

Friends,

As part of the George Street Revitalization (GSR) project, the City continues to relocate existing shelter programs to new and enhanced facilities across Toronto. The 2299 Dundas St. W. Men’s Shelter will create a safe space for 80 men experiencing homelessness. This program will provide case management to assist clients in securing permanent housing and access to onsite healthcare and mental health supports, including a Managed Alcohol Program. The anticipated construction completion date for this shelter is Winter 2026.

The shelter will be staffed 24-hours a day, seven days a week and offer specialized programs that will provide health and housing support to help residents improve their health and move toward permanent housing.

Services and features of the shelter will include:
• Onsite healthcare, including personal support workers, nursing, medication support, and access to an in-house physician.
• Access to health services, including a Managed Alcohol Program (MAP) and the Annex Infirmary program which provides short-term medical observation, care, and recovery support to clients experiencing health challenges.
• Case management to support clients secure permanent and supportive housing.
• Mental health services and referrals to a wide range of additional community supports

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, by providing an alternative to sleeping in parks, sidewalks, or transit shelters.

If you are interested in supporting the shelter, through the offer of programs that benefit shelter residents, participating in community events or partnerships, or donating goods, please email [email protected].

There will be a community event to welcome the shelter to the neighbourhood once construction is completed. Updates will continue to be shared as the project progresses on the City’s webpage at toronto.ca/2299dundas.

If you would like to receive future updates, ask a question or share an idea, you can reach the project team at [email protected] .

 

Sincerely,

Gord

In This Week's Newsletter

City-Wide News

  • TRCA Flood Safety Information
  • CultureLink Career Workshop
  • Grassy Narrows River Run Rally Save the Date

Ward 4 news

  • Pat Capponi Parkette Opening Event
  • Toronto East York Community Council
    • 1464 King Street West and 10 to 12 Maynard Avenue
    • 1497 and 1501 Queen Street West and 89 and 91 Beaty Avenue
    • 1 & 3 Close Ave & 78 Springhurst Ave
    • 1730 Bloor Street West
    • 2273, 2277 and 2279 Bloor Street West
    • 34 to 50 Southport Street
    • Renaming Close-Springhurst Parkette in Honour of Diane Rajaram
    • Transportation Items
      • CNE Traffic and Parking Regulations
      • King Street Construction
      • Armadale and Mayfield - All-Way Stop
      • Traffic Calming Various Streets
      • St. John's Road - Additional Speed Humps
  • Parkdale Parking Restrictions during FIFA  

Expansion of Ontario’s Deposit Return Program

Friends,

On June 10, 2026, the Infrastructure and Environment Committee voted in favour of urging the Ontario government to immediately implement a deposit-return program for non-alcoholic beverage containers.

Currently, Ontario operates a successful deposit return system for alcohol, seeing an average of 75 percent of all empties returned to Beer Stores each year. The deposit return provides a consumer incentive to consciously recycle. This system must be expanded to include all beverage containers.

Ontario is one of Canada’s only provinces without a deposit-return program for non-alcoholic beverages. As a result, Ontario has the lowest beverage container recovery rate in Canada—at roughly 50% of containers being recycled. Other provinces such as Alberta, British Columbia, and Nova Scotia have an expanded deposit return program and see recovery rates 50% higher than Ontario. The Ontario government proposed expanding the deposit return program to include non-alcoholic containers in 2023 but has yet to do so.

The City of Toronto will join the Peel Region, the City of Waterloo, the Association of Municipalities of Ontario, and the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative in urging the Ontario government to immediately implement a deposit-return program for non-alcoholic beverage containers.

The IEC Committee received a letter of support from the Canadian Beverage Association to expand the Deposit Return Program as the current mixed recycling system is inefficient, resulting in higher cost for producers with worse outcomes.

You can hear my comments on the matter at the IEC meeting here: https://youtu.be/73ZTlD1yDIU

As we push for ways to be more sustainable, I encourage you to participate in the Plastic Free July challenge, a global campaign encouraging individuals and communities to cut down on single use plastics throughout the month of July.  We can use this movement to make incremental changes in individual habits but also to mobilize as a community to influence our governments and businesses to adopt sustainable practices.

 

Sincerely,

Gord

In This Week's Newsletter

City-Wide News

  • FIFA Related Nighttime Waste Collection Changes

Ward 4 news

  • Sorauren Construction Progress Update – June 18,2026  
  • Swansea Town Hall: Clean Indoor Air Toronto
  • Summer Fest - Baby Point Gates BIACommunity Environment Day - June 27
  • Community Environment Day - June 27
  • Parkside Live: A Summer Music Series
  • Taste of the Junction 2026
  • Parkdale Parking Restrictions during FIFA  

Landmark funding deal to build more rental homes

Friends,

This week at City Council we adopted a landmark funding deal in which $1.5 billion in funding will be provided to the City of Toronto to reduce development charges in partnership with the provincial and federal governments. The full City Council agenda can be reviewed here: City Council - Meeting 42 - TMMIS

The City can now reduce its residential development charges by 40 to 60 per cent for the next three years, and use this funding to pay for major infrastructure projects including our road network, water infrastructure, and enhanced transit capacity to support a growing population.  These reductions will apply across the board for residential development. Deeper development charge discounts (60 per cent) will be offered to units with two or more bedrooms, to help incentivize building more housing for families.

At a time when our housing market has slowed down, these development charge reductions will help make projects more financially viable, build more of the kind of housing we need, and make homes more affordable for residents. It will also help generate an estimated 143,000 jobs through construction and related industries.

This funding deal was inspired by the City’s successful Purpose-Built Rental Housing Incentives program.

The first phase of the program, launched in fall 2024 with more than $1.2 billion in financial contributions from the City of Toronto, supported more than 8,000 rental homes, including more than 2,000 affordable homes.

Building on that success, with the greater financial stability provided through the $1.5 billion in federal and provincial infrastructure funding, the City of Toronto is now in a position to launch a new phase of Purpose-Built Rental Incentives.

The second phase of the program will support up to 10,000 new rental homes, including a minimum of 2,000 affordable rental homes. We will prioritize shovel-ready projects and City staff will review and approve applications on a rolling basis over the coming weeks and months.

We are proving as a city that there is a crucial role for government to steer development towards building housing that Torontonians can afford to live in.  In doing so as a municipal government, we are influencing other orders of government to invest in Toronto with us.

 

Sincerely,

Gord

In This Week's Newsletter

City-Wide News

  • Celebrate Canada Day
  • Pride Weekend
  • Outdoor Swimming Pools
  • FIFA Related Nighttime Waste Collection Changes

Ward 4 news

  • Toronto East York Community Council
    • 1464 King Street West and 10 to 12 Maynard Avenue
    • 1497 and 1501 Queen Street West and 89 and 91 Beaty Avenue
    • 1 & 3 Close Ave & 78 Springhurst Ave
    • 1730 Bloor Street West
    • 2273, 2277 and 2279 Bloor Street West
    • 34 to 50 Southport Street
    • Renaming Close-Springhurst Parkette in Honour of Diane Rajaram
    • Transportation Items
  • Sorauren Ave Construction Update
  • Celebration of Compassion at Roncesvalles United Church
  • Celebrate Around the World on Roncy in Roncesvalles Village!
  • Swansea Town Hall: Clean Indoor Air Toronto
  • Summer Fest - Baby Point Gates BIA Community Environment Day - June 27
  • Community Environment Day - June 27
  • Parkside Live: A Summer Music Series
  • Taste of the Junction 2026
  • Parkdale Parking Restrictions during FIFA  
More — Read Our Weekly Newsletter

Take action

Read Our Weekly Newsletter
Sign Up for Updates
Contact our Office

Connect with Gord

About

Information

Ward 4

City Hall

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